Dover, Caesar Rodney to play for Unified basketball state title
DOVER — Michael Denman has been here before with his Dover High Unified basketball team.
And while it’s called a state championship game and it’s being played on a big stage, …
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Dover, Caesar Rodney to play for Unified basketball state title
DOVER — Michael Denman has been here before with his Dover High Unified basketball team.
And while it’s called a state championship game and it’s being played on a big stage, the Senators’ coach doesn’t want his players to forget they’re there to have fun.
“I don’t ever try to put pressure on them when I’m getting them prepared for a game,” said Denman. “I tell them, ‘Win or lose, I’m proud of you for what you guys have done this season. Go out there, have fun. Try to score more points than the other team.’”
Both squads will hope to have a memorable experience when top-seeded Dover (7-1) faces No. 3 Caesar Rodney (12-1) on Saturday at noon in the DIAA Unified state finals at the Carpenter Center in Newark.
The contest is the first of three DIAA basketball state championship games there. The girls’ title game will be at 2 p.m. with the boys’ finals slated for 6 p.m.
Of the five previous seasons that there has been a DIAA Unified tournament, either Dover or CR has reached the finals in four of them.
In 2020, the Riders and Senators were also scheduled to play in the state championship game but it was canceled when the COVID pandemic broke out that week.
Both teams were declared co-champions. Dover then won the title in 2021 and ’22.
This will be the first time CR has actually played in the finals since 2019, the first year there was a tournament.
“That’s been their goal since the beginning of the season,” Riders’ coach Skye Boris said about playing in the Carpenter Center. “None of these guys have ever been there. So it’s going to be very exciting for them to walk in and see that atmosphere.”
In Monday’s semifinals, the Riders rallied from a 17-8 halftime deficit to edge No. 2 Indian River, 28-26.
“It obviously could have gone either way,” said Boris.
“You would have thought that was the state championship.” she said about her team’s celebration. “It was a really, really cool experience.”
The Riders’ only loss this season was a 32-26 defeat to the Senators on Jan. 18. Dover’s only setback was a 26-25 loss to Indian River on Feb. 15.
Both coaches want the spotlight to be on their special-needs players. That’s why Unified sports were established.
But they also say the partners benefit. Denman likes the partners to be able to take leadership roles on the court.
“I tell my partners to create opportunities for other players,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we just want to have fun and be able to play a sport and provide sports for individuals that may not ever see this opportunity again,” said Boris.
“We know it’s going to be a good game, we know it’s going to competitive,” she said. “But, at the end of the day, we just want them to remember this experience.”
The Senators and Riders have played against each other in a Unified state championship game in another sport. In 2020, Dover beat CR, 60-45, in the football state finals.
Of course, trying to win a game and a championship is only supposed to be part of the overall experience.
“If we lose, we’re still proud of what they’ve done and the opportunity that they had — that six years ago they didn’t have,” said Denman. “That’s really what means the most.
“And if we end up winning, it’ll be a great celebration.”
Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on X @DSNSports.
