By Chris Stevens, Editor
We’ve got a fun set of matchups in the DIAA girls’ basketball quarterfinals, so a preview of tonight’s games are in order. All games start at 6:30 pm, check each school’s Website4Sports page for streaming info.
No. 1 St. Elizabeth (12-0) vs. No. 8 Mount Pleasant (10-2)
How they got here: St. Elizabeth defeated Hodgson 73-35 in Round 2, defeated Caesar Rodney 72-39 in Round 3. Mount Pleasant defeated Indian River 61-23, defeated Appoquinimink 69-60 in Round 3.
Key players: St. Elizabeth – Naia Pulliam, Olivia Lynch, Rory Cizkowski, Farrah White. Mt. Pleasant – Brennah Scott, Ja’Mai Benson, Kaya Frutchman, Shiani Gordon.
Outlook: The Green Knights are one of three feel-good stories in this tournament, advancing to the girls’ program’s first quarterfinal since the ’80-’81 season with a knock-down, drag-out win over fellow Flight A co-champ Appo. Their reward is a streaking bunch of Vikings, who are averaging 72.5 points per game in this tournament.
The key matchup will be forwards Naia Pulliam vs. Ja’Mai Benson. Pulliam, on the short list for girls’ player of the year honors, can shoot it from the outside, set up the St. E offense and crash the boards. Benson does most of her damage in the post and can run the floor as well as any post player we’ve seen this year. Whoever wins that matchup most likely wins the game for their team.
No. 4 Caravel (9-5) vs. No. 5 Ursuline (11-4)
How they got here: Caravel defeated Red Lion 61-16 in Round 2, defeated Wilmington Friends 47-33 in Round 3. Ursuline defeated Dover 51-25 in Round 2, defeated Newark Charter 54-20 in Round 3.
Key players: Caravel – India Johnston, Jasiyah Crawford, Anaya Price, Lailaa Glover. Ursuline – Emily Rzucidlo, Emma Raftovich, Ella Gordon, Hannah Kelley.
Outlook: These two teams played just about a month ago, where second and fourth quarter slumps cost Caravel dearly against an opportunistic Raiders team. These young Buccaneers have likely learned from that experience and will have homecourt on their side this time.
Player of the year candidates India Johnston and Emily Rzucidlo are the main guns for their team, so it’s a matter of which player’s supporting cast will join the shootout. Caravel has a pair of first year guards (Jasiyah Crawford and Anaya Price) who are capable of scoring outbursts, while Ursuline’s steady trio of Hannah Kelley, Emma Raftovich and Ella Gordon have stepped up beside Rzucidlo in clutch moments. This could be the game of the night.
No. 10 Woodbridge (13-3) vs. No. 18 Delmarva Christian (12-4)
How they got here: Woodbridge defeated Lake Forest 67-15 in Round 2, defeated Cape Henlopen 47-41 in Round 3. Delmarva Christian defeated William Penn 55-21 in Round 2, defeated Conrad 47-45 in Round 3.
Key players: Woodbridge – Janeira Scott, Cha’Kya Johnson, Sierra Smith, De’Asya Jones, Reghan Robinson. Delmarva Christian – Grace Fetterman, Ainsley Bell, Sierra Troyer, Candice Schlabach.
Outlook: Regardless of outcome, we’re guaranteed a downstate team in the Final Four for the second time in four years, so that’s a plus. Woodbridge proved to be a bad matchup for previously unbeaten Cape Henlopen, while the surprising Royals have proven to be a bad matchup for anybody. Delmarva Christian likes to trap and push the pace while Woodbridge operates very well in the half court.
The Royals’ Grace Fetterman and Woodbridge’s Janeira Scott is the point guard matchup we didn’t know we needed, likely the most intriguing one in the entire tournament, girls or boys. Fetterman and Scott both play outstanding perimeter defense, can turn steals into easy layups in the blink of an eye and can find their teammates for open shots quickly. The key is whether the DCS forward combo of Sierra Troyer and Candice Schlabach can slow the Blue Raiders’ Cha’Kya Johnson, who has quick footwork and a soft left-handed touch around the basket.
No. 3 Sanford (14-1) vs. No. 6 Archmere (10-2)
How they got here: Sanford defeated Wilmington Christian 71-19 in Round 2, defeated Tatnall 60-35 in Round 3. Archmere defeated Polytech 52-28 in Round 2, defeated St. Mark’s 46-37 in Round 3.
Key players: Sanford – Dallas Pierce, Zy Kilgoe, Amiya Carroll, Abby Meredith. Archmere – Ellie Angiullo, Lauren Kim, Bridget McGonigle, Ava Scarpaci.
Outlook: Archmere has been a model of consistency in getting to consecutive Elite Eights, but they’ll need a close to perfect game against the young Warriors, a team with just one senior and a wealth of talent. Sanford has two guards (Dallas Pierce and Zy Kilgoe) who operate just as well in the half court as they do in the open floor, while Archmere’s scoring comes from Ellie Angiullo in the interior and Lauren Kim from the outside.
The Auks’ best chance will be slowing the pace to a near crawl, which still could be an issue as Sanford can rely on Amiya Carroll and Jada Snow for post points or kick out to Abby Meredith for three-point efficiency.
