Seahawks stung by Hornets in boys’ basketball thriller

Growing pains can leave scars, but those wounds can be lessons.

For the Sussex Academy boys’ basketball team, the lesion from the 46-45 overtime loss to Early College School Dec. 16 may be fresh, but it could be another building block.

“They're still learning how to win these games,” coach Brad Leinbach said. “We miss free throws that could have sealed the game. Multiple. Not just one. Not just two. Multiple. We took some bad shots; they were kind of forcing it in moments where we needed a little composure. But I think that goes to their youth.”

Sophomore Farmar Amisial’s three-pointer opened the scoring for the Seahawks, giving them a 3-2 advantage. They did not give up the lead until there was less than two-and-a-half minutes left in overtime. Sussex Academy led 12-6 after the first quarter and 20-15 at halftime. On defense, the boys were communicating and moving as a unit to keep the Hornets at bay.

Amisial led the team with 15 points, but his naturally aggressive defense resulted in him getting into early foul trouble.

“We played almost half the game without one of our offensive leaders,” Leinbach said. “Guys were able to step up.”

Sophomore Ty Jarrell finished with seven points and hit a three in the fourth quarter to give the Seahawks a 35-28 lead. Before he connected, sophomore Rico Nock had scored eight straight points, which included a buzzer-beating lay-up in the third quarter. He scored the final six points of that stanza.

Senior Tate Sickler, juniors Sebastian Paul and Ryan Dostal, and sophomore Mason Glover weren’t afraid to mix things up on the paint and on loose balls. Dostal knotted the game in overtime after the Hornets grabbed their first lead since their first basket of the game. Glover knocked down a three in the closing seconds of overtime, putting the Seahawks up 45-44. However, ECS was able to win the game when they connected on two free throws and put on a full-court press.

“What we're trying to do is bust through a wall,” Leinbach said. “As long as we continue to run into that wall together, it's going to bust wide open sooner or later.”

The victory may have evaded them in this battle, but it could prove to be a confidence booster in the long run.

“Tonight, some more of that team chemistry was formed,” Leinbach said. “Players hitting big shots, players getting on the ball on the ground, hustling to get a tie-up for a loose ball and players getting a big steal.”

In years past, Sussex Academy may have counted the 46-45 overtime loss to a Henlopen South foe as a moral victory, but this is a group ready to win its first game in the division.

“This group is a group that learns from this,” Leinbach said. “They almost have to experience something until they believe it ... Details matter, execution of a set matters, shooting that 10 extra free throws at the end of practice matters and sliding your feet matters.”

Sussex Academy will have an almost two-week time frame to nail down the little things. They are set to take on Salisbury Christian in the Governor’s Challenge at 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 29, in Salisbury, Md.