Members of Deptford High School’s girls basketball team defeated Pitman High School, 44-42, in overtime on Feb. 22.
Deptford High School’s girls basketball team capped off its season with a bang on Feb. 22 by defeating Pitman High in overtime, 44-42, to win the tri-county conference tournament bracket.
The Spartans – whose players competed in the flight C bracket – trailed Pitman 32-35 heading into the fourth quarter, but they were able to force an overtime by tying the game at 40 and eventually emerged victorious.
“The win was very special to our team,” said head coach Elizabeth Faulkner. “It finished our season with good momentum for next year and also was a great way for our seniors to finish their careers as Spartans.”
The Spartans went into the tournament as underdogs after a regular-season record of 9-12, but they managed to secure a first-round bye for the top seed before heading into the semifinals of the tournament. They then put on the gas at the tri-county tournament and defeated Pittsgrove’s Arthur P. Schalick High School, 44-41, in the semifinals.
Faulkner credits the team’s eight seniors – Rylie Dengler, Madeline Andersen, Brianna Morgan, Rachel Farr, Brenna Ivey, McKenna Crowley, Kenya Jones and Melissa Reyes – for making the team what it is today.
“I am proud of our eight seniors for helping build a great team culture for the future,” she noted. “We all, players and coaches, have high expectations for next year.”
The team’s younger players also contributed to the Spartans’ run, including freshman Chayline Morine, who recorded 19 points, 18 rebounds and 12 steals – gaining a triple double – in the finals. For both the regular season and tournament, the team scored 787 points. The school district would later share the news of the tournament victory on its social media pages.
“Congratulations to coach Faulkner and the girls on a strong finish to their season,” the district’s post read.
