Sussex Academy boys wrap up three straight games

Seahawks struck down by Indians in final stanza of busy week

Sussex Academy freshman Mason Glover appears to be fouled by Indian River junior Alexander Behornar in the first quarter of the Seahawks' 51-33 loss to their Henlopen South rival. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Aaron R. Mushrush

January 20, 2025

Completing a task the NBA hasn’t seen since the days of Wilt Chamberlin, both of Sussex Academy basketball teams took to the hardwood three straight nights Jan. 15-17.

The boys wrapped things up with a 52-33 home loss against Henlopen South rival Indian River.

“I think after a tough game last night [Worcester Prep], in this game, we're down, both emotionally and physically,” said coach Brad Leinbach. “I don't think these juniors and our young freshmen are used to this grind. Of course, we have practice every day, but it's the mental fatigue, and you have to lock in and stay focused. Tonight, we saw a lot of defensive breakdowns; we saw a lot of lack of execution; and that's, I think, the mental fatigue of three games in a row.”

Sussex Academy led 14-10 after the first quarter thanks largely to Rico Nock’s eight points and Tyler Jarrell’s five. The tired factor, however, seemed to show its face in the second quarter, and the visitors took a 31-19 lead at the half, expanding to 44-27 after the third quarter.

“The lesson is: no playoff, no day off, you got to be prepared, both mentally and physically,” Leinbach said. “I think the biggest lesson for me as a coach is to teach the team is it's a mental grind now, and we're in a stretch where we have 14 games to go in about four weeks; this is going to be our routine, three games a week from the next month. Hopefully with a game like this, they can kind of understand it's a quick turnaround; it's a quick mental turnaround to where you got to get back up.”

Leinbach believes his guys were finding their places on the court during the three-game stretch, but the game's flow pulled them out of roles they were comfortable in and into ones they needed to be in. Nock, who has been leading the offensive charge, led the team with 15 points.

Sussex Academy’s next three-game week starts at 5:45 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Lake Forest and continues at home Thursday, Jan. 23 against Henlopen South leaders Early College School and wraps up in Laurel Friday, Jan. 24.