Cape basketball defeats Milford
Fans who packed a muggy Milford gym Dec. 18 for the Cape boys’ basketball team’s matchup with the Buccaneers were treated to vintage cross-county chaos, a frenzied mess of full-court presses, ill-fated passes and sweat-soaked refs between kids who know each other almost too well.
Early on, the breakneck pace and vociferous crowd seemed to get the best of Cape wing Sh’Kai Chandler. The 6-foot-3 junior seemed to sleepwalk through the first half, clanking three-pointers and free throws to the delight of the Milford faithful. The Vikings, clinging to a slim lead at the break, needed their most talented scorer to wake up if they hoped to earn their fourth win in five games against the Bucs.
Chandler didn’t just wake up, he sprang out of bed and gulped down an espresso. He poured in a career-high 21 points – all in the second half – and added eight rebounds to help propel Cape to a 76-64 victory.
After his forgettable first half, the Vikings’ star swingman came out of the locker room on a mission. He broke open a tight game by netting nine points in the first four minutes of the third quarter.
“I started out rough, but then ... I got more comfortable with the environment and my shots started falling, and I started getting to the basket more,” said Chandler, who attacked the rim at every opportunity as Cape turned a perilous 28-23 halftime edge into a 16-point bulge.
When Milford crept to within three points midway through the fourth, Chandler turned back the Bucs again, igniting a 9-0 run that all but sealed the deal. He converted two layups through traffic and hit a pair of free throws during the decisive spurt.
Cape head coach Steve Re was glad to see Chandler find his mojo.
“It was a breakout game for him,” Re said. “He was in attack mode today. We got him in space, and he’s a finisher for us and made some plays.”
Junior guard Kris Rushin added 20 points, four assists and five steals for Cape (3-1, 2-1 Henlopen North), which held off a late Milford rally by connecting on 16 of 20 free throws in the fourth quarter. Rushin and Chandler accounted for the Vikings’ final 15 points, knocking down 11 of 12 free throws in the process.
The 5-foot-10 Rushin provided the highlight of the night late in the second quarter, when he drove baseline for a one-handed slam that had onlookers Randy Rickards and Ian Robertson shaking their heads in awe.
Sophomore forward Ethan Pires scored a career-best 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting for Cape, which also got a season-high 10 points and two deep three-pointers from senior guard Scottie Dishman. Junior forward Jo Jo Kirby enjoyed a breakout game of his own, recording career highs of eight points and eight boards, while sophomore guard Ja’Vaughn Burton chipped in with two points, and freshman guard Kay’von Allen added one.
Re praised his team’s effort on the defensive end.
“Our team defense in the first half was terrific,” said Re, whose Vikings disrupted passing lanes all night and forced 34 turnovers.
Cape returns to the hardwood Thursday, Dec. 27, when it hosts Sanford on the opening day of Slam Dunk to the Beach.
