Dover fans had multiple reasons to cheer Thursday

The loudest cheers in Dover’s gym Thursday night weren’t when the Lady Longhorns erased an 11-point deficit to beat Geronimo or when the Dover boys secured their 14th consecutive win.

The crowd on hand erupted the most when Randy Vitales made his way out of the tunnel and onto the court before the Longhorns beat visiting Geronimo 83-23.

It was just a week prior that Vitales collapsed during a basketball game in Mulhall-Orlando. Not breathing and with no heartbeat, Vitales’ life was saved by multiple Dover coaches and an opposing player.

He spent the next week in the hospital, but was released Wednesday and back in school Thursday.

A sophomore, Vitales sat in street clothes at the end of the bench as his teammates dominated from the tip. Dover led 26-2 after a quarter and 48-4 by halftime as it improved to 14-1 on the season.

Jonah Pendergraft led Dover with 20 points, all in the first half.

Kyler Williams scored all 13 of his in the third quarter while Brennan Fletcher added 12. Thirteen different Longhorns scored.

Dover played its first game since Vitales’ incident last Tuesday and downed Union City 73-40.

Pendergraft poured in 18 points in that win while Lucas Conrady added 16.

Lady Longhorns get comeback win

Dover erased an 11-point deficit Thursday to defeat Geronimo 53-42 for its third straight win.

The Lady Longhorns trailed 21-10 in the second quarter before cutting their deficit to five points at the half.

They dominated the rest of the way.

Kynli Boeckman and Rylee Buck combined for three 3-pointers to start the second half, which was part of a 21-9 run.

Boeckman’s second trey of the quarter - at 6:40 gave Dover a 30-27 lead it wouldn’t lose.

Joi Caldwell then closed the third and started the fourth with six straight points and later added a putback to push Dover to an 11-point lead.

Boeckman led a balanced attack with 13 points. She scored 10 of those in the second half when Dover outscored the Lady Jays 31-15.

Caldwell scored 10 while Ashley Gamez chipped in 11 and Buck nine.

Buck scored 18 in last Tuesday’s 48-40 win against Union City.

Dover led by two entering the fourth before holding the Lady Tigers to six points in the final frame.

The Lady Longhorns went 7 of 12 from the foul line in the fourth to help seal it.

Buck made four 3-pointers on the night.

Joining her in double figures were Gamez with 12 and Boeckman with 10.

After the two wins, Dover upped its mark to 10-6.