Seaford boys’ basketball team earns home win over rival Woodbridge

The Woodbridge and Seaford varsity boys played out the triple header evening in the first matchup of two between the Henlopen South teams of the season. The sellout crowd enjoyed a fast paced rivalry play out on the court with Seaford outscoring the Blue Raiders for a 69-48 win. 

Seaford was led by senior Aizyon Matthews with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and six steals. The Blue Raiders’ Kamyrn Deshields had 19 points (no other game stats recorded by team). 

In the first quarter, Woodbridge’s TaSean Williams-Conway and DeShields scored the first points and defensively both teams blocked a shot. Seaford’s Areon Purnell, a dominant overlooked force on the floor, pulled in rebounds and steals setting up the first of three dunks by the Blue Jays for the lead. The teams went hard on man defense and included a dog fight for a loose ball and a forced back court on Woodbridge by Uriah Taylor-Brown on defense. Seaford led 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, Woodbridge’s defense tightened the score on two steals. The Blue Jays responded with a steal by Jahari Ross and a frustrating man defense that returned Seaford to a strong lead. Matthews controlled the floor with his moves to the basket including an “up and under” lay-up and then pulled the defense to dump ball to Enoch Purnell who worked the baseline for a 36-20 half-time lead. 

In the second half, DeShields took a hard foul and then finished a play with a Blue Raider dunk to bring the Woodbridge fans to their feet. 

The teams swapped baskets and a second dunk by DeShields and a three-point basket by Williams-Conway tightened the Seaford lead to nine points at the end of the third quarter. In the final quarter, Vincent Evans III, who had 8 assists in the game, scored on a drive to the basket and then set up the back screen and baseline pass for 13 point lead. The Blue Jays also controlled the fourth quarter boards for extra shots and points. The Blue Raiders Anthony Oliver fouled out and on an inbound play to Purnell, Seaford led 65-48. 

The Blue Jays used the clock to dwindle away time in the final minute to win the game. The Blue Jays improve to 7-3 on the season and the Blue Raiders fell to 6-4. 

Scoring: Seaford Aizyon Matthews 20, Vince Evans 15, Areon Purnell 14, Samorion Robinson 8. Woodbridge Kamryn DeShields 19, TaSean Williams-Conway 17, Mehki Everett 9.