Posted: Jan 12, 2017

Skipjacks use their 'D' to get offensive

WYE MILLS – The Skipjacks' philosophy is that offense should flow from defense. That's exactly what happened Wednesday night as Chesapeake College played lockdown defense during the middle two quarters of a 92-39 victory over visiting Frederick Community College.

The Cougars were within 16-14 after a first quarter that included some pretty lethargic defense from their hosts. Chesapeake, however, allowed just one field goal in the second period, rolling up a 29-6 advantage in the quarter to take control of the contest.

"Our defense always creates our offense," said Janice Ladson, who scored the first eight points of the second quarter, including a pair of baskets off Frederick turnovers. "We picked up the intensity and started coming up with steals, which helped get our offense started."

Ladson finished with 24 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals, but she shared the offensive spotlight with Emily Truitt and Shahra Madison. Truitt scored a game-high 31 points on an assortment of medium-to-long-range jumpers while Madison finished with a triple-double (20 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists).

"We just knew we had to pick it up on defense and focus on the game," said Madison.

Truitt agreed.

"We were a little sloppy in the first quarter, but we picked it up in the second quarter and kept it going in the second half," said Truitt. "This is a game we can build off of going forward."

Chesapeake head coach Gwen Barnes said her Skipjacks refocused after the unimpressive opening period.

"We talked about moving our feet, keeping our hands up and increasing our defensive intensity," Barnes said of the discussion between the first and second quarters.

Reeva Jackson (16 rebounds) made her only point of the night count, splitting a pair of free throws late in the first quarter to break a 13-13 tie and put the Skipjacks ahead to stay. Chesapeake (9-6 overall, 5-3 league) then took command at the start of the second quarter, scoring 14 straight points to build a 30-14 cushion.

After Ladson scored the first eight points of the quarter, Deondria Wimber and Madison kept the spurt going with layups and Truitt nailed a jumper to complete the run.

Four of the Skipjacks' first six baskets in the second quarter came in transition. Chesapeake also found success using its press-breaker as an offensive weapon, with Wimber nailing a layup and Truitt draining a 3-pointer when Frederick went to a press to try to slow the Skipjacks.

Ladson finished with 10 second-quarter points after a scoreless first period while Madison had 11 points in the opening half, which ended with the Skipjacks holding a commanding, 45-20 lead. Frederick (1-7, 1-6) used a layup from Kiara Campozano with 1:24 remaining in the half for its only field goal of the second quarter.

Chesapeake stretched its lead to 70-24 after three quarters, allowing just 10 points in the middle two periods. Aniss Grant scored a team-high 20 points for Frederick, but she was the only Cougar to reach double figures.

The Skipjacks are off until next Wednesday, when they travel to Allegany College of Maryland for a 5 p.m. contest with the Trojans (5-6, 3-2).