By Chris Stevens, Editor
The girls’ second round tips off tonight at 7 p.m. with regular season rematches, a couple of new meetings and at least two teams looking for upsets. Let’s preview tonight’s games.
No. 24 Smyrna (14-7) at No. 8 Appoquinimink (12-9, 8-0 Flight A)
Key regular season wins: Smyrna defeated St. Georges 57-42 Dec. 2, defeated Dover 53-50 Feb. 19. Appoquinimink defeated Archmere 48-43 Dec. 4, defeated Odessa 57-37 Feb. 4, defeated Smyrna 71-59 Feb. 21.
Key matchup: Kai Burnette vs. Kyla Reed
Outlook: The Jaguars defeated the Eagles 71-59 a little over a week ago, but it’s difficult to beat a team twice in the same season, especially a team that just defeated the Number 9 seed in the first round. Smyrna has a decided height and rebounding advantage, so winning that battle will be key.
The match-up to watch is Smyrna junior Kai Burnette vs. Appo senior guard Kyla Reed. Burnette’s main focus will be to keep the speedy Reed in front of her defensively, but if she can make Reed work on defense as well, that’s another advantage to the Eagles.
The Jaguars have something to prove after their untimely second round exit against DMA a season ago, so they’ll be fired up for this one, a potential game of the night candidate.
No. 10 Dover (18-4) at No. 7 Delmarva Christian (18-1, 10-0 ESIAC)
Key regular season wins: Dover defeated Cape Henlopen 48-44 Dec. 19 and 64-59 Jan. 25, defeated Smyrna 56-51 Jan. 30. Delmarva Christian defeated Sts. Peter & Paul 48-36 Jan. 18 and 34-24 Feb. 6, defeated Middletown 42-39 Feb. 9.
Key match-up: Sara-Zionna Benson vs. Journey Handy
Outlook: Delmarva Christian’s conference affiliation makes it tough to get a read on them other than they’re really good in ESIAC play and have not lost to Delaware competition this year. Dover meanwhile is having their best season on the girls’ side in many a year and are ready for a quarterfinal appearance.
The Royals’ key player is Journey Handy, a senior wing who initiates the offense, sets up the offense and controls the boards. She’ll have to do that and then some to slow down Dover’s post force, junior forward Sara-Zionna Benson.
Dover’s depth may wear DCS down eventually, but don’t expect this to be an easy win for the Senators.
No. 11 Woodbridge (17-5) at. No. 6 Sanford (14-5, 8-0 Independent Conference)
Key regular season wins: Woodbridge defeated Seaford 72-48 Jan. 11, defeated Delaware Military Academy 59-58 Feb. 13, defeated Early College 66-38 Jan. 18 and 60-42 Feb. 15. Sanford defeated St. Elizabeth 54-34 Feb. 3, defeated Ursuline 81-76 in double overtime Feb. 15, defeated Caravel 48-46 Feb. 20.
Key match-up: Reghan Robinson vs. Tyler Edwards
Outlook: Not sure if a defending state champion can fly under the radar, but Sanford’s 14-5 record overlooks the fact they’ve beaten everyone in Delaware this season, including potential tournament opponents St. E, Ursuline and Caravel.
Woodbridge will have to bring their A game and Reghan Robinson will be watched closely by one of the best defensive guards in the state in Tyler Edwards. If Edwards can make things difficult for Robinson, that puts Sanford in great position to advance.
No. 12 Seaford (15-6) at No. 5 A.I. duPont (16-5, 8-0 Flight B)
Key regular season wins: Seaford defeated Lake Forest 44-32 Jan. 30, defeated Woodbridge 77-52 Feb. 6, defeated Early College 50-39 Feb. 16. A.I. duPont defeated Saint Mark’s 72-68 in double overtime Dec. 2, defeated Medgar Evers College Prep (NY) 50-47 Dec. 10, defeated Howard 64-54 Jan. 26
Key match-up: Amira Tingle/Kimyra Cornish-Baine vs. Ny’Aijah Jackson/Jourdyn Henderson
Outlook: The Blue Jays bring an 11-game win streak to A.I. tonight and it will be put to the test by a Tiger squad who purposely scheduled tougher than usual competition to prepare them for the tournament.
The Tigers’ senior post duo of Ny’Aijah Jackson and Jourdyn Henderson will have their hands full with double-double machines Amira Tingle and Kimyra Cornish-Baine. Look for the winner of this match-up to give their team the best chance at a quarterfinal appearance.
No. 13 Howard (14-6) at No. 4 Padua (16-4)
Key regular season wins: Howard defeated Hodgson 42-34 Dec. 13, defeated Odessa 44-34 Jan. 29, defeated Smyrna 60-57 Feb. 1. Padua defeated Appoquinimnk 69-65 Dec. 7, defeated Dover 61-56 Jan. 20, defeated A.I. duPont 70-65 in overtime Feb. 6
Key match-up: Kaniah Murray-Chambers/Glory Forbi vs. Abby Hayes/Grace Trerotola
Outlook: The Wildcats won a pulsating district rivalry game against Hodgson Wednesday and now face the prospect of a much-improved Padua team who gets a boost from Ursuline transfer Abby Grillo.
The guard match-up will decide this game as Kaniah Murray-Chambers and Glory Forbi will attempt to disrupt Abby Hayes’ attempts to set up the Panda offense, as well as keep Grace Trerotola from pulling up from the parking lot.
If Howard’s guards can outplay Padua’s guards, they could be on their way to just the third quarterfinal appearance in school history.
No. 14 Delaware Military Academy (14-7) at No. 3 St. Elizabeth (17-3, 8-0 Diamond State)
Key regular season wins: DMA defeated Middletown 68-51 Dec. 21, defeated Saint Mark’s 38-30 Jan. 20, defeated Conrad 58-35 Feb. 15. St. Elizabeth defeated Saint Mark’s 47-43 Jan. 23, defeated Padua 48-44 Jan. 27, defeated DMA 55-53 Feb. 8.
Key match-up: Maya Hill vs. Ericka Huggins
Outlook: The Vikings survived the regular season battle a couple of weeks ago, so they’re fully aware they should take the Seahawks seriously. DMA’s three-point capabilities will keep the St. E defense honest, as well as their aggressive defensive routine.
Maya Hill and Ericka Huggins are two of the better players in this state and the fate of their teams rest solely in their hands. Be ready for an exciting duel between those two tonight.
No. 15 Saint Mark’s (13-8) at No. 2 Ursuline (14-6)
Key regular season wins: Saint Mark’s defeated Smyrna 55-51 Nov. 30, defeated Wilmington Charter 52-38 Dec. 14 and 53-39 Dec. 30, defeated Wilmington Friends 54-39 Jan. 31. Ursuline defeated St. Elizabeth 66-47 Dec. 5, defeated Pikesville (MD) 66-42 Dec. 29, defeated A.I. duPont 78-56 Jan. 15.
Key match-up: Sophia Baffone/Sophia Karch vs. Jezelle Banks/Taylor Brown
Outlook: This will be the third time Ursuline and Saint Mark’s have met this year and the Spartans have played the Raiders pretty close up to a point. The key for Val Karch’s girls’ will be to keep Ursuline within their sights for as long as possible, which is always a difficult task.
GG Banks and Taylor Brown of course make Ursuline go, so sharpshooter Sophia Baffone and wing Sophia Karch will have to not only watch them closely defensively, but try to outscore them as well.
No. 16 Odessa (16-5) at No. 1 Caravel (16-3)
Key regular season wins: Odessa defeated Wilmington Charter 61-56 Jan. 27, defeated Middletown 39-36 Feb. 6, defeated Wilmington Friends 43-24 Feb. 21. Caravel defeated Baldwin (NY) 60-48 Jan. 13, defeated St. Elizabeth 56-45 Jan. 30, defeated Ursuline 67-63.
Key match-up: Delaney Burroughs vs. Anaya Price
Outlook: The Ducks made history Wednesday, winning the first post-season game in school history, and look to make more history against the top-seeded Buccaneers, who have only one in-state loss all year (at Sanford).
Odessa senior guard Delaney Burroughs will be watched closely by Caravel’s four-guard lineup, but the key tonight will be the outside shooting of Anaya Price. When Price is on, as she’s been at nearly a 50-percent clip from three-point range the last two years, Caravel is a tough team to beat.
