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Trailing for most of the contest and by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter, Caesar Rodney girls basketball coach Bill Victory was still confident in his team's prospects against host Smyrna Friday night.
"I just believed if we kept going we could get them. Their players can't do what our players can do," Victory said after the Riders, led by junior center Chakia Young's 10 fourth-quarter points, stunned the Eagles 50-49 in an early Henlopen North showdown. "I knew we could get them."
"Coach said we can blame anybody, but when it comes down to it, it's about how bad we want it," said Young, who broke a 49-all tie with a free throw with 10 seconds left in the game.
Before Young's clutch free throw, Caesar Rodney (2- 1 overall, 2-1 Henlopen North) were trying desperately to catch up to the Eagles, the defending conference champions.
Led by junior forward Brionna Johnson (15 points) and sophomore guard Alexus Stroud (12 points), the Eagles (3-1 overall, 2-1 Henlopen North) led 43-32 with five minutes remaining in the game. But as Johnson and center Kamerra Matthews fouled out, the Riders made their move.
After Young (CR's leading scorer with 13 points) converted a lay-up and a free throw to shrink the Smyrna lead to two points, the Eagles turned the ball over and were called for a technical foul for having six players on the court. Sophomore guard Alexis Prillaman then hit both technical free throws to tie the game. Young was fouled on the next Rider possession and hit the first of two free throws for the final margin. Stroud's game winning attempt went long and Caesar Rodney could lay claim to a major early season victory.
"This might be what we need to get us going," Victory said. "I'm so proud of these girls, they're my little warriors. They brought a lot of fight tonight."
"This is huge for us because this lets us know we can be better than what we think we are," Young said.
E-mail Chris Stevens at chris.stevens@doverpost.com
Trailing for most of the contest and by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter, Caesar Rodney girls basketball coach Bill Victory was still confident in his team's prospects against host Smyrna Friday night.
"I just believed if we kept going we could get them. Their players can't do what our players can do," Victory said after the Riders, led by junior center Chakia Young's 10 fourth-quarter points, stunned the Eagles 50-49 in an early Henlopen North showdown. "I knew we could get them."
"Coach said we can blame anybody, but when it comes down to it, it's about how bad we want it," said Young, who broke a 49-all tie with a free throw with 10 seconds left in the game.
Before Young's clutch free throw, Caesar Rodney (2- 1 overall, 2-1 Henlopen North) were trying desperately to catch up to the Eagles, the defending conference champions.
Led by junior forward Brionna Johnson (15 points) and sophomore guard Alexus Stroud (12 points), the Eagles (3-1 overall, 2-1 Henlopen North) led 43-32 with five minutes remaining in the game. But as Johnson and center Kamerra Matthews fouled out, the Riders made their move.
After Young (CR's leading scorer with 13 points) converted a lay-up and a free throw to shrink the Smyrna lead to two points, the Eagles turned the ball over and were called for a technical foul for having six players on the court. Sophomore guard Alexis Prillaman then hit both technical free throws to tie the game. Young was fouled on the next Rider possession and hit the first of two free throws for the final margin. Stroud's game winning attempt went long and Caesar Rodney could lay claim to a major early season victory.
"This might be what we need to get us going," Victory said. "I'm so proud of these girls, they're my little warriors. They brought a lot of fight tonight."
"This is huge for us because this lets us know we can be better than what we think we are," Young said.
E-mail Chris Stevens at chris.stevens@doverpost.com
