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Panthers pounce on Cape boys 60-43

January 14, 2022

Sweet-shooting junior guard Kyle Gamber poured in 28 points and drained five second-half three-pointers as the Polytech boys’ basketball team bounced visiting Cape Henlopen 60-43 Jan. 13 in Woodside.

The Panthers drew blood early, taking an 11-2 lead in the first five minutes and never looking back. Poly took a 30-16 advantage into halftime on the strength of its defense and offensive rebounding, as it converted second-chance attempts aplenty and limited the Vikings to 27-percent shooting before the break.

Gamber took over in the second half, using his high-arcing jumper to pile up points from long distance. During a four-minute stretch in the third quarter, he buried three three-pointers to squelch a Cape comeback attempt. Gamber’s corner three with 35 seconds left in the frame gave Polytech a 47-34 lead, and Cape never got within single digits from there.

Junior forward Dylan Fannin scored a season-high 12 points, knocked down three three-pointers, and swatted away two shots for the Vikings (2-4, 2-3 Henlopen North). Big man Odin Potemski posted his most productive game of the season, notching his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The junior also piled up four blocks on the night. Cape also got nine points and two threes from senior guard Kay’von Jackson and a seven-point, four-assist effort from junior guard Drew Zimmerman. Junior guard Trey Leggins added four points and seven boards, while junior guard Timmy Hitchcock scored his first-ever varsity point on a free throw.

Cape played without starters Brody Pedersen and Zimere Bolden in the setback, their third in a row.

Head coach Shemik Thompson saw a few bright spots but was underwhelmed by the Vikings’ sometimes lackadaisical play.

“We spent a lot of time working on boxing out and containing on defense, and I thought we did a decent job of that at times,” Thompson said. “It’s just that we don’t show a competitive nature. We have to treat every possession like the last point in a street-ball game that takes five minutes to finish. We have to learn to play like that every possession regardless of if we’re down two key guys. [Polytech]’s a good team. They play with intensity. They play fast.”

Cape returns to action Saturday, Jan. 15, when the Vikings take on Word Of Life Christian (Va.) in the MLK Showcase at St. Elizabeth High.

 

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