Sussex Academy girls’ basketball wraps up season with eye on future
For the second time this year, Sussex Academy girls’ basketball played back-to-back-to-back games.
Unfortunately for the Seahawks, their first two opponents, Red Lion (Feb. 13) and Delmar (Feb. 14 ) had 10 victories, while the third, Indian River (Feb.14), had 13 wins before tip-off.
“We were a little slow coming out in that first quarter [against Red Lion], but honestly, other than that, the other three quarters, we didn't play too bad,” said Seahawks coach Rayona Benson. “Turnovers were down in those other three quarters, but again, we come out slow like that, we dig ourselves a hole that we’ve got to be able to get out of.”
Trailing 21-1 at home after the first quarter, Sussex Academy played a talented – and tall – Red Lion team to a draw in the final three quarters, including a second quarter won 10-5 by the home team. Despite the 49-29 loss, a few Seahawks players stood out.
“Grayce [Glover] is the constant on our team; if I can depend on anybody, I depend on Grayce,” Benson said. “Grayce is not even a ball handler, but I tell her, anytime she goes up and she gets the ball or she just relieves somebody from dribbling, I feel better. I feel relieved because she doesn't panic. She just goes out there and does her job: she knows she's good at rebounding, so she literally cuts in there and boxes out and gets rebounds.”
Glover pulled down 18 boards in the Red Lion contest. She was joined by fellow softball player Eva Boos in the paint. Boos was a manager last year, but began playing with the team over the summer and has continued to build her confidence. She has handled a lot of minutes for the young Seahawks team.
“Eva was our manager last year, and this year she decided to play, which I was so happy about,” Benson said. “I do believe that her playing in the summer league helped the nerves she was dealing with during the year. She does not hurt us. She knows what I asked her to do is to come in and help with the rebounds.”
Facing a day’s turnaround, Sussex Academy was tied with host Delmar on Valentine’s Day after the first quarter, but the Royals were unable to come away with a victory as the Wildcats clawed their way to a 40-33 win. over the Seahawks.
They had to hit the court with an even shorter recovery time Feb. 15, when they headed south to take on a 13-win Indian River team at 11 a.m. The Seahawks did not come out flat this time, as they took a 9-8 lead over one of the top teams in the Henlopen Conference. However, a strong final three quarters from the home team led to a 60-25 loss for Sussex Academy.
The Seahawks ended their season with a 38-23 loss at Tatnall.
On a bright note, the middle school girls' team beat Seaford 23-7 Feb. 18 to grab third place in the Hollywood Diner bracket of the Capital Classic and finish their season 10-3.
