'Jacks break even at Harford tourney

By BENJAMIN BRUNNER

NORTH EAST – "I am pleased, but we still have a lot to work on," said head coach Gwen Barnes in summing up Chesapeake College's results in the Harford Hoops Classic this weekend.

Harford Community College hosted the four-team women's basketball event, which also included Chesapeake, Northern Virginia Community College, and ASA College.  Chesapeake fell to ASA College, 62-50, on Friday; the Skipjacks were victorious on Saturday, with a 76-50 win over NoVa.

Saturday's game was a repeat of Chesapeake's last meeting against Northern Virginia, with Barnes attributing the Skipjacks' success against NoVa to "defensive intensity". The winning effort was led by guard Janice Ladson (20 points, four assists, three rebounds). Shahra Madison (nine points) led on defense with 11 rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.

Emily Truitt (11 points, two assists, two rebounds) shined on offense in the first quarter, with three 3-pointers. Chantelle Gross (11 points, six assists, five rebounds) also made two 3-pointers. The Skipjacks made 52 percent of their field goals in the first half while outscoring the Nighthawks, 43-29.

In the third quarter, Chesapeake again dominated NoVa, outscoring the Nighthawks, 22-6, before NoVa won the final quarter, 15-11.  Jasmine Collier (seven rebounds) and Mikaela Cunningham combined for 10 fourth-quarter points while each finished with seven points for the game.

Genesis Flores led the Nighthawks with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Caitlyn Riley and Sheila Sherrill each scored 10 points.

Deondria Wimber (eight points, seven rebounds), Chandni Taylor (seven points, three rebounds), and Kristian Saunders (six points, four rebounds) also made strong contributions for the Skipjacks.  Netori Nesbit (two points, seven rebounds, steal) and Reeva Jackson (two points, steal, block) provided key defensive contributions.

In Friday's game against the Avengers, Madison led the way with 14 points and 15 rebounds.  Ladson had an impressive overall showing (10 points, three assists, six rebounds, one steal) while Gross (team-high six assists) and Truitt each scored seven points.

Unfortunately for the Skipjacks, Chesapeake turned the ball over 22 times and ASA capitalized, scoring 20 points off turnovers. Chesapeake had an 18-11 lead after one quarter, but the Avengers blitzed Chesapeake, 19-5, in the second period to take a 30-23 halftime lead.

Adrianna Cordoba scored a game-high 19 points for the Avengers while teammate Amber Wilson had a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds.  Sakara Hester-Torres led ASA's defense with five steals.

Host Harford (6-0) annihilated Northern Virginia, 118-39, and defeated ASA, 88-67.  Daisa Harris totaled 56 points for Harford in the two games, including 32 points, seven assists and four steals against ASA.

The Skipjacks will host CCBC-Catonsville on Tuesday at 5 p.m.