January 22, 2021
Ja’Vaughn Burton
He’s not a shooter. He’s not a slasher. In Gen Z parlance, J-Roc Burton is just “a bucket.” The senior wing has exploded for 93 points through Cape’s first three basketball games, the biggest offensive outburst by a Viking since Tracy Jones Jr. was in town. He dropped a cool 32 on Sussex Tech to open the season, went for 29 versus Polytech a few nights later, and netted 32 more against Henlopen Conference North favorite Caesar Rodney Jan. 19. Long known as a lethal three-point threat, Burton has focused on taking the ball to the hole this season. Add a smooth mid-range game and improved transition finishing to the mix, and he can score from anywhere. If you’re looking for a reason to subscribe to Cape’s NFHS livestream package, J-Roc is it.
January 8, 2021
Ja’Vaughn Burton
This 6-foot-1 senior wing will take on the alpha dog role for the Cape High boys’ basketball team in 2021. An electric scorer with range all the way to Surf Bagel, “J-Roc” looks primed to improve on the team-high 15 points he averaged last season. “I’m trying to be more of a ‘take it to the rack’ player [this year], more of an iso player,” Burton said. “Coach [Shemik Thompson] isn’t running plays for me. He sees me as someone who can get a bucket whenever we need one.” The young Vikings will lean on Burton’s experience, as well. “I’m trying to be a leader and show everyone how it’s supposed to be done,” he said. Burton just finished a successful football season that saw him earn all-conference honors as a wide receiver, and his numbers in the classroom are just as impressive.
Youthful leader has had seven state champions
Cape coach Chris Mattioni gives his wrestler instructions during a match in the 2014 state tournament. NICK ROTH PHOTO
Dave Frederick December 24, 2020
Chris Mattioni rolled off Route 1 and Kings Highway into a job interview at Cape Henlopen in the summer of 1995, securing a social studies position sweetened by being named head coach of the wrestling team. Mattioni had wrestled at Valley Forge Military Academy and The Citadel, then spent two years coaching at Stanford High School in Goose Creek, S.C. He is not a stiff and buttoned-up personality who prefers to be called sir, but more the gracious, loquacious and affable teacher-coach type guy.
Lucas Ruppert, fifth (285). Cape also returns
Jackson Handlin (195), who was 34-13 last season. Cape will open the wrestling season Wednesday, Jan. 13, hosting Sussex Central. Caravel Academy, with four state champions in the lineup, will be at Cape Monday, Jan. 25.
Fun to watch - The Cape girls’ basketball team should be fun to watch this season – too bad most of you will never see them play. Cape basketball has a 14-game schedule, playing each Northern Division opponent twice. Last season, the Vikings beat each Northern Division opponent twice before losing to Woodbridge in the Henlopen Conference Championship game, then advancing to the semifinals to face Sanford when the season got canceled due to COVID. That was way harsh because Cape had a legit shot to bring home the first state title since 1973. “They wanted to play at The Bob,” coach Pat Woods said. “They were so upset they never got the chance.” Gone from that team are