The Tatnall Hornets Boys Varsity Basketball team had their 2021-2022 campaign end in the first round of the Boys Basketball State Championship Tournament on the road at Seaford High School on Tuesday March 1. The Hornets season awarded them the #23 seed in the tournament, and Tatnall faced off on the road against the 10th seeded Bluejays of Seaford, a team that had spent some to most of the year as one of the top teams in the state. Playing in a hostile environment, the Hornets proved they were up to the task early, battling the Bluejays tooth and nail through the first period as the squads felt each other out. Seaford, an offensive powerhouse, was hot early, but Tatnall stayed right with them, attacking the hoop and scoring from the outside. The Bluejays led by four after one and eleven at the half and never really cooled down from the field. The Hornets hung tough and never stopped battling but simply couldn't string together the requisite stops on defense to slow down the home team. Seaford eliminated the Hornets 76-62 to move to the second round.
Captain Isaiah Sales '23 led the Hornets with seventeen points and drained two threes on the night. Captain Caleb Sales '22 chipped in thirteen, splashing a trio of triples himself. Eli Baffone '24 had eleven of his own, hit a pair of threes, and added five rebounds and four assists. Captain MarQuel Fitzgerald '23 never stopped battling, scrapping to eight points and a team-high twelve rebounds. Captain Brody Clayton '22, playing in his final career high school game, showed outstanding toughness and grit and finished with four points, two boards, an assist, and drained a trey. Off the bench, the Hornets showed the future is bright, as Jace Banks '25 scored a bucket, grabbed a pair of boards, and dished out four dimes, and Caleb Starks '25 splashed a pair of treys.
Making the State Tournament for the third consecutive season, the Hornets finished the year 10-9 and look forward to an even deeper run in the tournament next year. The squad will miss their seniors and thank the parents and families for a great season.
