’Jacks get defensive, rout BCCC in playoff opener

BEL AIR – Even while compiling a 17-1 regular-season record, Chesapeake College only rarely displayed the suffocating defense that paved the way for state and region women's basketball titles last year.

The playoffs are here – and the Skipjacks' stifling defense has returned.  Second-seeded Chesapeake College (18-1) held seventh-seeded Baltimore City Community College (11-15) to 24 percent shooting from the field Thursday afternoon in a 70-47 state tournament quarterfinal win at Harford Community College.

"That's our main focus," said Rose Smith, who had game highs in rebounds (12) and blocked shots (five) to anchor the defensive effort.  "We know our offense is there.  We just have to pick it up on defense."

Chesapeake advanced to an 11 a.m. semifinal Saturday morning against third-seeded Montgomery College.  The Raptors (19-5) rallied past sixth-seeded Hagerstown Community College, 65-61 in overtime, in another quarterfinal matchup.

Chesapeake head coach Damon Nichols, who challenged his team on several occasions during the regular season to play better defensively, said he repeated the challenge before Thursday's contest.

"I told them, 'Offense wins games, defense wins championships – which do you want?' " said Nichols, whose team harassed BCCC with 18 steals and 12 blocked shots.  "We're playing good defense.  This was the third straight game we've held an opponent under 50 points."

Dejhonae Cannady said the Skipjacks realized what was on the line.

"It's basically a one-and-done thing," Cannady said of the postseason format.  "We want to take the sophomores out with a bang."

Chesapeake's balance and depth were other critical factors in the win. Four Skipjacks reached double figures and six contributed as least eight points while Chesapeake's bench outscored BCCC's reserves, 39-0.

"I think it's because we're starting to play more as a team and we're sharing the ball more," said Smith.

Denver Clyde (11 rebounds) scored a team-high 14 points, Cannady (six steals) added 13, Brittany Taylor (eight assists) had 12, and Sydney Small contributed 10.  Smith (nine points) and Najah Chambers (eight points, five rebounds) also contributed offensively.

Chesapeake's defense overshadowed a ragged first-half offensive performance that included 32 percent shooting from the field.  The Skipjacks, however, built a 32-20 lead at the break by holding BCCC to 19 percent field-goal shooting, forcing 13 turnovers and benefiting from a slew of missed layups by the Panthers.

"We know we need to play defense – no lazy fouls, play hard, and close out," said Cannady.

Chesapeake broke the game open early in the second half with a 12-0 run keyed by more turnovers forced by the Skipjacks' defense.  Cannady had two hoops during the spurt, which included points from four different Skipjacks, as Chesapeake opened up a 46-22 lead.

"Defense creates offense," noted Nichols.  "We have to let our defense create our offense at times."

Chesapeake put an end to meaningful hostilities a few minutes later as Smith scored two baskets in a 6-0 surge that took the lead to 59-28.  The Panthers didn't break 30 points until midway through the second half.

Iman Scott (game-high 16 points, 12 rebounds) scored nine of BCCC's first 11 points, keeping the jittery Panthers in the game early despite a series of missed layups and inside shots. Chesapeake began to take control with an 8-0 run, built around two transition layups and a pair of free throws from Cannady, to open up a 24-15 lead.

The Skipjacks took their lead to double digits by scoring the final five points of the first half on a Taylor 3-pointer and another Cannady transition layup for a 32-20 lead.

Notes:  Smith, who proved to be a sparkplug for the Skipjacks in last year's postseason, appears ready to play that role again.  "Rose was great," said Nichols.  "She gave us exactly what we needed." . . .

Tashay Smith (12 points) and Cindy Kolade (10 points) joined Scott in double figures for BCCC. . . .

In two games against BCCC this season, Chesapeake's bench outscored the Panthers' subs, 73-4.