By Andy Walter

DOVER — Kai Burnette is capable of putting up big numbers any time she steps on the court.

On Monday night, the Smyrna junior didn’t find her shot until the second half.

Once she found it, though, Burnette carried the Eagles to a 53-50 comeback win over Dover in a Henlopen North girls’ basketball matchup.

Burnette netted 25 of her game-high 31 points after halftime as the Eagles stopped the Senators from finishing unbeaten in the North.

North champion Dover finishes the regular season 13-1 in the division, 16-4 overall. The Senators will host South champion Woodbridge in the Henlopen Conference championship game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The victory was satisfying for Smyrna (11-3 North, 13-6 overall), which fell to Dover, 56-51, on Jan. 30.

Coach Erique Gumbs said it was the Eagles’ first victory over a squad with a winning record this season.

“We’ve had a lot of confidence but we just haven’t clicked,” he said. “I think today will be huge for them. They gelled. It’s 19 games in but we found a little bit of fight.

“You can’t be mad at that. March is coming up soon.”

As for Burnette, she had only six first-half points as Smyrna trailed by as many as eight points. But she put up 16 in the third quarter alone to get the Eagles back in the game.

“She’s hard on herself sometimes,” said Gumbs. “But once you see that smile, you know things are going to be all right.”

The Senators had stretched their lead to as much as 32-16 in the third quarter when Smyrna started its comeback.

Burnette netted 11 straight points to get things going. Back-to-back three-pointers by Kylie Jones and Burnette then pulled the Eagles within 38-37 after three quarters.

Smyrna took the lead for good at 43-40 when sophomore Amiyah Ellerbe swished a three-pointer with 4:57 remaining.

The Eagles pushed their lead to as much as 49-42 with 2:37 on the clock. But then it was Dover’s turn to rally.

The Senators trailed by as little as one point down the stretch.

Finally, however, freshman Me’Aziah James sank one of two free throws with 12.8 remaining to give Smyrna its three-point advantage.

The Senators got off a pair of three-pointers in the closing seconds but both were off the mark.

Gumbs said one North loss doesn’t take away from what Dover has accomplished so far this season.

“Coach (Jahi) Davenport has done an amazing job, especially with the way this team has kind of turned around (from last year),” he said. “He did a phenomenal job. He’s my vote for coach of the year in our conference.”

The Eagles finish the regular season with a 5:15 p.m. matchup at Appoquinimink today.

“We’re going to ride the wave and just see if remind ourselves who we are,” said Gumbs.

Ruggerio.com

BOYS, Dover 57, Smyrna 53: Denim Perkins made three of four foul shots in the final 16 seconds as the Senators held off the Eagles to remain unbeaten in the Henlopen North.

Smyrna got within 54-53 on a three-pointer down the stretch but couldn’t get any closer.

Dorell Little (18), Perkins (11) and Noah Allen (11) all finished in double figures for the Senators.

Sophomore Marice Kilgoe netted 19 points for Smyrna, which out-scored the Senators, 16-7, in the fourth quarter.

The North champion Senators are 13-0 in the North, 17-2 overall. They play at Sussex Central on Wednesday night in their regular-season finale.

Dover then hosts South champion Seaford on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Henlopen Conference championship game.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on X at @DSNsports.