We Love Ashley Robbins
And
Why You Should Too
- or -
How Delcastle Won the 2009 State Title
by Jim Charles & Tom Dunn
March 14, 2009
Cav standout, Chelsea Davis, would score 30, but it wouldn't be enough to turn back Delcastle's designs on the State Title.
Delcastle 70, Middletown 55
She told us after the Semis on Wednesday that defense was her code word. And 48 hours (give or take) later, she put her money where her mouth is by racking up 11 steals on Middletown (next closest player, either side, had 4). And that’s not to mention the near-steals, the Cav passes knocked out of play, and her pedal-to-the-metal, one-on-one defense. Oh yes, one more little stat: She had 23 points, officially leading her team in scoring. [We say “officially”, because by our own DGB scorecard, we found what may have been a mistake on the part of the official scorer(s) that led to Jaquetta May being shorted a basket. By our count, that would’ve given May 24 points and made her leading scorer on her team. We were in agreement with the official scorer(s) on Robbins’ points at 23.]
But we digress. The game itself was awesome! Jaquetta May started off the proceedings with a beautiful jumper just 19 seconds into the game. We knew that we were in for some fireworks! The Cavs answered with a 3-pointer by Britney Agostini another 19 seconds later. No, the teams would not keep scoring every 19 seconds, but it was that kind of game. With 2 minutes to go in the 1st quarter, the Cavs had staked out a 10 – 4 lead and looked like they were getting ready to break the contest open. But then layups by Robbins and May, followed by a jumper from Robbins – all three buckets off Delcastle steals – saw the score at 12 – 10, Cavs at the end of the first.
Things started going decidedly bad for Middletown in the second quarter. In those 8 minutes, May would score 13 of her team’s 21, and her 2nd quarter points would equal all of M’town’s output. Halftime score: 31 – 25, Delcastle.
After the break, the good times just kept coming for the Cougars. And other names were getting into the mix. Maria Talarowski, a long-range shooting ace, found her stroke draining 3 three-pointers. The on-fire Robbins added 8. Other teammates came up with 4. For the opposite bench, the third quarter would be low-point of the game. They would piece together just 10 points, 6 coming from Chelsea Davis. With just one last set of 8 minutes on the clock, the score stood at 52 – 35, Delcastle. Coach Tom Quann had to be pleased with the 17 point cushion and everything looking up.
The final frame was almost a return to the opening quarter. The teams played it relatively even, only by this time, the pace had finally slowed from the frenetic track meet that marked the first 3 quarters. There were more sweat-drenched faces. More huffing and puffing. More bodies doubled over. Yet they trudged on. Middletown would almost inexplicably post their best quarter of the night, scoring 20 to Delcastle’s 18. In a Herculean effort, Chelsea Davis, perhaps spurred on by the finality of it all closing in on her, amassed 15 (of her game total of 30) points in 6 ½ minutes! She would foul out with a minute-thirty left to go.
When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, the big overhead scoreboard read: 70 – 55, Delcastle. This being the first Delcastle title since 1984, long before any of the girls on the current roster were born. It also marks the first title since 2003 to go to a public school.
There are several individual stories to tell.
Jaquetta May was unbelievable in the semis. Had us almost ready to ask for her autograph. And she wasn’t half bad in the finals, either. A tremendous player blessed with so many skills. We can’t wait to see her on the very same court for the next 4 years or so.
Chelsea Davis is, well, Chelsea Davis. What a class act! And what a model of consistency. She scored 31 in the semis and 30 in the finals. And these performances were against Ursuline and Delcastle! Not exactly the weakest defensive teams around. So, huge props to her. Hope you enjoy the Florida sun, Chelsea!
Last, but not least, we have to give it up for Ashley Robbins. Her performance in the finals was nothing short of brilliant and inspired. She was ALL OVER THE PLACE! And everywhere she was was always the right place to be. A devastating showcase for a player who may have played her last scholastic basketball game. As she tells it, she hopes to play softball and maybe do track at Norfolk State University! No basketball. It will be a long time indeed before my memories of this very special player, playing in her last game, fade.
For Middletown: Chelsea Davis (30 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals, 12-for-18 from the floor/67% shooting); Britney Agostini (9 points, 6 rebounds); Ashleigh Bond (8 points).
For Delcastle (Our Version of the Scorebook): Jaquetta May (24 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals); Ashley Robbins (23 points, 11 steals, 7-for-9 free-throws); Maria Talarowski (9 points, 3-for-4 from beyond the arc).
Random Notes:
In a game like this one, with so many kids that I’ve grown accustomed to seeing out on the court, it was truly painful watching – sharing, even – in the disappointment of the Lady Cavs. I really didn’t want either team to lose, and I’m normally all for competition and prevailing over your opponents, but somehow, that all left me in this game. The Middletown girls deserved a kinder fate. For all that, I was equally moved by Delcastle. Moved by how talented they are. Moved by how well they played as a team. And moved by their joy and happiness at successfully completing a project that really began over a year ago in the 2008 tournament. They were happy, and I was happy for them.
The only down notes that bear a passing mention would be the metal detection policy in effect at the games at The Bob and a sad incident involving a coach, a player, and DGB.com. As for the security policy, Tom and I understand why it was done. The shooting earlier in the season at William Penn almost mandated some sort of heightened security. But, I walked into my bank on Thursday, having to go through no security measures at all. You would think this kind of thing would be unnecessary at a high school basketball game. Every minute of the day, we live with risks. I’m not saying society shouldn’t do anything. I’m just not sure the something they’re doing is the best thing.
Finally, after the finals were over, we approached – long after the game was over – Chelsea Davis to award her a co-iPOW with Ashley Robbins. Being sensitive to the fact that Ms. Davis is a high-profile D1 recruit, and having been down this road before with Elena Delle Donne, I was careful to explain to Chelsea (and Coach Suzanne Street who was also present) that the iPOW Award has not only been cleared by the NCAA directly (last spring, in fact), but that we also prominently display on the website NCAA documentation sent to us stating that fact about our specific award, inclusive of the t-shirt. Coach Street advised her player not to accept the award nevertheless. So, what may have been the lone effort to brighten an otherwise gloomy night for this one-of-a-kind local star was thwarted by a well-meaning, but uninformed adult. Knowing that further argument was pointless, we deferred to Coach Street’s wishes, but also pleaded with her to read the appropriate documentation on DGB.com.
The misunderstanding aside, Chelsea still is co-iPOW for this week, she just doesn’t have the t-shirt, making her just the second individual to ever decline our 100% cotton honor! People really do need to chill out on these issues! WE WOULD NEVER JEOPARDIZE A PLAYER’S NCAA ELIGIBILITY! AND TO THAT END, WE HAVE SECURED THEIR OWN (THE NCAA’S) OPINION IN WRITING THAT THE AWARD IS COMPLIANT WITH THEIR POLICIES. Sheesh!
Pics from the Finals
Senior, Jessica Veazey, during pre-game intros.
The two lead players for the Cougars and Cavs, Jaquetta May and Chelsea Davis, during the tip-off.
The human tornado, senior, Ashley Robbins, is seen grabbing a ball about to skip out of bounds.
Jaquetta.
Lindsay Hsu, junior starter for The Castle.
Veazey pushes the ball across the floor to senior, Ashleigh Bond, keeping it out of the hands -- for the moment -- of the swarming Delcastle 'D'.
Senior, Neysa Gregory, signals her readiness to receive the ball.
Middletown's Britney Agostini, a junior, has her jumper re-routed by the likes of Maria Talarowski and an unidentified teammate behind Agostini, who also gets a piece of the ball.
For Chelsea Davis, working the ball up the court against the withering storm of Delcastle defenders was often akin to a salmon swimming upstream.
Unfortunately for Davis, the final buzzer did not end her high school career, but rather an official's whistle. She fouled out with 1:30 to go. Here she is rooting her team on from the sidelines.
Post-game celebrations began with Jaquetta May being hoisted skyward by her teammates.
An injustice that can only be blamed on fate is that we were all denied the chance to see Middletown at full-strength. And by full-strength, we mean with point-guard, Morgan Taylor. Nevertheless, she did, rightfully, receive her medal.
Lindsay Hsu getiin' medalized.
Bianca Parker, a steady force throughout the season for the Cougars, receives her medal.
Florida State bound, Chelsea Davis..
Senior, J'Nay Spady, seen here saluting Jaquetta May, the acknowledged leader of the team.
Looking like she's a roving reporter in a basketball uniform, Ashley Robbins is actually being interviewed by the News Journal.
Click here for video of Jaquetta May cutting down the nets!
Your 2009 Delaware State Champions, Delcastle Vo-Tech High School.
The State Runner-ups, Middletown High School.
*** We will gladly correct any mis-IDs or mis-spellings. ***