9) St. Georges (16-4, Flight A runner-up) vs. 24) Lake Forest (16-4, Henlopen South runner-up):
St. Georges has a fairly deep team with some size, with guards Amber Washington and Trinity Brittingham leading the way. Lake counters with Grace Aguiar and Jada Gourdine. Both are pretty solid defensive teams, but St. G has just enough offense to push through to a rematch with Cape in the 2nd round. St. Georges 45, Lake 32.
10) Sussex Tech (14-6, 3rd place Henlopen North) vs. 23) Friends (12-8, 3rd place Independent Conference):
Tech is still a very dangerous team with Arielle Parker and Janiya Stevens leading the way. Friends is paced by sophomore guards Kayla Farley and Madison McCoy and will not be an easy out. Still, Tech should advance. Sussex Tech 50, Friends 37
11) Howard (16-4, Flight B champs) vs. 22) Newark Charter (11-9, 4th place Diamond State):
Howard has a potential first team all-stater in Ronnasia Blatch-Huggins and maybe the best guard duo in the state and Jaymail Hollis and Na'Leigha Wright. The Patriots are led by the Karr sisters, two girls with size who can score. The variable of the unknown will make this interesting for about a quarter, but Howard should walk away with this one. Howard 56, Newark Charter 30
12) Wilmington Christian (13-7, 3nd place Independent) vs. 21) Tower Hill (11-9, 4th place Independent):
These two teams split their regular season series, but this will be their first meeting in almost two months, so there will still be a feeling out period to start the game. Janae Carter is the Warriors' big gun, literally and figuratively, and the Hillers counter with a balanced, if methodical attack on offense and stifling defense. This one could go either way. Wilmington Christian 36, Tower Hill 34.
13 Sussex Central (13-7, Henlopen North runner up) vs. 20) Tatnall (10-10, Independent runner-up):
Central is one of those teams you always have to watch out for, as Ron Dukes always has his girls ready to play. Raeonna Stratton and freshman Brenya Reid are the main scorers for the Golden Knights. Tatnall is lead by youth and experience - senior forward Aryanna Easterling and a trio of 8th graders (Zoe Kashner, Kali Clayton and Emma Kirby) who will only get better with experience. Tatnall will be a team to watch in the coming years. For now, Central moves on to a rematch with Woodbridge in the 2nd round. Central 63, Tatnall 46.
14) Delcastle (15-5, 3rd place Flight A) vs. 19) Wilmington Charter (13-7, 3rd place Diamond State):
The Cougars were in Flight A contention for most of the year under the leadership of former Cougar great Jaquetta Harmon (nee May) and have a heart-tugging story in their best player, Da-Qira Lancaster-Navarro. Charter is led by senior guard Nia Anderson and freshman wing Emma Brown. This is also a regular season rematch, in which Delcastle won 60-51 at Charter 12/20. Can the Force return the favor and get a road win? Delcastle 47, Charter 42.
15) Mt. Pleasant (12-8, Flight B runner-up) vs. 18) Archmere (12-8, Diamond State runner-up):
Two very well-coached teams with skilled post players and tenacious guards may make for the first round's best game. Zaria Newson and Na'Caia Jackson make the Green Knights go, while the Auks are paced by Madison Stewart and Emma McCann. Can Mt. Pleasant find enough offense and stay out of foul trouble to keep pace with Archmere? Time will tell. Archmere 48, Mt. Pleasant 45.
16) Delmarva Christian (15-5, ESIAC champions) vs. 17) Ursuline (7-11, Catholic Conference runner-up):
Only thing that should worry Ursuline is the bus ride, which is roughly 90 minutes and with Route 1 being Route 1, they might wanna leave early. Ursuline 54, Delmarva Christian 24
St. Georges has a fairly deep team with some size, with guards Amber Washington and Trinity Brittingham leading the way. Lake counters with Grace Aguiar and Jada Gourdine. Both are pretty solid defensive teams, but St. G has just enough offense to push through to a rematch with Cape in the 2nd round. St. Georges 45, Lake 32.
10) Sussex Tech (14-6, 3rd place Henlopen North) vs. 23) Friends (12-8, 3rd place Independent Conference):
Tech is still a very dangerous team with Arielle Parker and Janiya Stevens leading the way. Friends is paced by sophomore guards Kayla Farley and Madison McCoy and will not be an easy out. Still, Tech should advance. Sussex Tech 50, Friends 37
11) Howard (16-4, Flight B champs) vs. 22) Newark Charter (11-9, 4th place Diamond State):
Howard has a potential first team all-stater in Ronnasia Blatch-Huggins and maybe the best guard duo in the state and Jaymail Hollis and Na'Leigha Wright. The Patriots are led by the Karr sisters, two girls with size who can score. The variable of the unknown will make this interesting for about a quarter, but Howard should walk away with this one. Howard 56, Newark Charter 30
12) Wilmington Christian (13-7, 3nd place Independent) vs. 21) Tower Hill (11-9, 4th place Independent):
These two teams split their regular season series, but this will be their first meeting in almost two months, so there will still be a feeling out period to start the game. Janae Carter is the Warriors' big gun, literally and figuratively, and the Hillers counter with a balanced, if methodical attack on offense and stifling defense. This one could go either way. Wilmington Christian 36, Tower Hill 34.
13 Sussex Central (13-7, Henlopen North runner up) vs. 20) Tatnall (10-10, Independent runner-up):
Central is one of those teams you always have to watch out for, as Ron Dukes always has his girls ready to play. Raeonna Stratton and freshman Brenya Reid are the main scorers for the Golden Knights. Tatnall is lead by youth and experience - senior forward Aryanna Easterling and a trio of 8th graders (Zoe Kashner, Kali Clayton and Emma Kirby) who will only get better with experience. Tatnall will be a team to watch in the coming years. For now, Central moves on to a rematch with Woodbridge in the 2nd round. Central 63, Tatnall 46.
14) Delcastle (15-5, 3rd place Flight A) vs. 19) Wilmington Charter (13-7, 3rd place Diamond State):
The Cougars were in Flight A contention for most of the year under the leadership of former Cougar great Jaquetta Harmon (nee May) and have a heart-tugging story in their best player, Da-Qira Lancaster-Navarro. Charter is led by senior guard Nia Anderson and freshman wing Emma Brown. This is also a regular season rematch, in which Delcastle won 60-51 at Charter 12/20. Can the Force return the favor and get a road win? Delcastle 47, Charter 42.
15) Mt. Pleasant (12-8, Flight B runner-up) vs. 18) Archmere (12-8, Diamond State runner-up):
Two very well-coached teams with skilled post players and tenacious guards may make for the first round's best game. Zaria Newson and Na'Caia Jackson make the Green Knights go, while the Auks are paced by Madison Stewart and Emma McCann. Can Mt. Pleasant find enough offense and stay out of foul trouble to keep pace with Archmere? Time will tell. Archmere 48, Mt. Pleasant 45.
16) Delmarva Christian (15-5, ESIAC champions) vs. 17) Ursuline (7-11, Catholic Conference runner-up):
Only thing that should worry Ursuline is the bus ride, which is roughly 90 minutes and with Route 1 being Route 1, they might wanna leave early. Ursuline 54, Delmarva Christian 24
