Sussex Academy notches first back-to-back wins in program history
History was made at Sussex Academy Feb. 13, when the boys’ basketball team ran away with a 64-34 win over Red Lion Christian Academy. Coupled with their Feb. 7 47-35 victory over Avon Grove Charter (Pa.), it was the first time the program won back-to-back games.
“I'm very happy because I got my first win last week, and it's nice to see four years kind of pay off and get a win – not just one, two in a row,” said Seahawks senior Quentin Bowman.
Sussex Academy jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the first quarter before expanding on the lead for a 26-12 halftime advantage. Farmar Amisial’s leadership was evident in the opening quarter, as the freshman calmed his classmates down and advised them to fake more.
“At the start of this year, I was a little bit nervous because I'm playing varsity basketball – bigger, stronger, older – but now I'm able to calm myself down,” Amisial said.
Bowman led the Seahawks with five points after the first, but it was freshman Ben Tollett’s 10 that was the high mark at the break.
“I think I played pretty good, but it was mostly my teammates who set me up for those big situations,” Tollett said.
Tollett wasn’t the only Ben producing for Sussex Academy Feb. 13, as German exchange student Ben Schroeder was a spark plug for the team. Schroeder collected four points early in the game, but he really opened up in the third quarter, as did the whole team. Schroeder’s 11 points in the period were part of a 27-12 third quarter that put the game out of reach, 53-24. Schroeder finished with a team-high 15 points.
“He's active, he's bouncy and he's got energy,” said Seahawks coach Brad Leinbach. “Not sure he knows his role or where to be half of the time, but he brings a certain component we don't have.”
One aspect the Seahawks have built up this year has been defense, which took over in the third quarter.
“Our defense has been there for us all season. That's the one thing we can control,” Leinbach said. “But for us, our offense has been so up and down; one night it may have been our lack of organization or lack of ability to get organized, the next night we just couldn't make a shot, and tonight it seemed to almost all come together.”
Bowman said the Seahawks noticed lazy passes and began picking them off for the third-quarter outburst. Chatter was the key to finishing with points.
“Communication – it allows your teammates to get open, and it allows your teammates to really see what's going on when they're not looking,” Amisial said.
The 64-34 final generated two new trivia facts, as it was the largest margin of victory and the most points scored in program history.
“As a coach, you can tell them they're making a difference, but when the scoreboard doesn't read in your favor, it's hard for them to believe,” Leinbach said. “I think tonight, the scoreboard read in their favor, and then the belief came real quick.”
The shorthanded Seahawks wrapped up their season with away losses to Delmar (65-35) Feb. 14 and Indian River Feb. 15 (50-39).
