Tatnall Boys Basketball January 20, 2022

Last Thursday, The Tatnall Hornets Boys Varsity Basketball team suffered their first defeat of the year at the hands of defending state champion and long-time conference rival Sanford. Tatnall, looking to defeat Sanford for the second consecutive time at home, opened the game well on offense. Captain Isaiah Sales '23 splashed a trio of triples in the first period, including a gorgeous step-back over a defender that gave the Hornets a 14-10 early lead. Captain Brody Clayton '22, in his first game back, dropped five early points. He opened the scoring for Tatnall with a driving layup and converted a huge corner three later in the period off an Isaiah Sales offensive rebound. The game was nip and tuck in the second, with captain Caleb Sales '22 dropping in a midrange runner to get the Hornets back the lead at 18-17 with 3:47 left in the first half. After a timeout, Caleb was again able to beat his defender to the spot and drain another midrange beauty. 

The score was knotted at 22 at the half, but Sanford was able to pull away in the third quarter. The Hornets' effort never waned, though. Isaiah Sales dove out of bounds to save a loose ball to captain MarQuel Fitzgerald '23, who swung it to Eli Baffone '24. His acrobatic finish in the lane through contact brought the Hornets to within a bucket, trailing 27-25. However, the Warriors went on another run and led 33-27 when Caleb Sales finally hit a tough jumper. Down nine with 2:30 left in the third, Isaiah Sales was able to drive through the defense for a challenging score. Tatnall found themselves down 36-29 as the fourth started. Caleb Sales set up Jace Banks '25 for a sweet trey from the corner with five minutes left, but the Hornets could never get the required stops on defense or the offense to click in the second half, and Sanford carried the day. Isaiah Sales finished with nineteen points and seven rebounds, and Baffone chipped in ten of his own.

Additionally, The Sanford JV team narrowly escaped with a 32-30 win over the JV Hornets. Caleb Gaines '25 led the team with thirteen points, including three three-pointers, and Trevor Kimaiga '25 added eight.

Following this loss, on Saturday, January 15,  the Tatnall Hornets Boys Varsity bounced back in a big way, overwhelming Wilmington Christian on the road, 53-32. The Hornets scored early and often, with Isaiah Sales '23 staying hot from the outside. He connected twice from long distance, and MarQuel Fitzgerald '23 splashed a longball as well. Tatnall held an 11-8 lead after one and extended to a 22-17 lead at the half. Isaiah Sales hit another three, and Caleb Starks '25 converted from the free-throw line for a five-point lead with 3:20 left in the half. Caleb Sales ripped through and finished at the rim, then set up a Starks three before the halftime buzzer. In the third, the Hornets turned up the heat on defense and ran away with the game, shutting out Wilmington Christian in the period. Fitzgerald drained a three, set up Jace Banks for another three, and splashed in a foul-line jumper. Isaiah Sales rejected an inside attempt and directed the blocked shot to Banks. Banks found a streaking Brody Clayton for a layup. This play punctuated a 14-0 run in the period. Up 36-17 going into the fourth, Baffone finished a beautiful and one layup inside, and the Hornets were able to go deep into the bench and cruise to a dominant 53-32 victory. 

Isaiah Sales again led all players, posting an impressive fifteen-point, fifteen-rebound effort. He blocked three shots and drained three treys. Fitzgerald finished with ten points and nine rebounds, and Baffone added ten points and eight rebounds of his own. Starks came off the bench for seven points, and Banks added five. Tatnall drained eight three-pointers in the game. The win stretched the Hornets record to an impressive 6-1 to open the season.

Following this momentum, the Tatnall JV team dominated the Wilmington Christian JV, 42-18. Tatnall held Wilmington Christian to a mere four points in the second half. Jack Homer '25 led the team with ten points, and Dima Novisad '22 added nine of his own. Eight Hornets scored in the victory, and Hunter Chubb '23 and Luke Hardin '23, scored their first points.

Keeping the energy alive, the Tatnall Hornets Boys Varsity Basketball came out on top against a tough, physical Wilmington Friends as they won 53-39. Our boys were clearly dominant throughout the game. Despite a couple of unforced turnovers, our boys remained collected and handled business effortlessly.

This Friday, the team will travel to Caravel to continue their win streak.