Vikings fade into own parade, losing to Sanford 47-41

The Cape junkyard dogs were off the chain and barking from the jump March 11 at the Bob Carpenter Center, aware but didn’t care that Sanford was a prohibitive favorite in the title game and that no Delaware team had come within 18 points of the defending state champion Warriors.

Cape led at the half 20-17 and after three quarters 37-34. There was no “barking down,” it was rumble in the jungle. The Cape Crazies student section was energized, standing and hopping with each tick of the clock. Sanford matched Cape’s enthusiasm at the other end of the court and even brought a pep band.  The Vikings forged ahead 39-34 on a lay-up by Johnesha Warren. The Vikings through sheer competitive spirit had come to win a title the only way they knew how,  with crazy defense forcing 20 Sanford turnovers and making clutch plays on offense.
“We were where we needed to be,” said a disappointed coach Lamont Hazzard after the game, surrounded by reporters holding digital micro devices close to his face. “I’m not sure what happened.”

What happened was Sanford ran 13 unanswered points, forcing six Cape turnovers in crunch time.

What happened was Sanford guards Naiesha Brown and Andrea Hines ramped up their games and Cape began to turn the ball over.

The Vikings gave up the ball six times in four minutes and Sanford came back to tie the game at 39 with 3:38 left in the contest and kept playing it forward for a 45-39 lead and eventual 47-41 state championship victory.

Meg Bartley had 14 points in the game but 10 of those came in the first half. Johnesha Warren scored 12 while Kadijah Doughty grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 8 points.

Sanford was paced by Naiesha Brown 21, Andrea Hines 15 and Anjaleace White 13 rebounds, 8 points and 6 blocked shots.

“Sanford is a good team and I’m really proud of my team,” Hazzard said as he exited the endless barrage of questions. “We had a mission four years ago to get here and win it, so we’re pretty disappointed, proud but disappointed.”