WILMINGTON — Sanford ‘s boys basketball team overcame the loss of two starters late in the third period, taking control and defeating St. Elizabeth, 58-51, on Feb. 16 at a sold-out St. E Center. It was the first loss of the season for the Vikings, the last remaining undefeated team, boys or girls, in the state.
Sanford trailed by a point at halftime, but a three-pointer from Jordan Spencer early in the third gave them a 31-26 lead. The Vikings eventually regained the lead on a bucket by Aiden Tobiason, but Marquis Newsom answered immediately to put the Warriors back on top with 3:45 to go.
The Warriors added two points to the lead before things got a bit scary inside the building. Spencer and teammate Kareem Hart were going for a loose ball when they banged heads, sending both players to the floor. Kenny Hunter Jr. picked up the ball and laid it in for St. Elizabeth, and the referees then blew play dead with 2:39 to go in the quarter.
The game was stopped for nearly 10 minutes as trainers and others attended to the injured Warriors. Hart was cut but eventually walked off under his own power with a bandage on his forehead, while Spencer got up and was led out of the St. E Center.
The remaining Warriors did not miss a beat and instead appeared extra-motivated after the collision. Jayden Taylor, who was a force inside all night, scored twice in the paint, and Stephen Conway drained a triple as the lead grew to 44-36. Julius Wright ended the 7-0 run with a three from the corner, pulling the Vikings within five heading into the fourth.
Sanford slowed their pace in the fourth, and although they did not make a field goal the entire quarter, St. Elizabeth could not get closer than four. They scored all 14 of their points from the free throw line, with Nico McNeill taking 10 free throws and making eight.
Tobiason scored underneath to make it 50-46 at one point, and then, with 1:09 remaining, he made a pair of free throws to get St. E to within four again at 52-48. Sanford scored the next six points before Tobiason closed out the scoring with a three-pointer.
Taylor had 17 to lead the Warriors. Conway added 14 and McNeill 10, most in the fourth after he came in for Hart. Sanford (14-4) hosts Caravel on Feb. 19 at 5 p.m.
Kenny Hunter Jr. had 15 for St. Elizabeth, and Tobiason had 13. The Vikings (18-1) close out the regular season on Tuesday with another stiff test, this one at Middletown at 5:30 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
