Cape girls fall in second round to Sanford
The Cape girls’ basketball team’s season came to a end Feb. 26, with a 57-54 loss to Sanford School at the Struthers Sports Center in Hockessin.
The 11th-seeded Vikings quickly jumped out to a lead, taking No. 6 Sanford by surprise by putting up four three-pointers in the first three-and-a-half minutes to take 11-2 and 16-7 leads before the Warriors got on track. But Sanford bounced back with a high-pressure defense and physicality to close out the first quarter on a 7-0 run to pull within two at 16-14.
The Warriors controlled the second quarter, causing six turnovers. With the Vikings trailing 29-24, Faith Re hit a three with 26 seconds left in the half to cut Cape’s deficit to 29-27 at halftime.
Sanford controlled much of the third, but with 3:07 left, Amalia Fruchtman was fouled hard and had to leave the game. Cape coach Pat Woods inserted freshman Laura Karen Lima, who sank the two free throws, and then Cape went on a 10-5 run to close the quarter trailing just 44-40.
Sanford built the lead back to 52-44 in the fourth, but Cape went on another 10-5 run. All of the Warriors’ points in the final three minutes came from the free-throw line as the Vikings fouled to change possession. Maya Yngve hit a three, while Re hit a two and a three to cut the lead to 55-52 with 14 seconds left, but the Vikings could not get any closer.
Re led the Vikings with 23 points, including five three-pointers. She also contributed six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
“I’m really disappointed with this loss,” said the emotional senior guard. “We fought til the end and we did what we could do. Amalia getting hurt definitely hurt us, but at the end of the day, they were making a lot of their shots. They were a great team. It was good competition for us.”
Fruchtman tallied six points and four rebounds before leaving the game with an injury. Yngve put up nine points and two steals. Freshmen Mikaela Gordon and Lima played tough off the bench.
Re and forward Hayden Hudson played every minute of the game, with Hudson collecting six rebounds, eight points and four assists.
“This season was my favorite,” said Hudson. “I feel like our team became a real family, and that’s what makes it hard to say it’s over. I’m really proud of how far we came. At the end, we really became ourselves. We reached our full potential at the end. I’m just so incredibly proud of the girls because I know they are all so amazing. I’ll miss them terribly.”
Senior Havyn Greene scored six points and grabbed six rebounds. She also made two blocks.
“I’m so proud of these girls,” said Greene. “I love each and every one of them. We came into this with nothing to lose. We had to either go big or go home. We went big and left it all on the court. I think our energy was spot on. Our communication, our defense and offense was spot on. I’m really proud of this team.”
“I’m very happy with the way we played tonight,” said Woods. “We were right there. There are a couple minor adjustments I would make if I got to do it again, but overall I am proud of our team. They’ve been a blessing to me and to each other all year. They really care about our program and one another. Our seniors gave everything they had tonight knowing any playoff game could be their last. Our underclassmen did their best as well. I often wonder, what’s more important in life, achievement or discovery? I think tonight we discovered that we belong, and good things happen when you don’t hold back and simply go for it. I hope for our girls to take that with them the rest of their lives.”
Cape closes their 2025 campaign at 14-8. The Warriors move on to play No. 3 Smyrna.
