Cape girls’ basketball team building momentum down stretch

Joel Embiid might be out, but there is a dominant force in the paint whom basketball fans in Delaware can appreciate: Amalia Fruchtman.

After scoring 22 points in a 56-13 victory over Sussex Central Feb. 8, the Cape sophomore is averaging 20.8 points per game over the last eight contests. She’s only playing an average of 19 minutes per game. Shooting 73.4% from the field and 77.1% at the line, Fruchtman is averaging 35 points per 32 minutes during that stretch.

Cape dominated Central in the paint, outscoring the Golden Knights inside 32-4. The Vikings grabbed 27 of their 45 rebounds on the offensive end.

Besting Fruchtman’s nine boards were juniors Havyn Greene and Hayden Hudson with 10 each. Hudson’s six assists were tops on the team, while Greene’s eight points placed her only behind Fruchtman on the Vikings’ score sheet. Senior Mya Maull did a little bit of everything, compiling a stat line of seven points, four rebounds and two assists.

Cape was leading the Golden Knights 36-10 at the half, and the final two quarters provided valuable minutes for the Vikings’ bench. Macy Steinwedel collected six points, two rebounds and one steal. Freshmen Mairead Rishko and Amara Fruchtman each swiped three steals.

Holding Central to just three second-half points, the Vikings earned a 10-5 record with the 56-13 victory and extended their win streak to four. Writing some history during the streak, Fructhman and junior Faith Re have both become card-carrying members of the 500-point club.