Archmere girls one step closer to DSAC title

By Chris Stevens, Editor

Dan Pisani has seen enough close games with this edition of the Archmere girls’ basketball team that he isn’t worried much, even when a team like Delaware Military Academy made life difficult for them Wednesday night.

Pisani’s calm can be attributed to senior leaders such as Sara Denning, who hit the go-ahead lay-up with 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter and Ally Lengkeek, who added a clutch three-pointer a minute later to aid the Auks in a 48-40 win over the Seahawks to remain perfect (6-0) in Diamond State Athletic Conference play.

“We talked about it at halftime – we knew DMA was going to stay in the game,” Pisani said. “They never get blown or blow anybody out, they always stay in the game. I think our girls have seen this situation so much that there’s no panic.”

“Everybody on our team plays that role [of calming each other down],” said Denning, who scored 11 points. “It’s good that we’re able to lean on each other.”

The Auks (13-3 overall) led 17-9 after one quarter and 27-20 at halftime after Lengkeek nailed a 30-footer just as the second quarter buzzer expired. DMA (12-4, 4-2 DSAC) refused to surrender as sophomore guard/forward Maya Hill picked her way through the Archmere defense, either getting to the free throw line or making a tough, twisting shot to tie the game at 31 after three quarters.

Hill, the game’s leading scorer with 20 points, made two free throws with 6 minutes to go to give the Seahawks their first lead of the contest, but Denning made two free throws to tie the game at 34 and then took a feed from Lucy Oliver (team-high 15 points) and made a tough shot of her own to give Archmere the lead for good.

Archmere led 36-35 at the 4:08 mark when Lengkeek took a pass from Bridget Malloy on the right wing and knocked down a three-pointer that gave the Auks some much needed cushion.

“That play was actually supposed to go inside,” Lengkeek admitted, “but I felt like I could make the shot, so I did.”

“I love this for her,” Denning said of her senior teammate. “Ally’s so good on the defensive end, so it’s nice to see her get some recognition on offense.”

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