By Andy Walter

DOVER — The finality of the moment hit Mehkia Applewhite on the bus Saturday morning.

The Cape Henlopen High basketball standout realized this was the last Henlopen Conference championship game for her and the other Vikings seniors.

“This is the last time I’m going to being playing with these girls,” said Applewhite. “It kind of hurt.”

But Cape Henlopen’s seniors also made sure that their last conference memory was a good one.

Leading from start to finish, the North champion Vikings finally put away a 45-31 victory over South champion Lake Forest in the Henlopen title game before a big crowd at Dover on Saturday afternoon.

The conference crown was the third in four years for Cape Henlopen (16-5) and its group of six seniors.

Seniors Morgan Mahoney (15 points, seven rebounds, four steals, five blocks) and Applewhite (13 points, seven steals) led the Vikings.

“It was our last year, our last chance to get it,” said Mahoney. “We were ready, we were prepared. We just played our game and played together.

“We knew they were going to come out and not give up. We knew they were going to keep fighting. We didn’t let that get in our heads.”

Indeed, the Spartans (17-4) didn’t even know they were going to be in the title game until they knocked off Woodbridge on Tuesday. The South championship was Lake Forest’s first since 1989.

The Spartans struggled early on, falling behind 8-0 and 17-6 to start the contest.

Lake Forest, though, got back into the game, cutting Cape’s advantage to only 26-18 at halftime. The Spartans got within six early in the third quarter and were still within eight early in the fourth.

But a three-pointer from Applewhite started a game-ending 9-3 run that closed out the win for the Vikings.

“Obviously, the seniors, we wanted it for them,” said Cape Henlopen coach Pat Woods. “I try not to think about the big picture. Let’s win the game and we’ll map it all out later.

“It was fun. We got to play hard the entire time.”

The Vikings finished with 25 steals in the contest as Elizabeth Rishko also contributed six.

Lake Forest was led by senior Gabrielle Almonte, who netted a game-high 16 points.

“Everybody was excited to be able to come out and play this game,” said Almonte. “Nobody really expected us to be here so it was fun to be out here. We’ll definitely remember this.”

Spartans’ coach Coleman Morris had played in the Henlopen title game when he went to Lake Forest. It’s something that’s always stayed with him.

“It’s just been a grueling season but they’ve continued to work and fight,” said Morris. “Cape is obviously a great team. Our girls could have quit but they battled all night.

“I told the girls before the game that this is something they’re going to remember for the rest of their lives. ... They’re South champions and nobody’s going to take that away from them.”

Follow Andy Walter on Twitter at @DSNSports.