BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team cruised past visiting Northern of Calvert County in the first-round of the state 3A-South regional on Wednesday to advance in the tournament.
The Seahawks, seeded first in their sectional in the 3A-South got a huge performance from their big man, center Tyler Hunter, to start to third quarter to settle the issue once and for all against the visiting Patriots. Decatur led 35-19 at the half, and although they held a 16 point lead at intermission, the huge home crowd was not yet willing to relax and claim the victory.
However, Hunter took over for much of the third as the Seahawks steadily pulled away. Hunter scored two quick baskets to start the third and extend the lead to 20 points at 39-19, then had a big block in the defensive end to bring the crowd to its feet. Hunter scored again on a nice assist from P.J. Copes for his third of seven straight baskets to start the third quarter. His baseline jumper with 3:38 remaining in the period put the Seahawks ahead, 47-26.
While Hunter was dominating for much of the third quarter, it was a mini-run by Colen Gaynor to close out the period that really buried the Patriots. Gaynor scored on a fast break lay-up with under a minute to play in the third, then hit a little runner in the paint before another steal and lay-up, all within the closing seconds of the third. His six-point outburst put the Seahawks ahead, 61-35, at the end of the third.
Decatur continued to apply pressure at both ends of the court in the fourth and cruised to the 79-50 win. With the win, the Seahawks advanced and played Bennett at home again last night in a game played too late to be included in this edition.