By Chris Stevens, Editor
By the evening hours tonight, we will know who will have punched their tickets to the Bob Carpenter Center and the DIAA boys’ basketball semifinals, an exciting time of year known as Quarterfinal Saturday. We have two regular season rematches, two other quality matchups and staggered start times so people can go to multiple games, a win for all involved. Tickets can be purchased here, so grab yours while you can and check out these previews as well.
No. 6 Saint Mark’s (17-4) at No. 3 Middletown (17-5), 1 p.m.
How did they get here: Saint Mark’s defeated Appoquinimink 64-61 in double overtime and Middletown defeated Conrad 67-61 in the second round Feb. 29.
Key match-up: Alassan N’Diaye vs. Aviyon Matthews
Outlook: The Spartans won a grueling double OT battle against Appo on Thursday and now look to shake up the tournament with a visit to Middletown, who is looking for their first back-to-back Final Four appearances since the 2004 and 2005 Cavaliers won the state championship.
There are a few good individual battles to watch in this game, but super soph Alassan N’Diaye will go head-to-head with senior Aviyon Matthews in the battle of the big men. Both can post up, both can square up, run the floor and defend. Matthews’ experience should be a boost for Middletown, but N’Diaye’s youthful relentlessness gives the Spartans a major spark. This is the match-up that will likely decide the game.
No. 10 St. Georges (15-7) at No. 2 Dover (20-2), 2 p.m.
How did they get here: St. Georges defeated Glasgow 69-57 in the first round Feb. 27, defeated Seaford 67-61 in the second round Feb. 29. Dover defeated Lake Forest 71-48 in the second round Feb. 29
Key match-up: Blair Thomas vs. Dorell Little Jr.
Outlook: The Senators have looked like a championship team all season with their only in-state loss coming at the hands of No. 1 St. Elizabeth. March is a different beast altogether and Rod Griffin gets the most out of his Hawks when it matters the most.
St. Georges has the size and the talent to contend with Dover and this will be a match-up of the big guards as 6’5 Blair Thomas squares off with 6’5 Dorell Little Jr. Both of these players can pile up the points in a hurry, so whoever jump-starts their team’s offense first gives them a better chance at moving on.
No. 5 Sanford (17-4) at No. 4 Salesianum (13-8), 3 p.m.
How did they get here: Sanford defeated Cape Henlopen 60-35 in the second round Feb. 29, Salesianum defeated Delaware Military Academy 76-40 in the second round Feb. 29.
Key match-up: Jayden Taylor vs. Justin Hinds
Outlook: One of two regular season rematches in the quarters, Sals held off Sanford 62-55 at the SL24: UnLocke The Light Classic in early February, one hotly contested battle that will likely have the same intensity this afternoon at the Birk.
Both teams have size, good guard play and scorers, but the match-up to watch is 6’8 Jayden Taylor vs. 6’7 Justin Hinds in the battle of the modern big men who can do just about a little bit of everything. Hinds’ offensive game is a bit more polished at this point, but Taylor’s game-changing defense will make even Salesianum’s scoring machines think twice about challenging him.
No. 9 Howard (15-8) at No. 1 St. Elizabeth (20-1), 7 p.m.
How did they get here: Howard defeated McKean 61-46 in the first round Feb. 27, defeated William Penn 54-45 in the second round Feb. 29. St. Elizabeth defeated Mount Pleasant 47-41 in the second round Feb. 29.
Key match-up: Bryson Lane vs. Steven Nixon Jr.
Outlook: The other regular season rematch also took place at UnLocke the Light where St. E shut out Howard in the third quarter on their way to a comfortable win. It appears the Wildcats have figured out their second-half slump with clutch third quarters in wins over McKean and tourney dark horse William Penn. They’ll have to play a complete 32 against a Vikings team that has everything you’d want in a potential state champion.
Sophomore guard Bryson Lane will have to keep a close watch over St. E’s Steven Nixon Jr., a Russell Westbrook-type of player whose versatility has served St. E well all season long. Howard’s second wind has been remarkable thus far, but will this be the night that they finally run out of gas?
