By Mike McClure

The Seaford varsity boys’ basketball team entered last Thursday’s road contest against Laurel without starting point guard Vince Evans, who picked up two technical fouls in the previous game against Woodbridge and could not play. The Blue Jays’ other players stepped up to lead the team to a 58-49 win over the rival Bulldogs.

“It feels good because we knew we had to stay together as a team,” said sophomore Mikey Matthews. “It was a good team win.”

Laurel’s Kei’Shaun Copes drives the baseline against Seaford’s Areon Purnell. Photo by Mike McClure

“We knew we were missing our star point guard and scorer but we had to get it done,” added junior Aizyon Matthews.

Laurel’s Brock Hill had a three-pointer and a steal and feed to Kei’Shaun Copes to give his team a 5-4 lead. Seaford’s Aizyon Matthews hit a three-pointer and Mikey Matthews made a basket before Hill’s three-pointer kept the Bulldogs within a point. Aizyon Matthews added two more points off a feed from Areon Purnell for an 11-8 Seaford lead through one quarter of play.

The Blue Jays opened the second quarter with 11 unanswered points as Aizyon Matthews made a three and Mikey Matthews, Jordan Smith, and Brendan West each scored a basket. Laurel scored the next seven points to make the score 22-15. Za-Bryan Eley capped the rally with a three-pointer on a feed from Hill. Smith responded with a three-pointer and West added a field goal for a 27-15 Seaford lead going into half-time.

Aizyon Matthews led all scorers with 10 first half points, Smith had seven, and Mikey Matthews added six points. Hill scored six points and Copes added five for the Bulldogs.

Laurel opened the second half with a 9-2 run to move within five points at 29-24. Copes scored a basket and had an assist and Khalid Burton netted five points, including a three-pointer, and made a steal.

Mikey Matthews scored off a feed from Aizyon Matthews and converted a three-point play. Aizyon Matthews netted three points and Smith made a free throw for an eight point Seaford lead. Burton dished out an assist to Hill and made a pair of foul shots to make the score 36-32 going into the final quarter. Burton scored nine points in the quarter and Copes added six.

Copes scored a basket in the post off an assist from Burton to move Laurel within two to open the fourth quarter. Seaford made three of four foul shots and Smith hit a three-pointer to go ahead, 42-34.

Eley netted five points and Hill made a jumper off a feed from Eley to keep Laurel within five. Laurel’s Asante Lofland scored on a putback and Seaford committed a turnover with 3:49 left.

Smith made another three to extend the Blue Jays’ lead to five, then Seaford started making free throws. Mikey Matthews made all four of his foul shots and Aizyon Matthews went two-for-two. Smith added a basket at the end of the game for a 58-49 Seaford win.

Smith filled in at point guard for Evans. “We knew what we had to do,” he said.

“We watched the film, we knew what they were going to do,” said Aizyon Matthews.

Smith scored eight fourth quarter points, Aizyon Matthews had six, and Mikey Matthews added five. Hill tallied six points in the quarter and Eley added five for the Bulldogs.

Aizyon Matthews led Seaford with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists; Smith had 16 points and two steals; and Mikey Matthews contributed 14 points and two steals. 

Hill netted 14 points and made three steals; Copes had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Burton added 12 points and three steals.