Big third quarter leads to Cape girls’ basketball nearly doubling up Ravens
Although they led by double digits at halftime, 28-17, the Cape girls’ basketball team wasn’t satisfied with their cushion and scored 23 points in the third quarter of the Vikings’ 57-30 win over Sussex Tech Jan. 14.
Coach Pat Woods said the players needed to shake off some rust, but the biggest difference coming out of halftime was an increase in shot quality.
“We know that if we get more possessions, meaning we take care of the ball, and we get rebounds and we get steals, we usually shoot a higher field goal percentage,” Woods said.
Freshman guard Mikaela Gordon started hot for the Vikings, scoring seven in the first quarter, but a feisty Ravens squad kept moving around, managing to stay within striking distance.
“We fine-tuned three things in the halftime: the press and trying to invite it a little bit more before we jumped it, and then just a couple of tweaks in their zone, where we want to be in it,” Woods said.
Cape senior Faith Re led the offensive outburst, netting 11 of her team-high 14 points in the third quarter mostly via the three, opening things on the inside for the likes of Amalia Fruchtman, Havyn Greene and Hayden Hudson.
“I thought that in the first half, it was just very physical; they caused a lot of turnovers on our part, and we just had to make adjustments, like moving the ball faster in the second half,” Re said.
Tying with Fruchtman for the team lead in points, Re credited her teammates for her big third quarter.
“I just had more opportunities to score because of what my teammates were making for me,” Re said. “I think that we spaced the floor way better, which allowed everybody to get more shots.”
Cape’s towers, Fruchtman (10), Greene (8) and Hudson (11) combined for nearly 30 rebounds in the contest, ensuring second chances for the Vikings or a short possession for the Ravens.
Prior to the game, Hudson was honored as the charter member of Cape’ 500-rebound club.
“Basketball has never been my main sport, so achieving something like that is really cool; I don't think I understand the significance of it, because I'm not the biggest basketball person, but it's just definitely cool,” Hudson said. “Being the first person to ever do it makes you feel important in a way.”
The senior said she enjoys the intensity of basketball and helping her teammates by utilizing her strengths.
