(Feb. 22, 2013) The Worcester Prep girls’ basketball team scored a total of 16 points in the first three quarters of Monday’s game, but the Lady Mallards netted 11 in the fourth to secure a victory in first-round action of the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference tournament.
“We finally got our quick feet back on defense — we were in a slump there for a little while,” said Coach Page Rogers after Worcester’s 27-14 win over the Delmarva Christian Royals. “Offensively, if we can start to get our rhythm back and play the whole game like we did the fourth quarter. Then we’ll be in a good spot.”
The Royals held a 7-6 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Mallards pulled ahead in the second to lead 14-9 at the halftime break.
Senior captain Molly Marshall scored Worcester’s only points of the third quarter with 12 seconds remaining. The Mallards went into the final quarter on top 16-14.
“The biggest thing was that we had to keep up our intensity on defense in the fourth quarter, but slow it down on offense and start running the plays,” Rogers said. “We needed to give each other room to move. When we do that, we’re way more effective.”
The Berlin squad shut out Delmarva Christian 11-0 in the fourth quarter to secure the win and to advance to the ESIAC semifinals.
Marshall had eight points and 11 rebounds. Senior captain Meredith Smith chipped in with six points and 12 rebounds, and sophomore Sophie Brennan scored seven.
“We always tend to panic at the end of the game and we had a lot of turnovers in the fourth quarter. As far as scoring, it was definitely our best quarter, but defensively, the first half was better,” Rogers said. “We were almost 100 percent from the foul line, which I think was the difference in the game.”
The Mallards were 11-for-16 from the foul line. The Royals hit three of their 12 shots.
Worcester and the Salisbury School Dragons went head-to-head in the ESIAC semifinals on Wednesday. The Dragons won 40-23 in Salisbury.
