’Jacks reach state finals with another defensive gem
BEL AIR – Montgomery College came into Saturday's state semifinals averaging 76.5 points per game, fifth-best among NJCAA Division III women's basketball teams.
The Raptors were held to about half of that against a Chesapeake College defense that was in lockdown mode.
Second-seeded Chesapeake (19-1) held the third-seeded Raptors to 17 percent field-goal shooting on the way to a dominating, 64-38 triumph. The defending champions built a 40-23 halftime cushion and led by as many as 30 points to reach Sunday's noon title game.
"Again, they answered the call about keeping people under 50 points," said Chesapeake head coach Damon Nichols, whose team has held its last five opponents under 50 and is allowing an average of 44.6 points per game over that stretch. "We're getting closer and closer to playing a complete defensive game. Little things like boxing out could help even more. "
Chesapeake will play top-seeded Harford Community College in Sunday's title game. The Owls defeated fourth-seeded CCBC-Dundalk, 63-47, in Saturday's other state semifinal.
Harford (25-2) handed the Skipjacks their only regular-season loss and their only home loss over the last two years – a favor Chesapeake would like to repay Sunday against the tournament-host Owls.
Chesapeake was at its defensive best late in Saturday's first half, holding the Raptors scoreless for a period of 4:15 as the Skipjacks went on a 12-0 run. Sydney Small (game-high 20 points) and Dejhonae Cannady (10 points, 10 rebounds) each had four points during the run as Chesapeake built a 28-13 lead to take control of the game.
Pretty much everything the Skipjacks tried defensively worked, starting with their base 1-2-2 zone.
"We used the 1-2-2 Thursday (in a quarterfinal win over Baltimore City Community College) and played really well in it, so we decided that's what works for us right now and we stuck with it," said Small.
Nichols then mixed in the full-court pressure with good results.
"When we put pressure on them, they got rattled, so we kept it on," said Nichols. "When we went into our full-court pressure it woke us up and we got control."
Chesapeake's defensive tenacity was nicely complemented by an efficient offensive attack, particularly in the first half. All 13 of Chesapeake's two-pointers in the first half were layups while Small knocked down a trio of treys on the way to 16 points at the break.
"We were getting back-door cuts on them all day," said Denver Clyde, who had 14 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the Skipjacks.
"We talked about getting the ball inside and then going inside-to-outside because that's where the best shots come from," said Small. "They were kicking it out to me and I was getting those good rhythm shots."
Montgomery, ranked sixth in the nation in NJCAA Division III, made one small run as Jocelyn Martin sank a pair of free throws and Jartu Toweh drilled a 3-pointer to pull the Raptors with 42-28 just 90 seconds into the second half. Chesapeake, however, answered with a 9-2 spurt that started with three more layups, two by Cannady, to stretch the lead to 51-30.
Chesapeake, ranked 18th in NJCAA Division II, had its biggest lead at 62-32 on a pair of Rose Smith free throws with 5:37 remaining before the Skipjacks eased their foot off the pedal.
Skipjack point guard Brittany Taylor (three points) had as many assists (six) as the entire Montgomery squad and also had a game-high four steals. Smith (seven points, five rebounds) and Najah Chambers (six points, nine rebounds) helped the Skipjacks finish with a 65-57 rebounding advantage.
Toweh was the only Raptor to reach double figures, scoring 12 points but only making 5-of-20 shots. Jameelah Thalley (3-for-13) and Kapria Redparth (3-for-7, 14 rebounds) each added seven points while Martin (0-for-12, 13 rebounds) had six points on 6-for-10 shooting from the line.
While the Skipjacks have only lost once this season, Clyde can see a difference in the team from the start of the season to now.
"We definitely have picked it up defensively and we're coming together as a team," said Clyde.