Final Four Preview

Hodgson, Sanford, St. Elizabeth and Ursuline Advance to Semi-Finals

March 3, 2008

by Jim Charles

Hodgson became the first of the Final Four teams by squeaking past Middletown by a single point, 39 - 38.  The game promised to be a great match-up, and it was.  Only, I think everyone expected more offense out of both teams.  As it turned out, though, Hodgson prevailed the way they normally do -- by spreading out the offensive load over several outstanding players.  Sironda Chambers paced the Silver Eagles with 11 points.  Hot on her heels were Ericka Furrowh with 9 and Asha Jones with 8.  Chelsea Davis led all scorers with 17 for Middletown.  A junior, I look to Davis to rise to the very top tier of superstars next season (if she's not already there now!).

The Lady Warriors of Sanford were next to get into the Final Four as they bested St. Mark's by five points, 37 - 32.  The Spartans accomplished one of their pre-game goals -- to hold Sanford's go-to girl, Jasmine Gibson, to under 20 points.  When they weren't doubling Gibson, they did a solid job on the Sanford guards -- hindering their ability to get the ball to their 6' 4" post.  Anytime you hold Sanford to just 37 points, you're obviously playing good D.  The problem?  Sanford was also defending their hearts out.  And it may be that the Spartans relied a little too long on their patient, deliberate offensive sets when the situation may have called for a little more run-and-gun.  In the end, the athleticism of Sanford's guards and their balanced lineup were the difference.  For the victors, Gibson had 13.  Fellow forward, Jamie Milliski, poured in 10.  Guards, Naiesha Brown and Alexa Webb each had 6.  Webb put in a crucial bucket from underneath with at least two opponents on her with just 3 seconds left on the game clock to tie the score and send the game into OT.  The extra 4 minutes ended up like so many do, mostly one-sided.  Sanford posted 6 points in the extra frame while St. Mark's could respond with only 1.  For St. Mark's, Annie Rivituso was their top scorer with 10.  Steph Nichols wasn't too far back with 8.

After two very competitive Quarter Final games, Ursuline faced off against Brandywine.  UA jumped out to a 21 - 5 first quarter lead and never really looked back.  I thought Elena Delle Donne might just unveil her dunk in this game, but maybe she is saving it for the Title Game.  As it was, Delle Donne scored 32, and sat out much of the 4th quarter so that UA could clear their bench.  As for the game itself, Bradywine simply ran into a wall of talent in the UA starters.  Make that a Mount Everest of talent.  For the Lady Bulldogs, Michelle Baker dropped in a cool 20 points in what turned out to be her last high school game.  Baker finishes out her career as, if I am correct, the 4th leading scorer of all time in Delaware girls ball.  Jordan Duncan, a junior who will lead the team next year, contributed a solid 12 points.  For the Lady Raiders, beside Delle Donne, Shannon O'Hanlon and Erin Edwards had 7 each, while Karolena Szolack had 6, en route to a 64 - 40 Ursuline win.

The fourth and final Semi-Final slot went to defending State Champs, St. Elizabeth.  On paper, they beat Archmere Academy in a laugher, 64 - 28.  But this was really a game that you had to see for yourself.  Sure, St. E's played their typical razzle-dazzle, jaw-dropping style, but it would be a gross injustice if I didn't say a few words about the Lady Auks.  I've seen a LOT of basketball games in my time, and a lot of them featured lopsided scores.  Typically, after a team gets 20, 25 points ahead, the losing team will, figuratively, fold up their tent and go home.  Not Archmere.  This team played as though the score was tied deep into the second half.  They displayed no less effort than the Vikings did.  I'm not saying any of this to be nice, either!  It's simply a fact and anyone who was there knows it.  They just kept chugging away.  You had to admire it.  Former State Champion and current-day Head Coach for Archmere, Sheila DiNardo, was mostly all smiles throughout the game.  I had to believe that she, too, was happy with the team's effort and desire, if not exactly thrilled with the result.  For Archmere, seniors Mary Kate Dolan (7 points) and Brittany Neill (5 points) led the way.  For St. E's, Joy Rutland cranked out 20.  Milana Gilbert had 10.  Amanda Craig deposited 9. 

Predictions:

With a healthy UA lineup, there's no way that Sanford is going to punch their ticket for the Finals.  I'm sorry.  I mean no disrespect.  But I just can't see a scenario where an upset will happen unless Elena and one other UA starter can't play most of the game. 

The St. E's/Hodgson match-up is a little more interesting.  What St. E's has that Hodgson doesn't is Milana Gilbert.  Gilbert is the best-moving big girl in the state.  On offense, she works putbacks like a college post.  And on defense, there's hardly a better post defender out there.  Because of that handicap, HVT will have to rely even more on the things that got them this far -- solid team offense.  This is, after all, the only team in the state that scored 100 points in a regular season game.  Offensively, they can be explosive.  They will need all the baskets they can muster to get past the defending champs.  If there will be an upset in the Final Four, it will happen in this game.  Otherwise, get ready for yet another St. E's/UA Final.

...Which leads me to this closing thought.  A lot of folks out there -- myself included -- were under the delusion back in November that without Khadijah Rushdan, St. E's would be good, but not "State Championship" good.  I have to give this team MAJOR PROPS for saying goodbye to Khadijah AND managing, somehow, to stay at the top.  I think Ursuline is going to do the same thing next year after Elena graduates.  There's just too much talent in both school's systems.

Images from the Elite Eight Quarter-Finals

Middletown's Morgan Taylor

Hodgson's "Dynamic Duo" of Sironda Chambers & Asha Jones

Middletown's Chelsea Davis boxing out.

5' 11" post, Kanzes Battin, protects the ball for HVT.

Wide angle game action shot as Asha Jones goes in for a right side layup.

The scoreboard tells the story.

Sanford's Allie Kenney passes to a waiting Alexa Webb.

Three big-name starters, left to right, Gabrielle Jackson, Jasmine Gibson and Annie Rivituso.

Naiesha Brown lines up her free-throw.  Just a freshman, Brown is playing her first games at The Bob.  The experience will serve her well in the future.

Fifty-two points.  That's what these two combined for in the game.  Elena Delle Donne (left) had 32, Michelle Baker (right) had 20.

Defending State Champ, Symone Woody.

St. E's Alex Massado and Archmere's 1000 point scorer, Brittany Neill.

Another 1000-point club member, Joy Rutland.

Jim Charles