Archmere Downs Dover, 58 - 48

Dover guard Jasmine Miller eyes teammate Amber Sullivan cutting across the key.

February 3, 2008

by Jim Charles & Tom Dunn

In what could easily have been billed as the "Battle of Route 13", the Archmere Auks ventured to the Capital City to face off against the Dover High Lady Senators on their own turf.  Making the trip all the more pressure-filled was the fact that this would be a contest of conference leaders - 2 teams with fantastic records.

The story of the game is one of four distinct quarters of basketball - each with its own unique feel.  The teams pretty much traded points - basket for basket - throughout the first.  Archmere held on by a thread to a 14 - 13 lead.

In the second frame, the Auks kept up the pace, chalking up another 16 points while clamping down on the defense - holding the Senatorettes to a one-point-per-minute pace (8 points).  The teams went to the locker rooms at halftime with a score of 30 - 21 in favor of the Club from Claymont.

The third period was a completely different scenario.  A combination of Dover adjustments and Archmere having trouble locating the hoop led to the Doverinians posting a 7 - 2 advantage in the quarter.  Overall score going into the final frame -- 32 - 28, Archmere still holding on.

Given how the game had unfolded up to this point, no one could have predicted the offensive explosion that was to define the fourth quarter.  The defenses of both teams decided to go home early.  But the offenses stuck around.  The Doverites scored a very impressive 20 points in the closing 8 minutes.  An effort like that over a team that was beating you by only 4 points would normally be enough.  But not on this afternoon!  The Lady Archmerians saw Dover their 20 points and raised them 6 more, countering Dover's great performance with a 26-point 4th quarter of their own.  When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, Archmere had secured a nice ten-point victory.

Leading the way for the victors was the superstar effort of senior, Brittany Neill (pictured at left).  Neill had 29 points on the day, and got them in all kinds of ways including 5 three-pointers and an 8-for-11 performance at the free-throw line.  For this notable feat against a great opponent, Neill richly earned a weekly iPOW award.  Lest anyone think Neill was the only story for the Auks, there were major contributions by Hillary Fitts (11 points), Alyssa Vaile (8 points), Mary Kate and Moira Dolan (4 points each).

In the losing effort, Dover was hardly any less efficient in putting points on the board.  Seven players managed to score.  Among the leaders were Amber Sullivan (14 points), Jasmine Miller (12 points), Dahnay Banice (8 points) and Teshae Murray (6 points).

The teams showed different styles of play.  Dover preferred to work the ball inside, peppering in the occasional mid-range jumper.  Archmere featured a more varied offensive look.  They liberally used the bomb (the Auks hit 7 threes on the game) which drew out and spread the defense, creating opportunities in the paint and along the baseline.

Both teams played very physical and the game was stopped at one point so that the refs could admonish the players for too much contact.  Perhaps the most surprising thing was that Archmere clearly gave as good as they got.  The Auks were not intimidated.

When asked how Archmere pulled off this valuable win, high scorer Brittany Neill opined, "Our keys were defense, rebounding and working the ball on offense.  We shut them down really well.  We work hard in practice.  That paid off in the game."  Neill went on to say, "Our team is very close.  We all play well together.  We're young, so we've got a good future."  Helping promote this closeness is senior, Mary Kate Dolan.  Dolan was seen constantly picking up and encouraging her teammates.  Even going so far as to pay timely visits to the bench during the junior varsity game to console the JV Auks and keep their heads in the game.  That's leadership above and beyond the call of duty.  She'd probably make a great coach someday.

More Images from the Game

Dover's high scorer, Amber Sullivan.

Dover ballhandler, Antoinette Robertson tries to gain an advantage over Archmere's Jenna DiNardo.  DiNardo displays mastery of the "step slide" and great use of her arms for balance and to hinder her opponent.

The spiritual and emotional leader of the Auks, the very steady and dependable senior, Mary Kate Dolan looks to make a pass over traffic.

Starting point guard, Jenna DiNardo, has changed her game over the years.  In grade school, she would light up the scoreboard with the best of them.  These days, she has matured into a true "textbook" point guard, where her role is more to get the ball to teammates than to take it in herself.  DiNardo only had one basket in this game, but deserved just as much credit as anyone for the victory.

Jim Charles