Schell, Vikings ground Ravens 59-37

Junior forward Jack Schell exploded for a career-high 21 points and matched his all-time best with 16 rebounds as the Cape Henlopen boys’ basketball team overwhelmed visiting Sussex Tech 59-37 Jan. 24 in Lewes.

Cape jumped out to a 14-4 lead early in the second quarter and held the Ravens without a field goal for the first 10:32 of game time. Schell and senior center Odin Potemski combined to score 18 of the Vikings’ first 20 points, making the most of their height by finishing again and again in the paint. Tech, meanwhile, couldn’t buy a bucket, hitting just three of its 19 first-half shots (16%). Up 26-11 at intermission, Cape cruised home without a serious challenge.

Coach Steve Re was happy to get the win, but admitted that his squad still has work to do.

“We played within our concepts really well and moved the ball pretty well,” Re said. “We followed the game plan by throwing it down to the big fellas. They were controlling the glass all night. Jack was doing his thing inside, getting position, finishing around the rim. We were too loose with the ball, which should never be the case, but it’s hard sometimes when you’re playing against a team whose effort level is so poor. I thought our spacing was good, but we got sloppy with certain things. Sometimes we get lackadaisical with things like our post entries.”

Potemski finished with 14 points and seven boards for the Vikings (9-4, 7-3 Henlopen North), who shot a season-low 32% from the floor, but made up for it by hauling in 51 rebounds. That total, the highest from any Cape team in at least a decade, included 21 offensive boards.

Schell credited his big night to a shift in philosophy from his squad.

“We just focused on getting the ball [inside] more,” he said. “It definitely made me and Odin confident coming into the game that we were probably gonna get more touches. Odin played great, and I probably missed a couple lay-ups that I should’ve made, but we got a lot of chances. When we get it inside and either go up for the lay-up or pass it out, it’s a really efficient way to play.”

Senior wing Trey Leggins did a little bit of everything for the Vikings, tallying 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior point guard Drew Zimmerman, back in the rotation after missing four games with a knee injury, added seven points off the bench.

Tech shot a woeful 26% from the floor, committed 22 turnovers and was more than doubled up on the glass.