Cape girls’ basketball fires it up against the Panthers
Cape’s Amalia Fruchtman continues to play lights out, as she scored 23 points in the 56-21 running-clock victory over the Panthers of Polytech Jan. 22 at home.
The 10-2 Vikings started slow, only outscoring the Panthers 6-4 in the first period. But Cape hit its stride in the second quarter, putting up 18 points to take a 24-8 halftime lead.
“We did have a slow start,” said Cape coach Ron Dukes. “We missed six lay-ups in the first period. [If we hadn’t] the start may not have been really slow. This team realizes the North title is in their hands.”
The Vikings locked in for the third quarter, pounding the boards and hitting 25 points to move into the last stanza up by 32. They cruised to a 56-21 victory.
Ally Diehl continues to contribute high-energy play, scoring eight points. Mairead Rishko tallied five points, including a shot from behind the arc.
Cape plays Northern Division teams Caesar Rodney and Dover next week. The Vikings have won their previous matchups by a combination of 54 points, but they are not taking them lightly.
“We are going to continue getting 1% better and not overlook any game,” said Fruchtman. “Even though we’ve already beaten these next few teams, we we will continue to grow in areas we need improvement and work on team chemistry.”
The Vikings travel to Camden-Wyoming to play the Riders Tuesday, Jan. 27, before returning home to play the Senators Thursday, Jan. 29.
The Vikings’ focus, without overlooking these next few games, is to get a signature win against an upstate team. Padua could be that game. Cape plays the Pandas Thursday, Feb. 5.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
