BASKETBALL: Chesapeake Downs Northeast in 'Dena Bowl'

The boys and girls basketball teams at Northeast and Chesapeake High School met on Friday night for their highly anticipated rivalry matchups.

The Chesapeake Cougars came out on top in both contests. The Chesapeake women defeated Northeast 51-41, led by forward Brianna Zajac’s 20-point performance.

The Chesapeake men cruised to a 78-33 victory in which they dominated from the game’s opening minutes.

“It has always been a really big rivalry,” Chesapeake boys senior forward Brett Garver said. “It’s what everybody wants to see and definitely the game no one wants to miss. There are a lot of people that come and it is a big emotional game that no one wants to lose. Even the kids that don’t play on the team don’t want to lose this one.”

Both teams played in front of packed gym as basketball fans from both schools came to see the matchup.

“When the schedules come out at the beginning of the year, everyone wants to know when we are playing Northeast,” Chesapeake Athletic Director Chip Snyder said. “They call the game the Dena Bowl.”

The crosstown rivalry used to be played on the final week of the season, until tensions ran so high it had to be moved up on the schedule.

“The game is still the biggest game of the year,” Snyder said. “The coaches may try to downplay it. But you can’t. The parents are into it, the students are into it and it is a fun rivalry. It is our biggest gate and the game is always packed.”