Records, Repeats, Rejoicing – Decatur’s Title Had It All

This wasn’t suppose to be Stephen Decatur’s year. They had graduated 5 key seniors last year, way before losing their coach to her battle with cancer. They fell to Pocomoke at home. The cards were stacked against them.

None of that mattered on Thursday.

Stephen Decatur claimed their back to back conference championship after they defeated Kent Island 56-38. The win was made even more special as senior star guard Dayona Godwin poured in a game high 28 points, and eclipsed the 2,000 point mark in her career.

The teams would be in a battle early on as the Buc’s tough defense kept them close. Olivia Diphilippo scored a couple buckets in transition as her team would battle to a 10-10 tie after the first. That’s when the Seahawks offense got going, led by Godwin. She poured in 12 of her 28 points in the second quarter alone, as her team grabbed the lead going into halftime. Then in the second half, several other pieces for Decatur got rolling. Lexie VanKirk was able to hit the offensive glass and score a couple shots down low while Rachel Florek had a tremendous effort, connecting on several shot ranged jumpers. The lead would swell to double digits headed to the 4th. There, Kent Island would make a push. Ali Patchett would crank up the defensive pressure and add a couple scores in transition, while Se’Ry Miles would be able to knock in a couple as well to get their team within 6. 

But Godwin wasn’t going to let the game slip away. She connected on a couple shots in the paint, before drilling a three from the left wing to hit the 2,000 point mark. Decatur would ride their defense the rest of the way, to pull out their 2nd straight Bayside Championship.

Both teams will now head to the Maryland State Playoffs, where they await the conclusion of the first round to find out who they will play.