Cape girls’ basketball wins Henlopen Conference title

The Cape girls’ team celebrates the big win. DAN COOK PHOTO

Dan Cook

February 22, 2019

Cape junior Abbey Hearn was off the charts Feb. 22, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead the Vikings to the Henlopen Conference Championship with a 56-42 victory over previously unbeaten Woodbridge at Dover High School. It’s the Vikings’ first conference championship since 2006.

Hearn shot 70 percent from the field and 85 percent from the foul line in the game. It was her sixth double-double of the season.

“I just wanted this so badly,” said Hearn. “The conference championship game, it was so much fun. Everyone out there. It was great. I don’t think I played well defensively on [Cha'Kya] Johnson, honestly, but the teamed played great help and our defense led to offense. Lex [Watkins] just locks on our opponent’s best player every single night. She’s so good.”

“Defense was our focus,” said Cape first-year coach Pat Woods. “I know their point guard is very special, and Cha'Kya Johnson can score easily. The only emphasis for us was to see what we could do defensively against them. Offensively, we just get them in the right set, they make the right reads, we just let them play, and we say give up a good shot for a great shot.”

“This will definitely help us going into the state tournament,” said point guard Dania Cannon, who scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished off four assists in the contest. “It’s the first championship since 2006. It’s so crazy.”

“It’s crazy,” Hearn said. “I’ve never played in front of this many people. It’s nuts.”

Watkins and Niya Mosley, known for her tremendous defensive play, garnered accolades for their play on the Dover hardwood.

“Lexi was fantastic,” said Woods. “We’ve said all season that her value is often overlooked by those outside of our program, but I think anyone at the game knew how vital she was to our success. Her defense fueled us the entire game even though it won’t show up on the stat sheet. Niya is the same way. Her ability to rebound the ball, lock down her assignment and collapse a defense to kick it out to shooters is just great.”

Watkins contributed six points, hitting at 60 percent, and helped on four Vikings baskets, while Mosley grabbed four rebounds with two assists.

Junior transfer Carlin Quinn showed her strong side as she hit for seven points and grabbed five rebounds in just under 10 minutes of play.

“Transferring in from a school where I didn’t play more than two minutes a game and then coming to Cape and contributing to a conference championship is absolutely insane,” said Quinn. “I would have never guessed I would be in this situation with it being only my first year at Cape. The girls have been great, and we all mesh really well together, and I think that has helped us succeed. I personally feel like if it weren’t for the coaching staff and players always reassuring me, I would not be as confident a player as I am, and with every opportunity the coach has given me, I try to make the most of it and give my all.”

The dynamic freshman duo of Morgan Mahoney and Mehkia Applewhite added three points each; they dished off four assists and snagged seven rebounds, respectively.

Cape jumped out to an early 7-1 lead before the Raiders came back to finish the first period with the Vikings holding a 9-6 lead. The first half ended with the Lady Vikings up 25-19. They outscored the Blue Raiders 31-23 in the second half to take the Henlopen trophy back to Cape.

Cape will play the winner of the Wednesday, Feb. 27 DIAA first-round game between St. Georges and Lake Forest. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m., Friday, March 1, at Cape.

The Cape girls’ team celebrates the big win. DAN COOK PHOTO