Tatnall Boys Basketball January 27, 2022

Last Friday, January 21, The Tatnall Hornets Boys Varsity basketball team traveled to Caravel and were unfortunately defeated by the Buccaneers after a tough second half, 74-49. The Hornets played tough for two periods, with both teams struggling to find their footing offensively. Captain MarQuel Fitzgerald ’23 carried Tatnall on the offensive end with grit and hustle early, scoring on a tough and-one off an offensive rebound, then converting another off a steal. The Hornets built a small lead but struggled against the Caravel press, and the Buccaneers were able to come back. Captain Caleb Sales '22 was set up for a pair of threes by his brother, captain Isaiah Sales '23, to bring Tatnall back to within a point, trailing 15-14 at the end of the first. 

Tatnall battled gamely in the second period. Fitzgerald gave up his body to draw a charge, then found Caleb Starks '25 for a long three from the corner. Captain Brody Clayton '22 converted a putback to end the half, and Tatnall again found themselves down by a point. 

Caravel came out focused in the second half and used a ten-point run to put the game away. Clayton had a steal and found Caleb Sales for a driving layup to finally stem the tide momentarily, but the game got away from Tatnall after that. Starks drained a pair of late three in the fourth and Eli Baffone '24 converted a four-point play after being fouled on a long three, but the Buccaneers dominated and cruised, 74-49. Caleb Sales led Tatnall with ten points. Starks and Fitzgerald each added nine, and Baffone and Isaiah Sales added eight apiece.

Additionally, the Hornets JV struggled offensively throughout the evening, falling to the Caravel JV 32-21. Caleb Gaines '25 and Jack Homer '25 each scored five points, and CJ Bowen '25 scored a pair of late buckets to keep the Hornets close in the fourth quarter. RJ Moore '25 played his usual tough, rugged defense and converted a first-quarter layup as well. Meanwhile, the Tatnall 3rd Team was narrowly defeated by Brandywine at home to start off the Tatnall tripleheader, falling 23-16. Joe Ciconte '25 continued his strong and consistent play, leading the way with eight points. Jacob Glazier '25 chipped in four of his own and provided a steady inside presence.

The toughest stretch of the season continued for the Hornets, as they traveled to conference foe Tower Hill on Monday, January 24, and were defeated, 79-51. The Hillers, one of the top teams in the state thus far this season, came out scorching hot on offense, and Tatnall was simply not able to match their intensity or execution on either end early. Highlights were few and far between for the Hornets, especially in the first half. Eli Baffone '24 split a pair of free throws, and captain Isaiah Sales '23 was able to convert the offensive rebound putback for an and-one at the end of the first period. The Hillers went on a 13-0 run to start the second to put the game away. 

Baffone led the team with thirteen points and had a pretty and-one on a slashing layup in the third. Isaiah Sales and captain MarQuel Fitzgerald '23 each added ten, who also drained a pretty three with a hand in his face. Both Jace Banks '25 and Caleb Sales '25 both excelled in the second half, with Starks scoring six and Banks chipping in five. 

However, the news was not all bad as the Tatnall JV dominated their conference rivals on the road, blasting the Hillers 37-22. After a sluggish start offensively by both teams, Tatnall turned it on and dominated the remainder of the game. Balanced scoring was a key for the Hornets, who got seven players into the scoring column. Noah Conkey '25 led the team with nine points, ran the show on offense, and even drained a gorgeous stepback three. Trevor Kimaiga '25 and Jude Maycole '25 chipped in seven points each, and Maycole provided his normal dominance on the inside on both ends. CJ Bowen '25 continued his streak of recent impressive efforts, scoring on a pair of fast-break layups off steals in the second period. While the Tatnall 3rd team started off the tripleheader with their first victory of the season, cruising to an impressive ten-point win over the Hiller 3rd team. Seven Hornets scored in the balanced win, with Joe Ciconte '25 leading the way with five points. Simon Cox '25 added a pair of inside buckets, and the long-distance attack finally connected for the Hornets. August Sharp '22, Arjun Warrier '25, and Elliot Bishop '25 all dialed in from distance and drained threes in the win.