Delaware Wave

Lady Knights have no answers for CR

By S. Wayne Carter Jr.
Staff Reporter

 

A lack of depth and the inability to keep Caesar Rodney from grabbing rebound after rebound cost Sussex Central High School's girls basketball team their second-straight loss, 76-57, and their third defeat in four games Tuesday night, Jan. 6.         

"We let them get a little too many offensive rebounds and too many shots," said Lady Knights Head Coach Sara Layfield. "We allowed too many uncontested lay-ups. We weren't picking their girls up quick enough. We weren't rotating."                 

CR outscored Central in every quarter. While Central scored on most of their own opportunities or drew fouls, they had no answers for the Riders big girls in the paint.

 

Caesar Rodney's April Jackson, Nakia Anderson and Micki Younger were too much, using their height and athleticism to snag their own boards for put-back shots, which pushed the Riders ahead by as much as 12 points before halftime.

 

 

 

 

 

Lady Knight Tia Felton splits a double team

by Caesar Rodney's Ashlee Miller (10) and

Rachel Hultman. She scored 16 points in a

losing effort for Sussex Central.

Wave Photo by Diane Cebula

Solid first-half efforts from Tia Felton and Brittany Cox -- both of whom came off the bench for Sussex Central -- kept the Lady Knights within eight points, 39-31, at the intermission.

"It's one of those games, we felt like we were in it at the half, but Caesar Rodney just came out ready to play [in the second half], and we didn't," said Layfield.

Ten of Caesar Rodney's 11 players scored, as the Riders spread the ball around. Eight girls managed six points or more for CR. Anderson led them with 16 points, Patricia Millner added 11 -- five in the fourth quarter -- and Brittani Shells, Rae Everson and Younger each had eight.

Felton, Central's leading scorer on the season, had 16 points, but for the most part was held in check by the Riders' physical play. The freshman star hit just three field goals, including one 3-pointer, while the Riders did not allow her to drive uncontested to the basket, instead sending her to the free-throw line where she hit 9-of-15.

Caesar Rodney was not afraid to foul, putting Central in the bonus quickly in both halves, while the Lady Knights tried to stay out of foul trouble because of a much more shallow bench than the Riders.

"It certainly helps when you have a lot more girls to go through," said Layfield of the Riders' ability to foul. "They have a deeper bench than we do, numbers wise."

Still, the Lady Knights found ways to keep the game interesting. Offensively, Candice Shockley provided a spark in the third quarter when she scored seven of her 13 points, including a wide-open 3-pointer.

Shockley, an All-Conference player as a sophomore last season, also made plays on defense, grabbing four steals in the second half.

"Candice is turning into a great leader on the court," Layfield said. " She's picking up her defense; offensively, she's always had it."

Layfield also pointed out the efforts of Cox, who scored 13 and pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. "She had a pretty good day," the coach added.

Spirited efforts from Monica Turnage, Sara Lawrence and a late 3-pointer by Shannette White weren't enough in the final frame for the Lady Knights though, who had already fallen behind by nearly 20 points.

"We're still working on ironing out some wrinkles in our game, just getting back from the holiday break," Layfield said. "We'll be okay."

Caesar Rodney improved to 3-3 with the win and followed it up by trouncing Indian River Thursday, Jan. 8 64-24.

At 4-3 after the loss, Sussex Central got back on track with wins over Woodbridge and Wilmington-Christian 64-49 and 49-41. They now begin a five-game tour of the Henlopen South, the first four of which are on the road, starting with Indian River Tuesday night, Jan. 13. Results were not available by press time.

Central does not play at home again until Tuesday, Jan. 27 when the Lady Knights host Lake Forest at 7:15 p.m.

Reach S. Wayne Carter Jr. at (302) 537-1881, ext. 105, or by e-mail at wcarter@smgpo.gannett.com.