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Madi Smith injured in Cape's final scrimmage against Stephen DeCatur

Dave Frederick
December 4, 2014
Cape freshman guard Sydney Pedersen drives around a Stephen Decatur defender in the Dec. 1 scrimmage with the Seahawks. BY DAN COOK
Freshman Logan Shuttleworth is fouled by Stephen Decatur's Jillian Petito. BY DAN COOK
Madison MacElrevey looks to pass out of a Seahawks trap. BY DAN COOK
Cape guard Alison Palmer lays one in for two points. BY DAN COOK
Cape coach Lamont "Poochie" Hazzard speaks to his team during the halftime break. BY DAN COOK
Cape forward Abigail E'Nama hits a bucket from down low. BY DAN COOK
Cape junior guard Madi Smith hits for two and is fouled on the play. BY DAN COOK
Vikings and Seahawks battle for a rebound. BY DAN COOK

Tracking a losing team is a painful experience but not as bad as playing on one. The girls' teams at Cape have won 12 state championships since 2008 counting field hockey four, lacrosse six, and track and field two.

But comparing those sports to basketball has little relevance because basketball is a hard place to make a living in the Henlopen Conference, and it only gets tougher going up against the private schools from upstate.

And considering all that, the Vikings basketball girls went five straight seasons  from 2009 through 2012 with winning records and state tournament appearances including reaching the finals in 2011 for the first time in 37 years  and the semifinals in 2010 after knocking off a 19-0 Saint Mark's team in the quarterfinals. The cumulative record over those five seasons for coaches Lamont Hazzard and Will Edwards was an impressive 76-28.

The last two seasons have been rough for a variety of reasons, from less depth of talent to significant injuries including losing then-sophomore Madi Smith for the entire 2012-13 season after knee surgery.

The Cape record over the last two seasons was 13-27 with no state tournament appearances, which brought out some seriously critical parents.

‘We weathered the storm," said an always upbeat Lamont Hazzard. “I think this year we will do a lot better.  We have better overall talent and great chemistry.”

Cape was looking much improved during a four-quarter home scrimmage against a solid Stephen Decatur team when knee brace-wearing Madi Smith went down in an anguish and agony moment.

Same knee, same sinking feeling and hurting hearts when the girl who loves basketball and her teammates - to say nothing of being the best player in the program - descended on the court Dec. 1.

Madi left the gym on crutches; she was being evaluated by her doctor with an MRI scheduled for Dec. 3.

The varsity roster for the 2014-15 season includes seniors Anshe Boyer and Madison MacElrevey. Juniors include Paige Mohr, Smith and Tyra Yeates. Sophomores are Abby E’Nama, Jordyn Miller and Cailey Thornburg. Freshmen are Mel McCloy, Sydney Pedersen and Logan Shuttleworth.

The team opens the season Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Henlopen Conference champion Smyrna. The Eagles were 15-5 last season

Cape opens at home Thursday, Dec. 11, against Milford, a team that posted an 18-2 mark last season.

Cape's first seven games also include St. Elizabeth, Sussex Central and Caesar Rodney, all teams with more than 15 wins from last season.  December may not produce a white Christmas, but it promises to be tough sledding for the girls' basketball team.

 

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