Cape defeats Riders 50-48 on last-second shot by Robertson

The Cape Henlopen boys’ basketball team knew what was on the line in its regular-season finale at Caesar Rodney Feb. 19. The Vikings were all too aware that their chances for a Henlopen Conference title hung in the balance, not to mention a potential No. 1 seed in the DIAA state tournament. With the game tied in the final seconds and the Riders threatening to hand cold-shooting Cape its first loss since December, the Vikings needed a hero.

That’s when Ian Robertson put on his cape.

Robertson caught a pass from Sh’Kai Chandler and banked in an uncontested layup with two seconds on the clock to give Cape a 50-48 victory, its 14th in a row. The win sends the Vikings (18-2, 11-1 Henlopen North) to a special playoff with Smyrna to decide the Henlopen North champion.

“When my man stepped up, I made eye contact with Sh’Kai,” said Cape’s 6-foot-6 senior forward, who scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half to carry the Vikings through some sluggish stretches. “He gave it to me for the wide-open layup … I wanted to be the one who ended up with it. I really wanted that one.”

Robertson owned the paint in a back-and-forth fourth period, scoring eight of Cape’s final 10 points over the last 3:01. He converted a three-point play on a strong drive through traffic to put the Vikings up 43-40, then knocked down a soft half-hook in the lane for another “and-one” and a 46-42 advantage. After a corner three-pointer from CR’s Jaden Corbett and a transition lay-up from Chandler, Riders forward Timothy Spence drilled a straightaway three to tie the game at 48-48 with 28 seconds remaining.

On Cape’s final possession, senior guard Izaiah Dadzie drove the baseline and kicked the ball outside to Chandler. The sophomore swingman took a dribble toward the bucket and whipped the ball to an open Robertson for the deciding deuce.

“[The win] sets us up really well for the postseason,” said Robertson, who made 10 of his 12 field goal tries, grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots. “We had to go through a lot of adversity and fought through it … which is a good sign.”

Cape coach Steve Re expected a stiff challenge from CR.

“People don’t realize what kind of rival [CR is] with us … We run into them at camp and at summer league … It’s always like this with them.”

Re was at a loss to explain how his Vikings missed 24 of their final 38 field goal tries and went a season-low 6-for-19 (32 percent) from the free-throw line.

“We were stuck in the mud,” Re said. “We couldn’t get anything going offensively. The ball was moving well, but we just couldn’t make shots … We got good shots – we just missed them. Even free-throw shooting was an issue tonight. I’m just glad we got out of here with a win.” 

A game-winning buzzer-beater looked improbable early on, as the Vikings hit six of their first seven shots and stormed to a 20-6 lead after one period. The Cape offense lost its luster in the second, however, as the Vikings turned the ball over nine times in the frame and allowed Caesar Rodney to close the gap to seven points at halftime.

The CR surge continued in the second half, with the Riders knotting the score at 33-33 on a three-point play by guard Davione Robinson. Robertson responded with a coast-to-coast lay-in at the horn to give Cape a two-point edge entering the fourth quarter. Robertson netted eight of his team’s nine points in the third.

Chandler recorded his first career double-double for the Vikings, tallying 10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on the night. Cape also got eight points and six boards from senior standout Randy Rickards and a six-point, seven-rebound night from sophomore guard Skylar Johnson. Dadzie closed the Vikings’ scorebook with two points.

CR 6-foot-5 junior forward Shaft Clark paced the Riders (12-7, 6-6 Henlopen North) with 16 points and 11 rebounds, but he went a paltry 7-for-24 from the floor. Robinson added 13 points and 11 boards. 

The Riders hit just 20 of their 62 field goal attempts (32 percent), while Cape shot a more respectable 20-for-45 (44 percent). CR atoned for its shooting woes by snagging 18 offensive rebounds.

Cape will take on Smyrna Thursday, Feb. 22, with the Northern Division title up for grabs. The game is set for 7 p.m. at Milford Central Academy. Cape split its two regular-season meetings with the 17-2 Eagles.

Editor’s note: The full article has been added. Previously, a short recap appeared in this space.