Winning is full of blessings and curses, some going hand in hand. The Cape boys’ basketball team has been rewarded with wins this year, but also marked.

Sussex Tech welcomed the Vikings for a battle Feb. 3, and the home team went toe to toe with Cape in the first quarter before the visitors pulled away for a 78-41 victory.

“The first break that we had, coach really got after us to play the right way,” said junior Jameson Tingle. “After that, we turned it up, played Viking basketball and extended the lead.”

Tied 17-17, the Ravens started believing they could hang with the Vikings, but it was just a matter of Cape sweeping out the cobwebs.

“Got off a little slow, probably a little bit expected after not playing for over a week, but we just needed to get refocused, get back to our basics,” coach Steve Re said. “On defense, we really turned the tide in that second quarter. We suffocated them, and then pulled away from there.”

Geordan Downing led the team with 20 points, eight steals and three rebounds. The junior used the first break and defensive resurgence to heat up from the field.

“I was a little cold in the first quarter,” Downing said. “I had to get back to the bench, get some water, and then I had to turn up.”

He was able to get off a dunk on a quality look following a turnover, while Tingle picked up two slams of his own, including a highlight-reel alley-oop before halftime.

Junior Stephen Sivels was the second-highest scorer in the game with 18 points, and he tied Tingle with five swipes. Senior Braxton Figgs tied Tingle for the team lead with two blocks.

Cape forced 29 turnovers, many coming in the second frame, helping to fuel a 26-7 quarter and giving the Vikings a 43-24 lead at the break.

The Vikings continued to expand their advantage, leading to every varsity player collecting valuable minutes. 

“Very fun out there,” Downing said. “Especially when you get a high lead.”

Senior Quardell Richards had a strong game, adding 14 points to the winning effort, while his classmate Lamar McCoy tied Downing and Tingle with three assists for the team lead.

“I like the way that we play because I don't feel like guys are selfish,” Re said. “I thought we had a lot of assists.”

Cape had 15 assists on 32 made field goals. The 78-41 win moves the Vikings to 12-2 ahead of their away game against 13-3 Caravel Academy set for 7:15 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6. It is one of three of Cape’s final six games against a team with double-digit wins.