Cape unified basketball opens season with Dover loss, but lots of smiles
Opening up the game with a Zane Richardson three that electrified the crowd and team, Cape unified basketball started strong but fell to a talented Dover team 50-31 at home Jan. 14.
“We have a big squad, 30 total, 18 partners and 12 athletes, and then we came out with an awesome mindset to just have fun and play our unified game the way we play,” Cape coach Katie Collick said. “Zane hit that three, and it kind of just sparked the fire, started off the fun, and it fueled the whole bench, and they just erupted.”
Leading 19-13 at halftime, the Senators pulled away in the final two quarters to pick up the win, despite Richardson opening up the third quarter with another three.
The junior tied seniors Sara Davis and Sophia Adams for the team lead with six points.
“Zane is just excited to be on the court whenever he can, and we kind of try to let him be himself. He's an athlete, but he's trying to be a partner,” Collick said. “He's learned to pass a little more, so that's good to see. If he could shoot every time he gets the ball, he would.”
“Sophia has gotten more comfortable and confident with herself to turn and dribble a little bit,” Collick said. “You saw her first probably throwing up anything at the board; then she got into her groove and shot a little bit, took some dribbles.”
“Sara just loves it,” Collick said. “She loves to hear the crowd, so that's what she's gonna try, to play up to the crowd, and that gets her going.”
It was Davis’ first time leading her team in points, and she noticed one of her biggest fans in the stands.
“I saw my dad – he was so funny,” Davis said. “He was wearing a gray shirt, but he was cheering me on.”
Late in the game, the biggest roar from the crowd and bench came when freshman Luke Archer loaded up and drained a three. Turning to a bench that was going wild, the freshman flexed his muscles as Collick mirrored his celebration.
“It is so much fun; that's what we're here for, to have fun,” Collick said “We don't really care about the scoreboard – it's nice ... but you can turn it off and just play our game.”
Collick was impressed with the turnout for the game; she said it was awesome to see so many people supporting the unified team.
Cape will try to get its first win when the unified team welcome Caesar Rodney at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21.
