Top-ranked
Smyrna (Del.) ended the year on a high note with a nail-biting 49-47 win over St. Vincent Pallotti (Md.) to win the New Castle Insurance Cup at the annual Diamond State Classic girls basketball tournament Thursday evening.
The Eagles (8-0) put together an 11-3 run in the final five minutes to ice what coach James Kiger called his team's best effort since his return to coaching.
"I was very excited to get a win over a team the caliber of St. Vincent Pallotti," Kiger said. "I am extremely proud of our girls, especially on the defensive end of the court. They played as well together as a team as I have seen in the two years I have been back coaching at Smyrna.
Betnijah Laney clearly imposed her will at the end of the game and she proved why she is such a highly recruited athlete. I am very proud of her effort and that of the entire team."
The Smyrna defense was tenacious in the final five minutes, forcing four turnovers and four missed shots. After Laney sank one of two free throws to put the Eagles up 49-47 with 11 seconds remaining, St. Vincent managed to get off two final shots, but the first was blocked by James Madison-bound
Crystal Ross and the second missed long as the buzzer sounded.
Kiger said Laney, who finished with a game-high 27 points, including hitting nine of 11 free throws, won't make her college decision until April but has narrowed her choices to Duke, Oklahoma and Rutgers.