By Chris Stevens, Editor
On a team that features just two seniors, it’s easy to chalk any issues the St. Georges girls’ basketball team has up to inexperience.
And once game experience catches up to their talent, this could be a team to be reckoned with.
Take for example, first-year guard Chasity Wilson scored a game-high 30 points, including a driving layup with 4 seconds left to lift the Hawks (3-2) past previously unbeaten Archmere 56-55 in a Friday night game that will be on the short list for game of the year candidates.
“We’re a young team that’s going to make mistakes, but never the same mistake twice,” St. Georges head coach Matt Pecorella said. “We’ve got a team that works hard and competes every night. Our goal is to be 1-0 every day and today, we were able to do that.”
“Our team’s been through highs and lows already this season, so we just pulled together and got it done,” added Wilson.
Archmere led 14-8 after the first quarter, but Wilson, scoreless in the first, started her offensive blitz with a 14-point second quarter that helped tie the game at 26 at halftime.
The Hawks ripped off a 14-0 streak in a three minute span in the third quarter, capped by an Elia Richardson three-pointer to open up a 42-31 lead. The Auks (3-1) battled back behind senior guards Brigid Hamberger and Lauren Kim in the fourth quarter.
Hamberger made two of her four three-point baskets in the final quarter to pull Archmere close and Kim, who finished with a team-high 19 points, drove fearlessly through the St. Georges defense for basket after basket, including a running hook with 11 seconds left to give the Auks a 55-54 advantage. Wilson settled the issue for good with a mad dash to the rim and a tough bank shot to cap her big night.
“That was a tough drive against bigger kids, a helluva play,” Pecorella said. “Speedy’s got a world of talent and she plays hard whether she scores 30 points or four points.”
“I knew it was crunch time and we needed a basket,” Wilson explained.
Archmere had one last chance, but Hamberger’s final three-point attempt bounced off the rim and settled in the arms of St. Georges guard Donyae Samuels to give the Hawks a huge win.
Check out the highlights:
