Dolphins Sweep Hatteras; Get to Host Home Play-Off Games
Both teams traveled to Hatteras and back on Valentine's Day courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard. Our school bus carried them to the north end, where a USCG boat and crew awaited. On the Hatteras side, a bus picked them up for transport to Cape Hatteras high school.
The Ocracoke – Hatteras rivalry is intense. The two teams had met just a few days before on Ocracoke, where the Dolphins prevailed. Could they do it again? And on the Hurricanes' home turf? Fear the Pod.
The girls won handily, with a score of 51– 39. They've lost just one game this season, to Columbia, back in December. The girls are eligible to host a Tideland Conference tournament game again this year, and will do so on Wednesday. Their opposing team will be the winner of tomorrow's match-up between Mattamuskeet and Hatteras. The girls have a great chance of taking the conference title and trophy again this year. Go, Lady Dolphins!
The boys played a hand-wringing, anxiety-producing, up-down game, which they finally won, by seven points in overtime! The final score was a satisfying 66-59. The Ocracoke Current staff believes this is the first time the Dolphins have ever swept Hatteras at Hatteras. Are we right? Please let us know in the comments.
Coach Dave Allewalt says that his team was inspired by the hope that they could host a play-off game. (The girls hosted one last year – another Ocracoke first – and the boys want that distinction, too.) He gave credit to junior Andrew Tillett's great energy and for contributing 25 points and 27 rebounds, and mentioned Evin Caswell, who's "always improving."
Monday's play-off will bring the Hurricanes here again, for their 5th game against the Dolphins this year (three regular season games, and one Christmas tournament game so far).
Coach Dave promises it will be a good game. "We don't play blow-outs," he said. "All our games are exciting, coming down to the wire, so tomorrow we're going to focus on getting a quick start, so the other team doesn't get too confident."
If the Dolphins beat Hatteras, they'll play Columbia on Wednesday. It could happen.
"We beat Hatteras the last two times we've played them, so we've got them figured out," said Coach Dave. "We've practiced all weekend and we've got some new stuff to show them."
And they've got the home team advantage, and lots of Dolphin fans in the bleachers. The tournament games start at 5pm. If you're on the island, why would you be anywhere else but the Tank?
