Memorable basketball trip for School for the Deaf

From: The News Journal, DE - 25 Feb 2003

By BUDDY HURLOCK

The Delaware School for the Deaf girls basketball team drove home through last week's snow storm from Vermont.

It's a trip they'll never forget.

The team won its first Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association Division II championship on Feb. 15 in Brattleboro, Vt.

Coach Sharon Graney said the title was the peak of the team's progressive improvement since starting play in 1994.

"It really felt like it was a long time coming," Graney said. "We worked very hard for it, and we were all just really thrilled.

"There is a traveling trophy and every school's name is on it. Now, we get to put our name on it this year, and I'd like to put our name on it again."

The Blue Hawks (14-4) won three straight games by an average of 31 points, including a 78-30 first-round win against Scranton (Pa.) and a 49-22 semifinal win against Rochester (N.Y.)

DSD won the championship 42-24 against West Virginia, when sophomore forward Dante Hudson scored 20 points and senior guard Melinda McDowell had 12 points.

The two made the all-tournament team. Sophomore forward Danielle Franks was selected to the second team.

"I have a lot of young players and they're all real interested in coming back," Graney said. "There's a lot of motivation now, even with the middle school team, and hopefully this will motivate them to work harder."

McDowell holds the school record with 1,314 points. Hudson had 65 points in the three tournament games. McDowell added 42.

Copyright ©2003, The News Journal.