Dec. 20, 2003 – Saturday night the Hamden Hall Country Day School Hornets and the Charlotte Amalie High School Chicken Hawks were forced to call their basketball game due to deplorable conditions at the Chicken Hawks gymnasium. The game was stopped in the third quarter with the Hornets leading 34-28.
As Saturday's heavy rains pelted the gymnasium, the game was stopped several times during the first half because of the leaking roof and the resulting wet court, which made it unsafe for the players to continue the contest. The game was finally canceled with less than six minutes left in the third quarter.
Referee Jean Smith called both coaches to the court during what was to be the final timeout. After evaluating the court, the three decided to call the game.
The decision to end the game must have been a tough one, given the fierce play and countless momentum swings. The Hornets, hailing from Connecticut, started the game on fire as they scored the first six points. The Chicken Hawks then soared back to take a 10-8 lead with a minute and a half left in the first quarter. The Hornets then answered with a 9-0 run, which stretched into the second quarter.
The Chicken Hawks once again responded to close the deficit to 22-21, with less than three minutes left in the half. However, the Hornets’ Scott Draughn scored the final five points before the break to give the Hornets a 27-21 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, both teams came out strong offensively as each scored six points in the first two minutes of the third quarter before the game was called.
Draughn led the Hornets with 15 points, 13 of which he scored in the first half. Marcus Wellman had nine points, Keivon Jones added six and Chaz Phillips had four. The four players accounted for all of the Hornets offense.
The Chicken Hawks offense was more balanced, with six different players scoring. Rashaun Stephens had 12 points to lead the Chicken Hawks, Kori Voilet posted six points and Khalid Gerald added four. Jahmal Wesselhoft had three points, while Rakeem Richards and Kareem Turnbull each added two for the Chicken Hawks.
The Hornets will try to improve on their 8-0 season record. Last year the Hornets won the New England Prep School Championship and are currently on a 14-game winning streak.
Monday night the Hornets will take on the Antilles Hurricanes. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
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