Slam Dunk takes over Cape High

Holiday basketball showcase boasts top-tier talent

Cardinal Ritter Prep’s Quenton Parker gets a slam dunk in the first half of the game with Roman Catholic. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Kenny Riedel

December 28, 2023

Hoophall East Slam Dunk to the Beach returned to Lewes this week for a 14-game slate that boasts as much blue-chip talent as ever and features intriguing matchups in every session.

Host Cape Henlopen played a boys/girls doubleheader Dec. 26 to open play. The girls’ team lost to 43-35 to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, while boys’ squad fell 57-46 to Caravel Academy.

Here’s a taste of other action at Slam Dunk to the Beach:

Day 2

Roman Catholic (Pa.) 69, Cardinal Ritter (Mo.) 47 - Junior forward Shareef Jackson scored 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting and snagged 16 rebounds as the Cahillites outclassed Missouri powerhouse Ritter. Roman Catholic used a 20-1 second-half blitz to break open a close game, holding the Lions without a field goal for eight minutes in the process. The Cahillites got 13 points and three three-pointers from senior guard Travis Reed and 10 points from senior guard Hunter Johnson. Roman Catholic put on a master class in efficiency, shooting 55 percent from the floor, knocking down 11 shots from beyond the arc, and racking up 20 assists. Senior guard Quenton Parker led Ritter with 17 points.

Moravian Prep (N.C.) 64, ESPN No. 19 Bullis School (Md.) 57 - The Lions took a bite out of nationally ranked, previously unbeaten Bullis behind 26 points and six three-pointers from senior guard Evan Morton. 6-foot-9, 280-pound beast Don Lewis carried Moravian through a tight fourth quarter, scoring all 11 of his points during a five-minute stretch in the frame. Junior guard Adrien Stevens and junior big man Eric Reibe netted 14 points apiece for Bullis, which led early on before allowing the Lions to create separation with a 14-5 third-quarter run. Morton poured in seven points during the decisive spurt.

ESPN No. 17 Combine Academy (N.C.) 64, Penn Charter School (Pa.) 62 - Jayan Walker scored six points in the final 2:30 to lift the Goats over an upset-minded Penn Charter squad. With the game knotted at 56, the senior guard knocked down a midrange jumper that put Combine ahead for good. Walker scored on a drive a minute later and converted a pair of free-throws to put the game on ice. Walker finished with 17 points and nine rebounds for the Goats, while Kansas-bound senior wing Rakease Passmore added 16 points and five assists. Junior guard Jake West paced the Quakers with 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting.

College Achieve Charter (N.J.) 67, Salesianum (Del.) 64 - The hot-shooting Knights shut down a vailiant comeback attempt from the First State’s top-ranked school, as clutch shot-making from junior guard Jamir Westry made the difference down the stretch. After the Sals erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit to tie the game at 55 early in the fourth, Westry scored six straight Charter points during an 8-3 surge that put his team back in control. Freshman guard Anthony Mauro and sophomore guard Jebron Harris tallied 15 points each for Charter, while Westry notched 11. Salesianum got 20 points from senior guard Isaiah Hynson and 18 from senior guard Kareem Thomas.

Day 3

Christ The King (N.Y.) 58, Friendship Tech Prep (D.C.) 46 - 6-foot-9 senior forward Qin Pang scored 18 of his 28 points in the second half, grabbed seven rebounds, and knocked down three three-pointers as the Royals made quick work of the Titans. Christ The King jumped out to an 11-3 lead after one frame and never looked back, holding Friendship to 31 percent shooting. The Titans closed a 15-point gap to six midway through the fourth quarter, but Pang snuffed out any hope of a comeback by going on a personal 8-0 run over the next two minutes. Junior guard Cameron Zeigler added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Royals, while sophomore guard Malik Shackleford paced Friendship Tech with 23 points.

Bella Vista Prep (Ariz.) 53, Blair Academy (N.J.) 48 - The Bears survived a gritty, back-and-forth battle thanks largely to the play of twin towers Jayden Williams and Makhan Diouf. The 6-foot-9 Williams and the 6-foot-11 Diouf combined for 31 points and 16 rebounds, controlling action in the paint and limiting easy looks for Blair. The Bucs climbed out of an early 11-point hole and led by one entering the fourth quarter, but Bella Vista regrouped and held on by hitting nine of its 10 free-throws in the waning minutes. Williams, a top-100 senior nationally, recorded team highs of 17 points and 10 boards for the Bears, while junior forward Jack Bailey had 13 points for the Bucs.

ESPN No. 19 Bullis School (Md.) 70, Phelps School (Pa.) 41 - Bullis led from start to finish and used a balanced attack to trounce the Lions. Junior guard Adrien Stevens stuffed the stat sheet for the Bulldogs, amassing 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Sweet-shooting junior big man Eric Reibe added 13 points and three blocks, while senior point guard Tyler Boston notched 10 points, seven boards, and six assists. Bullis drained 11 three-pointers on the night. Junior center Onyx Nnani posted a 14-point, 12-rebound line for Phelps, which struggled mightily to find quality looks due to Bullis’s collective quickness and defensive intensity.

Bishop McNamara (Md.) 59, Westtown (Pa.) 57 (OT) - Prince-Alexander Moody played the hero for the Mustangs, scoring nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and overtime of Slam Dunk’s most entertaining game thus far. The sophomore guard kicked off the extra frame with a deep three-pointer that put McNamara ahead for good. Junior guard Jaren Curtis tallied 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists to help the Mustangs’ cause, while sophomore swingman Qayden Samuels put up an 11-point, 10-board double-double. Westtown got 14 points apiece from senior forward Malik Rasul and junior guard Cam Wallace. McNamara built a double-digit lead in the third period before Wallace keyed a late comeback by the Moose.

Day 4

St. Raymond (N.Y.) 74, Archbishop John Carroll (Pa.) 72 - Sophomore guard Kamari Whyte punctuated a 22-point, 10-rebound day with the game-winning lay-in in overtime as the Ravens clawed past the Patriots. Carroll made a miracle fourth-quarter comeback to force the extra frame, erasing a 17-point deficit by draining six three-pointers over the final seven minutes of regulation. The lead changed hands repeatedly in overtime before Whyte converted in the paint with 25 seconds left. Sophomore forward Luca Foster carried the Patriots with 19 points, 13 boards, and three blocks, while freshman guard Darrell Davis added 18 points and eight caroms. Senior guard Elijah Cherry finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for St. Raymond.

ESPN No. 4 Paul VI (Va.) 57, Cardinal Ritter Prep (Mo.) 44 - Silky smooth Duke-bound senior guard Darren Harris poured in 24 points and knocked down five three-balls as the Panthers gradually pulled away from Ritter. Blue-chip sophomore guard Jordan Smith delivered a 10-point, 11-board double-double for Paul VI, which also got 14 points from senior forward Garrett Sundra. The Panthers led virtually the whole way despite taking the floor without five-star center Patrick Ngongba. Paul VI weathered a poor-shooting first half and found the range after halftime, when it converted at a 56 percent clip. Senior guard Derrick Rivers paced the Lions with 13 points.

Blair Academy (N.J.) 57, Friendship Tech Prep (D.C.) 49 - The Bucs used balance to topple Tech, as six Blair players scored eight or more points. Sophomore guard Deron Rippey and senior guard Lukas Schmid buoyed the Bucs with 11 and 10 points, respectively, but it was a timely corner three-pointer from junior big man Jack Bailey that stymied a Titans rally late in the fourth. Senior center Eric Ihekwaba chipped in eight points, seven boards, and two blocks for Blair. Friendship got an electric outing from junior forward Aidan Haskins, who led all scorers with 24 points on 6-for-11 three-point shooting.

Westtown (Pa.) 50, Bella Vista Prep (Ariz.) 46 - Westtown turned a two-point third-quarter deficit into a seven-point advantage when it hit three-pointers on three consecutive possessions, including a 50-foot bomb to end the third by junior guard Daveyon Lynder. Bella Vista rallied to tie the score late in the fourth, but Lynder scored five points over the final 2:15 to help the Moose secure the win. Hard-nosed junior guard Cam Wallace poured in 21 points and corralled 15 rebounds for Westtown, while Lynder finished with 15 points. Senior bigs Jayden Williams and Makhan Diouf tallied 11 points and seven boards apiece for the Bears.

Delaware Gov. John Carney delivers the ball for the game between Cardinal Ritter Prep of Missouri and Roman Catholic of Pennsylvania.

Cardinal Ritter Prep’s Derrick Rivers drives to the paint against Roman Catholic’s Sebastian Edwards.

Cardinal Ritter Prep’s Nashawn Davis hits over Roman Catholic’s Kabrien Goss.

Roman Catholic’s Sebastian Edwards drives to the paint on Cardinal Ritter Prep’s Clayton Jackson.

Cardinal Ritter Prep’s James Porter glides in for a bucket against Roman Catholic.

Cardinal Ritter Prep’s Quenton Porter jams a slam.

Roman Catholic’s Hunter Johnson hits a reverse lay-in.

Cardinal Ritter Prep’s Nashawn Davis goes strong in the paint.

Roman Catholic’s Sammy Jackson takes a three.

Ball boy Fletcher Houck cleans up perspiration after a player collision.

Roman Catholic’s Kabrien Goss looks to throw a pass down to a cutting teammate.

Cardinal Ritter Prep’s Quenton Parker eyes a foul shot.

Moravian Prep’s Eli Ellis looks to get out of the trap by Bullis.

Moravian Prep’s Kendrick Wilson drives baseline.

Moravian’s Jalik Nicholls passes across the paint.

Bullis School’s Tyler Boston, right, blocks the shot of Moravian’s Jalik Nicholls.

Players battle for a loose ball in the Bullis versus Moravian game.

Moravian Prep’s Evan Morton hits a three.

Moravian’s Eli Ellis hits a reverse lay-in.

Moravian’s Eli Ellis takes off.

Seven-foot Bullis School center Eric Reibe has a soft touch for a three.

Bullis School’s Tyler Boston drives on Moravian’s Evan Morton.

Bullis School’s Jewel Walker hits a free throw.

Combine’s Ebrima Jabbi jams one home.

Combine’s Jahseem Felton goes strong to the hoop.

Combine’s Jahseem Felton drives to the paint.

Penn Charter’s Matt Gilhool looks to hit a fall-away.

Penn Charter’s Jamal Hicks glides in to the bucket.

Combine’s Jayan Walker drives on the Penn Charter defense.

Archbishop Carroll’s Luca Foster hits from the sideline in their 72-74 loss to St Raymond.

Archbishop Carroll’s Ian Williams goes in for a basket.

Archbishop Carroll’s Darrell Davis goes in but gets blocked by St Raymond’s Elijah Cherry.

Archbishop Carroll. freshman Drew Corrao seems to levitate with a rebound.

St Raymond guard Tai Turnage glides to the hoop.

Archbishop Carroll’s Nate Rusike snags a rebound

Archbishop Carroll’s Nasir Ralls looks to go baseline on St Raymond’s Brandon Stores, Jr.

Archbishop Carroll’s Ian Williams hits a in the paint over St Raymond guard Tai Turnage.

St. Raymond’s Colin Phang, left, battles for a rebound with Carroll’s Darrell Davis.

St. Raymond sophomore guard Kamari Whyte hits the winning shot in overtime to give the Ravens the 74-72 victory over Archbishop Carroll.

Archbishop Carroll’s Luca Foster battles for a rebound with St. Raymond’s Colin Phang.

Paul VI Garrett Sundra splits Ritter’s Quenton Parker and Derrick Rivers.

Paul VI and Duke bound guard Darrin Harris goes in strong on Ritter’s Nashawn Davis.

Paul VI guard Darrin Harris hits a three.

Paul VI senior guard Benjamin Hammond hits a three.

Paul VI guard Anthony Brown, Jr looks to drive on Ritter’s Clayton Jackson.

Paul VI Adlan Elamin hits a three over Ritter’s Jaylen Burns.

Paul VI guard Jordan Smith Jr. is fouled by Ritter’s Derrick Rivers and Clayton Jackson.

Cardinal Ritter’s Jaylen Burns blocks the shot of Paul VI forward Isaiah Abraham.

Paul VI senior Garrett Sundra goes in and gets an and one.

Paul VI guard Benjamin Hammond goes in strong against Ritter’s Donovan Meads.

Paul VI guard Benjamin Hammond gets knocked down trying to split the Ritter defense.

Paul VI forward Isaiah Abraham jams one.

Blair Academy’s Eric Ihekwaba grabs a rebound between Friendship Tech’s Daniel Bumpass, left, and David Bumpass.

Blair Academy guard Jayden Williams looks to put a move on Friendship Tech’s David Bumpass.

Blair Academy guard Deron Rippey Jr. drives past Friendship Tech’s Malik Shackleford.

Friendship Tech’s Nazaire Hinton tries to shoot over Blair Academy’s 6’9” Eric Ihekwaba.

Friendship Tech’s Malik Shackleford goes fore the steal on Blair’s Lukas Schmid.

Slam Dunk to the Beach sponsor Bayhealth representatives Jessica Dmiterchik and Tamera Burns-Hill stand with the Blair Academy and Friendship Tech squads before their tip off.

Former Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, center, stand with the Paul VI and Cardinal Ritter teams before tip off. Also shown are Slam Dunk to the Beach Chairman Matt Robinson, right, and Sponsorship & Community Engagement director Paul Bauer, left.