By Chris Stevens, Editor
Bob season is officially here.
The girls’ final four tips off tonight at 6 p.m. with four teams that have earned their spots through timely offense, tough defense, great coaching and players making plays. Tonight we find out which two girls’ teams will be battling for the big trophy on Championship Saturday. Let’s preview the games.
No. 2 Ursuline (16-6) vs. No. 6 Sanford (16-5), 6 p.m.
How they got here: Ursuline defeated Saint Mark’s 69-38 in the second round Mar. 1, defeated Dover 60-36 in the quarterfinals Mar. 4. Sanford defeated Woodbridge 78-36 in the second round Mar. 1, defeated St. Elizabeth 48-36 in the quarterfinals Mar. 4.
Key match-up: Tyler Edwards vs. Jezelle Banks
Outlook: Sanford shocked Ursuline with an 81-76 double overtime victory in early February and the Warriors’ program has not lost to the Raiders since the 2018 quarterfinals, a span of nine games. That bit of history, as well as Sanford’s undefeated string in-state this season, works in their favor.
Ursuline however has two bona fide game changers in GG Banks and Taylor Brown, and nothing will motivate them more than seeing the one team that stopped them from a state championship last season.
Banks is averaging 32 points per game in this tournament, so Tyler Edwards likely draws the assignment of somehow slowing her down.
Sanford’s ability to adapt to any style a team can play, as well as force opponents to play at their pace, makes them a dangerous defending state champion. Ursuline will be on high alert and this should be the game of the night.
No. 1 Caravel (18-3) vs. No 5. A.I. duPont (18-5), 8 p.m.
How they got here: Caravel defeated Odessa 64-25 in the second round Mar. 1, defeated Smyrna 64-38 in the quarterfinals Mar. 4. A.I. duPont defeated Seaford 58-39 in the second round Mar. 1, defeated Howard 55-50 in the quarterfinals Mar. 4.
Key match-up: Sydney Hilliard vs. Jasiyah Crawford
Outlook: Caravel has been the best team in the state most of the year, with only a close loss to Sanford serving as an in-state blemish. They’ll face an A.I. team who came out slow in their first meeting in February, so expect Lucky Price and his staff to have that issue corrected tonight.
The Tigers are the first public school team above the Canal in the Final Four since Concord made it in 2016, and they’ll look to represent with their brand of opportunistic defense and freelance offense.
The point guards will determine their team’s fate as A.I.’s Sydney Hilliard (a great comeback story) and Caravel’s Jasiyah Crawford will guide their teams into battle. Hilliard is more of a scorer than Crawford, but both are good at setting up the offense and creating opportunities for their teammates.
Caravel has the depth and experience to carry through to the championship game, but A.I. duPont won’t make it easy.
