’Jacks rise to the occasion, repeat as state champs
BEL AIR – This was the opponent they wanted, at the venue they wanted. The Skipjacks then went out and ensured the result that they wanted, using a 59-53 victory over host Harford Community College Sunday afternoon to repeat as state women’s basketball tournament champs.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Denver Clyde posted game-highs in points (17) and rebounds (18) as the second-seeded Skipjacks (20-1) beat top-seeded Harford to avenge their only loss of the season.
“We put it all out on the court this time,” said Clyde, contrasting Sunday’s gutty win with the 70-47 loss to Harford on January 7th. “We didn’t give up. We had some mistakes in the beginning today, but we just fought through them.”
“This time we played like we had something to prove,” said Rose Smith, whose basket with 30 seconds left gave the Skipjacks a 57-53 lead to help nail down the championship.
Smith – who finished with eight points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots – said the 23-point pounding Harford handed the Skipjacks made Sunday’s title-game win that much sweeter.
“It feels better because they beat us to hand us our only loss,” said Smith, comparing this year’s title to last year’s championship. “To come here and beat them in their house, it feels pretty good.”
Najah Chambers, who sprained her left ankle early in the second half but came back to join Clyde in double figures with 12 points, said the season has been a journey filled with ups and downs.
“At the end of the day, we pulled it together,” said Chambers. “We finally realized we’re all here on this team for one reason – to win basketball games.”
“Today we were more focused and we played defense, which we’ve been doing much better lately,” said Chesapeake head coach Damon Nichols, contrasting his team’s two games against Harford. “My kids wanted this game. They played with heart. This is the game we’ve all been talking about.”
The title game featured a dozen ties and 10 lead changes, with the last of both coming in a 9-0 run that the Skipjacks used to take the lead for good. Sydney Small sank a pair of free throws with 8:14 remaining to start the surge, tying the game at 43-43, and Chambers hit both ends of a one-and-one with 6:48 left to put Chesapeake ahead to stay.
Clyde, the MVP of last year’s Region XX tournament, took it from there. The sophomore forward scored off an offensive rebound and then buried a 3-pointer, finishing off the run to give Chesapeake a 50-43 cushion.
There were still some anxious moments ahead for the Skipjacks. Harford twice pulled within two points, the last time at 55-53 on Na’Kya Keitt’s jumper in the lane with 1:28 remaining. That set the stage for what may have been the play that assured the championship.
Clyde had the ball in the lane, but was challenged by a Harford defender who stepped up. Clyde then shoveled a pass across the lane to Smith, who laid the ball in with 30 seconds remaining for a 57-53 lead.
Brittany Taylor (nine points, six rebounds) and Small (nine points) each split a pair of free throws in the waning seconds to lock up the title.
Chesapeake used a 6-0 run late in the first half to take a 31-27 lead into the break. Harford then made a bid to gain control early in the second half, using a 7-0 tear to wipe out a 36-31 deficit.
Shelby Key (12 points) started the surge by hitting a jumper and Tiffany Taylor (nine points) buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key to draw Harford even, 36-36. Keitt (14 points) scored a transition layup with 11:33 remaining to cap the run and give Harford a 38-36 lead.
Chesapeake, however, rallied behind point guard Taylor, who joined Clyde on the all-tournament team.
Taylor tied the game, 38-38, with a layup to stop the Owls’ run. After Harford’s Key split a pair of free throws, Taylor drained a long 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key to give Chesapeake a 41-39 lead with 9:34 remaining.
Harford reclaimed the lead on layups by Key and Capree Garner (team-high 16 points) before Chesapeake’s 9-0 run put the Skipjacks in front to stay.
Notes: The Skipjacks are off until the NJCAA Division II Region XX championship tournament March 1-3 at Frederick Community College. Chesapeake, undefeated against Division II opponents this season, will almost assuredly be the No. 1 seed as the Skipjacks seek to repeat as region champs and advance again to the national tournament. . . .
The Skipjacks are allowing just 46 points per game over their last six games, including their three state tournament games. . . .
Clyde, Smith and Katara Pressley are the only players from last year’s team who are also on this year’s squad, making them the program’s first two-time state champions.
photo by C.J. Harbach
Denver Clyde, MVP of the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference women’s basketball state tournament, helps cut down the net Sunday after Chesapeake College’s 59-53 title-game win over Harford Community College.
photo by Harriette Lowery
Sydney Small happily participates in cutting down the net after Chesapeake College’s 59-53 win over Harford Community College in Sunday’s state women’s basketball tournament title game.
photo by Eric Lowery
Chesapeake College head women’s basketball coach Damon Nichols celebrates the Skipjacks’ second consecutive state women’s basketball championship after Sunday’s 59-53 title-game win over Harford Community College.
photo by Bobby Parker
Chesapeake College’s Denver Clyde, left, was named MVP of the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference women’s basketball state tournament, which took place at Harford Community College. Clyde, who was the MVP of last year’s Region XX tournament, is congratulated by Harford Community College Assistant Athletic Director Donna Grove.