Sussex Tech girls basketball coach Chester Davis (right), who recently earned his 500th career coaching win, poses with his son Justin, a longtime assistant who will become the Ravens’ head coach next season.

Chester Davis likes to spin a little humor into many of the things he says.

When asked why he has coached girls basketball at five different schools in Sussex County, he said, “My dad told me, ‘If you keep moving, they don’t get a good shot at you.’”

But he has reached a winning milestone at each stop. His 100th career victory came at Laurel. Win No. 200 came at Seaford. He reached 300 victories at Epworth Christian. Then 400 at Seaford Christian.

Davis has been coaching at Sussex Tech the last six seasons, and on Jan. 24 the 76-year-old got career win No. 500 with a 61-38 victory at Smyrna.

“It’s been 36 years,” Davis said with a chuckle. “It was a long, uphill battle.”

The Ravens are having their best year in Davis’ tenure, standing at 11-4 overall and 6-4 in the Henlopen North going into Thursday night’s game at Cape Henlopen.

“This year, we have a tremendous group of young ladies,” said Davis, who now owns a 504-273 career record. “Saturday mornings are volunteer [practices], they’re there. On a holiday, if we want to practice from 4 to 6, they’re there. They’re a committed crew.”

Sussex Tech has a balanced attack, with senior guard Rukiya Davis, junior guard Jayla Mullen, sophomore forwards Janiya Stevens and Mi’Cah Shelton and senior forward Kara Hignutt all capable of leading the team in scoring on any given night.

The highlight of the season so far came on Jan. 27. The Ravens had lost 47-36 at Sussex Central on Dec. 9, but turned the tables with a 52-42 home victory to break an 11-game losing streak against the crosstown rival Golden Knights.

“It was a great moment for us,” Davis said.

Sussex Central coach Ron Dukes said Davis’ teams are always difficult to play.

“They’re definitely going to be tough and aggressive on defense,” Dukes said. “They’re not going to be a team that’s going to give up. They’re going to come and fight for four quarters, no matter what the score is.”

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Davis’ son, Justin, has been an assistant coach on his father’s staff the last 18 years, along with James Gschwandtner and John Street. Julia Tovar and Nikki Meredith played for Chester and have been assistants for the past five years.

But really, Justin’s coaching relationship with his father goes back much further.

“I’ve been in gyms with him, going to practice, since I was old enough to dribble,” Justin said. “The coaching part has been great. It’s been an excuse to hang out with my dad six days a week during the season, and we go year round during the summer.”

Chester has said this will be his final season as head coach, and Justin has transitioned to handling more responsibility over the last three years. He has gradually changed the Ravens’ attack.

“He has transformed us from a walk it up, three or four passes before you shoot offense to a man to man, run and gun,” Chester said. “We believe in playing quick.”

Sussex Tech girls basketball coach Chester Davis keeps an eye on a drill during a recent Ravens practice.

But Chester still has plenty of passion, sometimes directed to those wearing the striped shirts.

“If things aren’t going his way, they will call timeout,” Dukes said. “His son will talk to the girls, and he sits there and stares at the officials the entire timeout. And they won’t even look at him anymore. They kind of look at each other and look away, because they know he’s staring at them. It just becomes comical.”

Chester has enjoyed six 20-win seasons and six conference championships over the years. Justin will take over as the Ravens’ head coach next year, and he hopes to keep the coaching staff in place. Including a man with more than 500 wins under his belt.

“I don’t ever want him to leave, as long as I’m there,” Justin said. “And I don’t think it’s in him to not be in the gym. Whatever say I will have next year, he’s going to have whatever role he wants. We definitely want him around. The kids do, the coaching staff sure does.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

SMYRNA – When Smyrna wrestling coach Kurt Howell saw Friday night’s match against Sussex Central was going to start at 120 pounds, he knew what the Eagles had to do.

“If you just look at the matchups, where we started out was a good place for us to get momentum,” Howell said.

Smyrna took full advantage, winning the first six matches – three by pin – and holding off a late charge by the Golden Knights to close the regular season with a 39-27 home victory.

The top-ranked Eagles (12-2, 6-0 Henlopen North) clinched another conference title and ran their in-state winning streak to 56 matches. They also got into a great position in the drive for their fifth consecutive Division I championship at Tuesday’s DIAA Dual Meet Championships, to be held at Smyrna.

“We had to win out to get No. 1 seed,” Howell said. “That should solidify that. I don’t know who we’re going to wrestle in the semis, how it will shake out, but we just have to keep our head on straight, keep plugging away.”

No. 3 Sussex Central (9-2, 4-2) rallied to win six of the last eight matches, including a couple of dramatic last-second decisions, but the deficit was too great.

“Smyrna is tough,” said the Golden Knights’ Phil Shultie, who was coaching the final regular-season match of his 41-year career. “We knew in that area, they were going to get a roll. Maybe if we could have started in some other place …”

They started in the perfect place for Smyrna, as Nick Natarcola (120) and Cole Sebastianelli (126) got first-period pins and Greg Baum scored a technical fall for a 17-0 lead. Then freshman J.T. Davis won one of the night’s best matches with a 3-2 decision over Sussex Central junior Drew Morris.

“I just kept moving on bottom,” Davis said. “I kept to my game plan, just tried to do my best.”

Howell thought Davis’ victory was one of the keys to the Eagles’ successful night.

“He’s been wrestling really well lately,” the Smyrna coach said. “Just really solid position. He doesn’t give up much. He stays aggressive, and he never runs out of gas. He’s always in it all the way to the end.”

Chase Archangelo (145) followed with a pin, and Nate Bryant’s major decision at 152 gave the Eagles a 30-0 lead. Brandon Bautista finally got the Golden Knights on the board, getting a takedown in the final seconds to nip Dakota Kerr 4-2.

Blake Chambers got Central’s first pin at 170, and the Golden Knights’ Lucas Hudson edged Hunter Moyer with another late takedown at 182. Tony Wuest answered with a 50-second pin for Smyrna at 195.

John Morris countered with a pin for Central at 220, but Eagles heavyweight Elijah Taylor clinched the match by taking down Mario Santizo in overtime. The Golden Knights made the final score closer with a pin from Jevon Saffold at 106 and major decision from Yony Garcia at 113.

“I was very happy with what we did,” Shultie said. “Smyrna came out and took it to us in the lighter weights. But hopefully Tuesday, if we get this far, hopefully it will be a different score.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli (top) defeats Sussex Central’s Javier Perez with a pin in the 126 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli (top) tries to turn Sussex Central’s Javier Perez on to his back in the 126 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s Brandon Greenlee (top) and Smyrna’s Greg Baum wrestle for position in the 132 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Smyrna’s Greg Baum brings Sussex Central’s Brandon Greenlee down to the mat in the 132 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Smyrna’s J.T. Davis, left, holds on to Sussex Central’s Drew Morris in the 138 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s Junior Perez (top) and Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola battle for position in the 120 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Smyrna’s Chase Archangelo, left, reaches for the leg of Sussex Central’s Kody Lankford in the 145 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s Tyler Bunting, left, looks at the clock in his match against Smyrna’s Nate Bryant in the 152 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Smyrna’s J.T. Davis, left, holds works to get away from a hold by Sussex Central’s Drew Morris in the 138 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista, left, defeats Smyrna’s Dakota Kerr in the 160 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista, left, and Smyrna’s Dakota Kerr wrestle in the 160 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista, right, forces Smyrna’s Dakota Kerr to the mat in the 160 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s Lucas Hudson, left, and Smyrna’s Hunter Moyer battle for position in the 182 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s John Morris, right, and Smyrna’s Brent Young wrestle in the 220 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Smyrna’s Elijah Taylor, right, and Sussex Central’s Mario Santizo battle for position in the 285 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

Sussex Central’s Blake Chambers holds on to the back of Smyrna’s Masen Wilson in the 170 pound match at Smyrna High School. Smyrna defeated Sussex Central 39-27.

St. Elizabeth Center David Hazelton (33) drives the hoop as Wilmington Friends guard Nick Williams (23) defends.

WILMINGTON – Jordan Money wasn’t supposed to inbound the ball.

The clock was ticking under 10 seconds after Tim Farley’s long 3-pointer pulled Wilmington Friends within one point against St. Elizabeth in overtime on Saturday. Nate Thomas was going to inbound for the Vikings, but Money did it instead and fired a long pass to David Hazelton for the clinching layup in a thrilling, 64-61 win at the St. E Center.

“Nate Thomas just yelled at [Money] in the locker room. He was supposed to take the ball out,” Hazelton said with a laugh. “But Jordan hopped in and threw me that pass.

“I’m not a person who gets in that situation too much. I just wanted to catch the ball and seal the game. … When I saw nobody else was coming around me, I said, ‘Might as well get the two points.’”

The come-from-behind victory put a good finish on a tough week for the Vikings (10-7), who lost at St. Mark’s on Tuesday and at No. 1 Smyrna on Thursday.

“This is a game we would have lost a week ago,” Hazelton said. “We had a big coming together meeting of the starters this past week. We kind of just let it all out with the coaching staff. We talked, had a good back and forth.

“We really felt like we came together. We played a real great team game, never got nervous, never got down, and we got the win.”

It was tied at 11 after one quarter. Then St. E turned up the defense, as Hazelton converted Elijah Dockery’s assist and closed the first half with a steal and layup for a 26-19 lead.

The Vikings took a 40-32 advantage into the fourth quarter, only to see the Quakers (10-7) quickly rally behind Jordan Perkins. The 6-foot-3 senior did it all during a 13-3 run, getting steals, rebounds, assists and scores. Perkins passed to Maxwell Okolo for a layup that pushed Friends ahead 45-43 with 4:02 to play.

“We took call of the ball, which meant we got better shots,” Friends coach Chris Loeffler said of his team’s burst. “And they didn’t get any easy ones on the other end.”

St. Elizabeth Forward Nathan Thomas (11) handles the ball on a fast break against Wilmington Friends.

It was back and forth from there, with Dockery banking in a shot in the lane to tie it at 51 with 11.8 seconds to play. Then the Quakers missed a driving layup under pressure, and Thomas’ 65-foot heave barely missed at the buzzer to send it into overtime.

It was tied at 58 when Perkins, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, fouled out with 1:55 left in OT.

“It makes it tough when your best offensive player goes out,” Loeffler said. “But the guys who were in there did a great job. They stuck with it, they stayed with our game plan, and we had a chance.”

Justin Money passed to his older brother, Jordan, for a layup. Then senior guard Eric Hicks stepped in front of a Friends pass and turned it into a St. E layup for a 62-58 lead with 46 seconds to go.

“I just saw the guy getting ready to pass it,” Hicks said. “They were doing the same thing every time. I just said, ‘I’m gonna time it.’ I knew he was going to pass it. Once he looked my way, I just put my hand up and got the ball.”

The Quakers were still down four when Farley’s long 3-pointer – his fourth of the game – went in to make it a one-point game with 10 seconds left. Then Jordan Money threw the long pass that clinched it.

St. Elizabeth guard Elijah Dockery (3) drives to the basket as Wilmington Friends forward Maxwell Okolo (33) defends.

“Nate told me to just wait a couple of seconds before I picked the ball up, take it out,” Money said. “I was waiting, was going to use the five seconds, but I just saw Dave wide open.”

The Vikings had balanced scoring, with 13 points each from Thomas and Hazelton and 12 points each from Jordan Money and Dockery. Farley scored 15 for Friends.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Sussex Central’s Tyler Bunting, left, checks the clock in his match against Smyrna’s Nate Bryant at 152 pounds last Friday. Smyrna won 39-27 to clinch the Division I top seed in the DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling Championships.

Four-time defending champion Smyrna earned the top seed in Division I, and three-time defending champion Milford nabbed the top seed in Division II when the seedings for the DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling Championships were determined Sunday.

The tournaments will be held Tuesday at Smyrna High, with six teams participating in each division. First-round matches will begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by the semifinals at 5:30 and the championship matches at 7:30.

Five of the six Division I teams come from the Henlopen North. Third-seeded Sussex Central (9-2) will meet No. 6 William Penn (10-3) – the Blue Hen Flight A champion – and No. 4 Caesar Rodney (7-4) will take on fifth-seeded Dover (12-5) in the first round.

Smyrna (12-2), which owns a 56-match in-state winning streak, will meet the lowest-seeded first-round winner in the semifinals. Second-seeded Cape Henlopen (15-1) will take on the highest-seeded first-round winner in the other semi.

In Division II, third-seeded St. Georges (8-4) – the Blue Hen Flight B champ – will meet No. 6 Caravel (9-3) and fourth-seeded Sanford (3-3) will take on No. 5 Laurel (9-6) in the first round.

Henlopen South champion Milford (12-3), will go against the lowest-seeded first-round winner in the semifinals. Second-seeded Indian River (15-2) will take on the highest-seeded first-round winner in the other semi.

First-round matches will begin at 220 pounds. Semifinals will begin at 285, and the championship matches will start at 106.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

St. Georges’ Wyatt McMullen (left) struggles against Delaware Military’s Dylan Peters before winning at 113 pounds on Jan. 25. The third-ranked Hawks are seeded third in Division II going into Tuesday’s DIAA Dual Meet championships at Smyrna.

THE NEWS JOURNAL/DELAWAREONLINE RANKINGS

BOYS BASKETBALL

1. Smyrna (15-2) prev. 1

2. Mount Pleasant (17-3) 3

3. Newark (14-3) 4

4. St. Georges (13-4) 5

5. Hodgson (13-3) 2

6. St. Thomas More (14-3) 6

7. Glasgow (11-5) 7

8. Salesianum (12-5) 8

9. Woodbridge (15-2) 9

10. St. Mark’s (11-5) NR

GIRLS BASKETBALL

1. Ursuline (16-1) 1

2. Sanford (16-2) 2

3. St. Elizabeth (9-7) 3

4. Caravel (11-5) 4

5. Conrad (16-1) 5

6. Concord (13-2) 6

7. Caesar Rodney (17-1) 7

8. Archmere (12-6) 8

9. Howard (12-5) 9

10. A.I. du Pont (14-4) 10

WRESTLING

DIVISION I

1. Smyrna (12-2) 1

2. Cape Henlopen (15-1) 2

3. Sussex Central (9-2) 3

4. Caesar Rodney (7-4) 4

5. William Penn (10-3) 5

DIVISION II

1. Milford (12-3) 1

2. Indian River (15-2) 3

3. St. Georges (8-4) 2

4. Sanford (3-8) 4

5. Laurel (9-6) NR

BOYS SWIMMING

1. Charter of Wilmington (9-0-1) 1

2. Salesianum (10-2-1) 2

3. Conrad (11-1) 3

4. St. Andrew’s (6-2) 4

5. Mount Pleasant (12-1) 5

GIRLS SWIMMING

1. Ursuline (7-1) 1

2. Charter of Wilmington (10-0) 2

3. Cape Henlopen (14-0) 3

4. Newark Charter (9-1) 4

5. Padua (8-2) 5

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

BLAIR ATKINS, senior, Wilmington Friends girls swimming

THE WEEK: Won the 500-yard freestyle and swam on three winning relays in a 96-66 victory over Caravel last Tuesday. Won the 50-yard freestyle and swam on three winning relays in an 80-53 victory over St. Elizabeth on Friday as the Quakers finished 10-1 in dual meets.

THE DESIRE: “Besides the fact that she’s just a terrific athlete, she’s got the fire, she’s got the drive, she hates to lose,” Friends coach Robin Lebauer said. “If it’s a close race, she’s going to win.”

THE VERSATILITY: Atkins was named to the All-State second team in field hockey last fall, and also is one of the Quakers’ top lacrosse players in the spring. “It’s kind of hard to pick [a favorite sport],” she said. “It kind of changes throughout the year. This year, field hockey was like, ‘I really love field hockey.’ Last year, I really loved swimming, and the year before I really loved lacrosse.”

THE REASON: Atkins likes swimming because it is different than the team sports she plays. “The individuality of being able to compete with other people in the pool and not just as a team sport makes it really awesome,” she said. “You can compete against yourself. And the winning part, when you finish and you see that you’re the first one done and your time, it’s just kind of reassurance of how amazing it is.”

THE LEADERSHIP: “For the newer kids, she’ll help them at practice with their stroke, make sure they know where they’re supposed to be during a swim meet,” Lebauer said. “With the girls who are not beginners, just camaraderie, getting them to work as a team.”

THE FAVORITES: Two weeks ago, Atkins set personal records in sweeping the 50 freestyle (25.41) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.83) at the Independent Conference meet. She plans to swim both at the upcoming DIAA meet and says the breaststroke is her favorite event. “Over the years, I’ve improved so much with that,” Atkins said. “It gives me satisfaction that I can actually do it, although it’s really hard.”

THE CLASSROOM: Atkins’ favorite subject is Biology, which she plans to study in college with an eye toward a career in athletic training or physical therapy.

THE FUTURE: Atkins has committed to attend Franklin & Marshall College, where she plans to swim and may also try out for field hockey or lacrosse.

Send Athlete of the Week nominations to Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Wilmington Friends School swimmer Blair Atkins poses for a portrait at the William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center pool in Wilmington on Monday afternoon.

Wilmington Friends School swimmer Blair Atkins poses for a portrait at the William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center pool in Wilmington on Monday afternoon.

Wilmington Friends School swimmer Blair Atkins poses for a portrait at the William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center pool in Wilmington on Monday afternoon.

The rosters for the 2017 Blue-Gold All-Star basketball games have been selected by the Delaware Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association.

The state’s top high school seniors will gather for a final time March 18 at the Bob Carpenter Center, with the girls game starting at 1 p.m., followed by the boys game. Performances by the Newark, Conrad and A.I. du Pont bands will be featured in between.

The games benefit Best Buddies Delaware, which creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

During the week leading up to the games, players on all four teams will practice, travel to Dover to spend a day at Legislative Hall and be honored at a banquet at the Delaware Tech Terry Campus in Dover.

The Blue girls roster features Ronnay Blatch-Huggins of Howard, Lexi Bromwell and Alanna Speaks of St. Elizabeth, Danaziah Brown of Archmere, Jamiyah Dennis of Concord, Hannah Garbowski of Delaware Military Academy, Kryshell Gordy of Ursuline, Brianna Grant of Concord, Lauryn Griffin and Al’kirah Wilson of A.I. du Pont, Jayna Jones of Wilmington Friends, Brianna McCoy of Tower Hill, Shanira Mitchell of William Penn, Jaylin Ortiz of Delcastle and Katie Woodacre of Charter of Wilmington. The team will be coached by Scott Barker of St. Mark’s.

Lake Forest’s Trenita Shields will coach the Gold girls team, which includes the Spartans’ Arika Burrell and Mya Maddox, Sussex Tech’s Rukiya Davis and Kara Hignutt, Milford’s Rajene Bowe and Kiarra Brittingham, Delmar’s Aizha Brown, Middletown’s Nyasia Carroll-Jackson, Smyrna’s Melena Credle, Cape Henlopen’s Abby E’Nama, Caesar Rodney’s Alissa Haith, Dover’s Brionna Hill, Sussex Central’s Tashara Houston, Caravel’s Grace Lange and Polytech’s Tamia Mathias.

The Blue boys team consists of William Penn’s Jermal Crumel, Tatnall’s Nicolas Cutrona, Newark’s Michael Drumgo-Sharpe, Glasgow’s Devon Earl, Hodgson’s Dawson Grinnage and L.J. Stansbury, A.I. du Pont’s Julius Inge, Salesianum’s Michael Kempski, McKean’s Pierre Lofland, St. Mark’s Chris Ludman, Sanford’s Marcus McCollum, Mount Pleasant’s Keon Taylor, Concord’s Joe McHugh, St. Elizabeth’s Jordan Money and Wilmington Friends’ Jordan Perkins. The Blue will be coached by Mount Pleasant’s Lisa Sullivan.

Shawn Phillips of Delmar will coach the Gold boys, which will feature Appoquinimink’s Myles Cale, St. Georges’ Kyson Rawls, St. Thomas More’s Corey Gordon and Eric Montanez, Milford’s Brion Murray and Tymire Riddick, Indian River’s Isaiah Bratton, Woodbridge’s Cornell Corbin and Te’Vion Waters, Caesar Rodney’s Jaquan Hooks and Joe Williams, Polytech’s Jaeden Dungee, Seaford’s Andrez Jones, Lake Forest’s Cameron Lewis and Smyrna’s Anthony Watson.

The event will also include a fun zone for kids, pregame middle school basketball skills clinic, halftime 3-point shooting contest for the girls players and halftime dunk contest for the boys players.

More information on tickets and game day activities is available at www.bestbuddies.org/bluegold.

Wrestling preview

Smyrna is riding a 56-match in-state winning streak, just won the Henlopen Conference title and has already beaten four of the five other teams in the Division I bracket going into Tuesday’s DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling Championships.

And the Eagles, who have won the last four D-I titles, will be wrestling in their home gym. So how does coach Kurt Howell guard against overconfidence?

“We just talk about what we’re doing to get better,” Howell said. “It’s one day at a time, one move at a time. I have a motto, it’s always next move. That applies to just about everything we do.”

Six teams will participate in each division. First-round matches will begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by the semifinals at 5:30 and the championship matches at 7:30.

Five of the six Division I teams come from the Henlopen North. Third-seeded Sussex Central (9-2) will meet No. 6 William Penn (10-3) and No. 4 Caesar Rodney (7-4) will take on fifth-seeded Dover (12-5) in the first round.

Top-seeded Smyrna (12-2) will meet the lowest-seeded first-round winner in the semifinals. Second-seeded Cape Henlopen (15-1) will take on the highest-seeded first-round winner in the other semi.

In Division II, three-time defending champion Milford (12-3) has again earned the top seed. But the Buccaneers had two close wins over the next two seeds – 37-33 over Indian River and 44-36 over St. Georges.

The third-seeded Hawks (8-4) will meet No. 6 Caravel (9-3) and fourth-seeded Sanford (3-8) will take on No. 5 Laurel (9-6) in the first round.

Milford will go against the lowest-seeded first-round winner in the semifinals, with No. 2 Indian River (15-2) taking on the highest-seeded first-round winner in the other semi.

DIAA has corrected the starting weights for all three rounds. The first round will start at 160 pounds, with the semifinals beginning at 170 and the championship matches starting at 182.

State wrestling qualifiers

Three-weekend tournaments will determine the fields for the DIAA Individual Wrestling Championships, to be held Feb. 24-25 at Dover High.

The Henlopen Conference Championships, which will start at 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday at Sussex Central will send the top six from each weight class to the state meet.

Top-five finishers in the Blue Hen Conference Championships will advance. A.I. du Pont will be the host for three sessions – at 4:30 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for students per session, with a two-session tickets available on Saturday for $12 adults, $5 students.

Salesianum will host the Independent Schools Championships, which will send the top five to states. The one-day event begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Rounding it up

— Caravel/Hodgson (14-1-2) will meet Appoquinimink (11-1-2) for the Delaware High School Hockey League championship at 6:50 p.m. Tuesday at The Pond Ice Arena in Newark.

— Top-ranked Charter of Wilmington and No. 2 Salesianum have staged some epic dual meets in swimming over the years, and Saturday was no exception as the teams tied at 85. The Force won 91½-78½ last year. Sallies romped 111-59 in 2015, and Charter won an 86-84 squeaker in 2014.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Ursuline’s Kryshell Gordy (14) is one of 60 Delaware high school seniors scheduled to play in the Blue-Gold All-Star basketball games on March 18,

SMYRNA – Sussex Central had to fight tooth and nail just to earn another shot at Smyrna in the DIAA Division I Dual Meet Wrestling Championship match on Tuesday night.

Once the Golden Knights got there, they sent legendary coach Phil Shultie out on top with a thrilling, 32-30 victory that ended the Eagles’ four-year reign as D-I champs.

Shultie, 63, is retiring at the end of this season after 41 years at Central. In the final dual meet of his career, the Knights won the school’s second state wrestling championship (the first came in 2008) and pushed his state-leading win total to 432.

This may have been the sweetest one of all.

“This is it, and there’s no greater way to go out than to have a state championship team,” Shultie said.

Third-seeded Central (12-2) dispatched No. 6 William Penn 60-15 in the first round, then struggled through an epic semifinal against second-seeded Cape Henlopen. A pair of 2016 individual state champions – Central’s Brandon Bautista and Cape’s Cory Lawson – clashed in the final match at 160 pounds.

Bautista gritted out a 4-3 decision to give the Knights a 28-26 victory. Meanwhile, Smyrna easily dispatched Dover 45-22 in the other semi, earning at least 30 minutes of extra rest.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen because we did everything we had to do to beat Cape,” Shultie said. “Cape was a strong team and I kind of thought we lost everything we had. But the kids, they went back, they regrouped, we talked about what they could do.”

The Knights did everything they needed to do. Central lost to Smyrna 39-27 in the same gym last Friday, so there was some ground to make up.

That dual started at 120 pounds, and the Eagles won the first six matches in running out to a 30-0 lead. This one started at 182, a much better place for the Knights.

Central built an 18-9 lead, as Lucas Hudson won a 2-1 decision at 182, John Morris won a 1-0 squeaker at 285 and Javon Saffold (106) and Yony Morales (113) scored pins. Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola got a pin at 120 to pull the Eagles within 18-15, setting up a turning point.

Central’s Rashad Stratton missed Friday’s match due to illness, and the Knights gave up a pin at 126. This time, Stratton turned the tables completely with a pin for a whopping 12-point swing.

“This was for Shultie,” Stratton said. “I had to make sure I was ready for the last ride for Shultie.”

Greg Baum got a pin at 132 to pull Smyrna within 24-21. But Drew Morris, who had lost to a 3-2 decision to J.T. Davis on Friday, beat the freshman 5-2 this time. Morris cost his team a point when he shoved Davis after the match, but he still pushed the lead to 26-21.

“I was coming back from a sickness on Friday,” Morris said. “Today, I just knew that it was Shultie’s last ride and I knew I had to give my all for him.”

Smyrna rallied, as Chase Archangelo pinned at 145 and Nate Bryant earned a 7-3 decision at 152. That put the Eagles up 30-26, but Bautista worked his magic again with a 2-1 decision over Dakota Kerr at 160 to pull the Knights within 30-29.

That left it up to Central’s Blake Chambers, who had pinned Masen Wilson at 170 on Friday. The senior didn’t repeat that feat but stayed on top throughout the third period for a 6-0 decision that set off a wild Central celebration.

“I knew if we all came out here today really ready to go full blast, they would take us there and I would just bring us home,” Chambers said. “After Brandon won, I knew that was it. I went out there confident, and we took it all.”

Top-seeded Smyrna (13-3) was riding a 56-match in-state winning streak, its last loss to a Delaware opponent coming exactly five years ago against Caesar Rodney in the D-I final.

“I’m proud of my guys,” Eagles coach Kurt Howell said. “They’ve wrestled really well all season. I just really have to credit Shultie and his boys. They won close matches, they saved points, they got off their backs, and they got the pins when they needed them.”

Chambers summed up his coach’s role best after winning the final match.

“Honestly, I’m honored just to be under Shultie’s wing, to be coached by Shultie,” the senior said. “To give him this second state title is the least I could do, I guess, for the four years he’s coached me. He has basically been a godfather for me and all of us.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Sussex Central’s Junior Perez tries to turn Smyrna’s Nicholas Natarcola on to his back in the 120 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Nicholas Natarcola grabs holds the leg of Sussex Central’s Junior Perez in the 120 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli moves to avoid a hold attempt by Sussex Central’s Rashad Stratton in the 126 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Sussex Central celebrates after defeating Smyrna in the DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Sussex Central celebrates after defeating Smyrna in the DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Sussex Central’s Javon Saffold put Smyrna’s Dylan Andruzzi into a hold in the 106 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Gavin Sembly tries to get out of a hold by Sussex Central’s Yony Morales in the 113 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson holds down Sussex Central’s Lucas Hudson on the mat in the 182 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson tries to flip Sussex Central’s Michael Wright on to his back in the 195 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Sussex Central’s Mario Santizo, left and Smyrna’s Tony Wuest battles for position in the 220 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson, left, and Sussex Central’s Lucas Hudson square off in the 182 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

Sussex Central’s Mario Santizo, left and Smyrna’s Tony Wuest face off in the 220 pound match at DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling State Championship at Smyrna High School.

SMYRNA – Top-ranked Smyrna clinched the Henlopen North boys basketball title the old-fashioned way on Wednesday night – in the paint.

The Eagles’ normally accurate 3-point shots weren’t falling, so they controlled the interior on both ends instead and pulled away for a 52-36 home victory over Cape Henlopen.

“We’re a 3-point shooting team, but we’re always trying to look to get the ball inside first,” Smyrna coach Andrew Mears said. “We ended up trusting each other, throwing the ball inside and getting some benefits of that.”

The Eagles (16-2, 11-0) will go for an undefeated conference season against Dover at home on Friday. Smyrna will meet Henlopen South champion Woodbridge in the overall Henlopen Conference championship game at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Cape Henlopen.

“It was one of our goals,” Mears said. “We knew that year to year, the Henlopen North always puts together a few teams in the [state] tournament. So we knew if we were ever in the running to compete for the Henlopen North, we would also be in good position for a tournament run.”

Caleb Matthews, one of the state’s best deep shooters, was 0 of 4 behind the arc. But the junior guard still created openings to penetrate and hit 6 of 8 shots in the lane on his way to a game-high 16 points.

“They were closing out on me hard. They were pinching me the whole game,” Matthews said. “I knew I had to do something else than shoot threes, so I got to the basket. If they didn’t step up, I finished. If they did, I dumped it off to the bigs.”

Those bigs – 7-foot-2 Zubi Nwankwo and 6-5 Jaymeir Garnett – came up big as well. Nwankwo finished with nine points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks. He also altered at least 10 more Cape shots as the Vikings made just 5 of 23 (21.7 percent) inside the 3-point line, and 11 of 46 (23.9 percent) overall.

“Everything he does changes the game for us, both offensively and defensively,” Mears said of Nwankwo. “His presence around the rim … he impacts us every single night.”

Garnett finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Anthony Watson scored 12.

“They don’t have many shooters, so we knew we were good in the zone,” Garnett said. “Our rebounding was there every time. With [Nwankwo] and me back there, it’s unstoppable.”

Cape was unstoppable early, building a 9-4 lead on Randy Rickards’ short jumper over Nwankwo. But Watson scored on a fast break, and Matthews hit a floater and lobbed to Nwankwo for a monster dunk that pushed the Eagles ahead 10-9 after one quarter.

Smyrna ripped off 11 straight in the second quarter, with Matthews driving for a reverse layup and scoring off a turnover to make it 22-14.

The Eagles led 25-16 at the half, then continued to build the margin. A 9-0 run midway through the final period sealed it, as Watson flew in for a jam and hit Smyrna’s only 3-pointer for a 48-31 cushion with 3:28 to play.

Cape (12-6, 8-3), which was coming in on a four-game winning streak, got 11 points and eight rebounds from Rickards and nine points from Ian Robertson.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Cape Henlopen’s Ian Robertson (32) reaches for the ball during a rebound attempt in their game against Smyrna at Smyrna High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Randy Rickards (5) and Smyrna’s Anthony Watson (14) jump up for a in bound pass during their game at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Zion Cole (3) guards Cape Henlopen’s Rasheed Woods (3) in the second half of play at Smyrna High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Barnes (2) steals the ball from Smyrna’s Caleb Matthews (10) during the second half of play at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Azubuike Nwankwo (33) sets a pick against Cape Henlopen’s Jerry Harden (1) as teammate Zion Cole (3) looks for a pass in their 52-36 win over Cape Henlopen.

Smyrna’s Zion Cole (3) passes the ball over Cape Henlopen’s Jerry Harden (1) during the second half of play at Smyrna High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Barnes (2) with the ball in their game against Smyrna at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Anthony Watson (14) goes up for a basket in their 52-36 win over Cape Henlopen.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Barnes (2) and Smyrna’s Zion Cole (3) go for loose ball in their game at Smyrna High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Barnes (2) jumps up for a shot attempt in their game against Smyrna at Smyrna High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Ian Robertson (32) goes up for a shot as Smyrna’s Azubuike Nwankwo (33) defends in their game at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Azubuike Nwankwo (33) goes up for a shot in their 52-36 win over Cape Henlopen at Smyrna High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Barnes (2) brings the ball down the court in their game against Smyrna at Smyrna High School.

Smyrna’s Jaymeir Garnett (5) looks for an opening near the baseline in their 52-36 win over Cape Henlopen at Smyrna High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Randy Rickards (5) is guarded by Smyrna’s Azubuike Nwankwo (33) and Caleb Matthews (10) near the baseline during the first half of play at Smyrna High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Izaiah Dadzie (4) guards Smyrna’s Iyair Hinson-Purnell (24) as he brings the ball down the court during the first half of play at Smyrna High School.

WILMINGTON – Ursuline basketball coach John Noonan had an interesting reaction when he was told that Maggie Connolly had attempted 14 3-point shots on Thursday night.

“That’s not enough, as far as I’m concerned,” Noonan said.

The junior guard connected on five of those and the top-ranked Raiders hit nine from long range overall to come from behind and win their showdown with No. 2 Sanford, 50-40.

“She has to shoot,” Noonan said of Connolly. “When we shoot the 3, we have a chance for long rebounds. We’re not the greatest rebounding team, so it plays into our strengths a little bit. Alisha [Lewis] has to shoot more, Yanni [Hendley-McCalla] has to shoot more.

“Everybody has got a green light. If you’re open, shoot it.”

Ursuline (17-1) shot its way out of an early deficit, hitting four threes in the second quarter to turn a 20-14 deficit into a 35-29 lead. The Raiders kept the Warriors at a comfortable distance throughout the second half on the way to their 16th straight win.

Sanford (16-3) saw its 14-game winning streak end. The Warriors were playing without Olivia Tucker, one of the state’s top long-distance shooters. The 5-foot-9 sophomore has missed the last three games and watched Thursday’s game while wearing a walking boot.

Sanford started three sophomores and two freshmen, but the Warriors had plenty of size in 6-foot Samantha Pollich, 6-foot Allie Kubek, and 5-10 Kendra Warren. And that paid off early.

The Warriors pounded it inside during an 11-0 run, with Pollich hitting three short jumpers, Kubek scoring off an offensive rebound and Warren draining a 3-pointer for an 18-10 lead with 1:21 left in the first quarter.

“We came out ready to play,” Sanford coach Marcus Thompson said. “That was really what I wanted to see. The kids are young, and you never know how they’re going to react. You’re playing the best team in the state right now, on their home court, and we’re short one of the best players in the state in Olivia Tucker. We wanted to see if we could step up and challenge them, and I think we did that.”

A buzzer-beating steal and layup by Lauren Park sent Sanford into the second quarter with a 20-14 lead.

“Their bigs are really good,” Noonan said. “They’re not only big, but they’re talented. They can score, they have real soft hands, good footwork. … With Tucker being out, they just said, ‘Let’s go big.’”

Ursuline switched to a zone defense and added some size when Kayounor Wulah replaced Lewis, who picked up two early fouls. The sophomore paid immediate dividends, scoring from the baseline and dropping a 3 to push the Raiders back in front, 26-25.

Then Hendley-McCalla stepped up with another 3, Kryshell Gordy scored off a rebound and Hendley-McCalla converted a rare four-point play, hitting a free throw after being fouled on a successful 3-ball. Ursuline went into halftime up 35-29.

“We always feel like we’re never out of a game,” Noonan said. “We’ve been down before, so it’s nothing new. We just keep shooting.”

The Warriors pulled within 42-36 on Kubek’s layup with 7:12 to play. But Connolly hit her final 3 and a free throw, and Olivia Mason converted Gordy’s assist to make it 48-36 with 4:33 left.

Thompson knew Sanford’s compact zone defense was going to allow the Raiders to shoot threes, but the Warriors didn’t have enough depth to play man-to-man.

“With the lineup that we had, we had to give them something,” Thompson said. “That’s what we chose to give them. They had some girls come in off the bench, knock some shots down, and some of their key players knocked some shots down. That’s what great teams do.”

Connolly scored 21 and Hendley-McCalla added 10 for Ursuline. Park, Pollich and Kubek each scored 11 for Sanford.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Sanford’s Allie Kubek looks for room to pass as she’s defended by Ursuline’s Olivia Mason (right) in the second half of Ursuline’s 50-40 win over Sanford at Ursuline Academy on Thursday night.

Ursuline’s Kryshell Gordy (No. 14) puts up a shot in front of Sanford’s Kendra Warren (No. 45) and Samantha Pollich in the second half of Ursuline’s 50-40 win over Sanford at Ursuline Academy on Thursday night.

Sanford’s Lauren Park (left) drives to the basket against Ursuline’s Yanni Hendley-Maccalla (right) in the first half of Ursuline’s 50-40 win over Sanford at Ursuline Academy on Thursday night.

Ursuline’s Maggie Connolly (right) is fouled as she puts up a shot over Sanford’s Lauren Park (left) in the second half of Ursuline’s 50-40 win over Sanford at Ursuline Academy on Thursday night.

Ursuline’s Maggie Connolly (left) and Alisha Lewis (right) trap Sanford’s Kanisha Tucker in the second half of Ursuline’s 50-40 win over Sanford at Ursuline Academy on Thursday night.

Ursuline’s Kryshell Gordy (No. 14) laughs with her teammates after a missing a shot in the second half of Ursuline’s 50-40 win over Sanford at Ursuline Academy on Thursday night.

Ursuline fans cheer after a basket from Maggie Connolly in the first half of Ursuline’s 50-40 win over Sanford at Ursuline Academy on Thursday night.

Smyrna’s Greg Baum (top) works to roll Caesar Rodney’s Jackson Dean on to his back in the 132 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

GEORGETOWN – Jackson Dean’s first match against Greg Baum was a perilous adventure.

The Caesar Rodney freshman was in deep against the Smyrna junior, who won the state title at 120 pounds last season. Dean trailed 11-4 through two periods, but whipped the crowd into a frenzy with a furious rally that tied the score.

Then he finished the comeback, pinning Baum with three seconds remaining for a shocking victory that netted the 132-pound crown and the outstanding wrestler award on Saturday at the Henlopen Conference Wrestling Championships at Sussex Central.

“When I put him to his back, I was thinking, ‘Keep him there,’” Dean said. “… I always believe. I always keep that in the back of my head. You can always come back.”

In each of the last four years, 10 of the 14 weight-class winners at the DIAA Individual Wrestling Championships have come from the Henlopen. There were six returning state champs in the conference finals on Saturday, and three of them lost.

That’s how tough this meet is.

Baum had his way with Dean early, and it took the freshman two periods to solve the riddle.

“I think the first takedown kind of set me back a little bit,” Dean said. “Him on bottom, he does that little hook and turns out. That was kind of funky. I’m not used to that. … I just had to come back from that.”

He did, sensing that Baum was tiring late.

“I was putting my hands on him, and he wasn’t coming up like I would expect him to,” Dean said. “I knew he was starting to break.”

READ MORE: Milford rallies for Division II state mat title

Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista lifts Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson off the mat in the 160 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

The top six in each weight class advanced to the DIAA meet, to be held next Friday and Saturday at Dover High. Almost all of them will be contenders to win, as evidenced last year by Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson, who finished fourth in the conference at 170, then won a DIAA title as a No. 8 seed. On Saturday, Wilson lost a 3-1 decision to Sussex Central’s Blake Chambers, who earned his 100th career victory.

Two 2016 state champs met for the second time in five days, as Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson turned the tables with a 3-1 decision over Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista at 160 pounds.

On Tuesday, Bautista nipped Lawson 4-3 in the final match to push the Golden Knights to a 28-26 win in the semifinals of the DIAA Dual Meet Championships. Sussex Central then upset Smyrna 32-30 for its second state team title, a fact that still burns Lawson.

“That was probably one of the most humbling, worst experiences I’ve ever gone through,” Lawson said. “I didn’t talk for two days. I felt like I let my team down, and that’s what we train for.

“I went into this week thinking, ‘Win this or die.’ That’s all I really had, and I just went all out.”

Sussex Central’s Johnny Morris won his fourth straight nailbiter decision over Milford’s Dominyc Hovington at 220, surviving a late takedown in overtime for a 6-4 victory.

READ MORE: Sussex Central shocks Smyrna for D1 title

“I’m still in shock right now. I don’t even know what happened,” Morris said. “There was so much adrenaline, and it’s always a battle when you wrestle him.”

Morris earlier edged Hovington at the Milford Invitational, Battle at the Beach at Indian River and War on the Shore at Stephen Decatur (Md.). Three of their four meetings have required extra time, and it would be no surprise if they locked up again at the state meet.

“I’d rather wrestle someone I don’t really know,” Morris said. “Anything can happen in any match, but with him, he’s tough.”

Smyrna’s Chase Archangelo lost in the conference final last season, then won a DIAA title at 132. The senior is up to 145 now, and he blanked Dover’s Nick Lee 7-0 on Saturday.

“We can’t take anything lightly in conferences,” Archangelo said. “I made a mistake last year, and that’s a good place to do it. But this year, I just went out there and did my thing.”

Smyrna also did its thing as a team, piling up 260 points to take the overall title over Central (204), Cape Henlopen (196½) and Dover (180½).

Other individual winners were Indian River’s Will Rayne (106), Milford’s Robbie Rosser (113), Caesar Rodney’s Cameron Hayes (120), Sussex Central’s Rashad Stratton (126) and Lucas Hudson (182), Dover’s Anthony Fisher (138), Smyrna’s Nate Bryant (152) and Tony Wuest (195) and Cape Henlopen’s Zach Flores (285).

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Sussex Central’s Lucas Hudson, left, and Indian River’s Zeke Marcozzi wrestle in the 182 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Sussex Central’s Blake Chambers brings Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson down to the mat in the 170 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson, left, and Sussex Central’s Blake Chambers battle for position in the 170 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson, left, works to bring Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista down to the mat in the 160 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson, left, hold the leg of Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista in the 160 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson, left, and Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista wrestle in the 160 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson, left, hold the leg of Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista in the 160 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson, right, and Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista wrestle in the 160 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Chase Archangelo holds Dover’s Nicholas Lee down on the mat in the 145 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Nate Bryant (top) and Dover’s Divine Watkins wrestle in the 152 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Nate Bryant lifts Dover’s Divine Watkins off the mat in the 152 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Chase Archangelo holds the leg of Dover’s Nicholas Lee in the 145 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Chase Archangelo lifts Dover’s Nicholas Lee on to his shoulder in the 145 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Dover’s Anthony Fisher (top) defeats Cape Henlopen’s Vincent Diego in the 138 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Dover’s Anthony Fisher gets rolled over by Cape Henlopen’s Vincent Diego in the 138 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Vincent Diego, right, holds on to the leg of Dover’s Anthony Fisher in the 138 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Vincent Diego, right, reaches for the head of Dover’s Anthony Fisher in the 138 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Vincent Diego, left, and Dover’s Anthony Fisher wrestle in the 138 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Vincent Diego, left, and Dover’s Anthony Fisher wrestle in the 138 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Caesar Rodney’s head wrestling coach, Dan Rigby, congratulates Jackson Dean after defeating Smyrna’s Greg Baum in the 132 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Greg Baum is pinned by Caesar Rodney’s Jackson Dean in the 132 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Vincent Diego, left, and Dover’s Anthony Fisher wrestle in the 138 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Caesar Rodney’s Jackson Dean raises his fist after defeating Smyrna’s Greg Baum in the 132 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Action shots from the finals of the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament. Presto ID 97919668

Smyrna’s Greg Baum looks to his coaches for instructions while wrestling Caesar Rodney’s Jackson Dean in the 132 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Greg Baum, right, wrestles Caesar Rodney’s Jackson Dean in the 132 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Caesar Rodney’s Jackson Dean tries for a pin on Smyrna’s Greg Baum in the 132 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Greg Baum, right, wrestles Caesar Rodney’s Jackson Dean in the 132 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Sussex Central’s Rashad Stratton works to roll Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli on to his back in the 126 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Sussex Central’s Rashad Stratton works to get away from a hold by Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli in the 126 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Sussex Central’s Rashad Stratton, left, wrestles Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli in the 126 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Sussex Central’s Rashad Stratton holds the legs of Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli in the 126 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Sussex Central’s Rashad Stratton goes for the legs of Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli in the 126 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola (top) brings Caesar Rodney’s Cameron Hayes down to the mat in the 120 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola works to get out of a hold by Caesar Rodney’s Cameron Hayes in the 120 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Milford’s Robbie Rosser, left rolls over Sussex Central’s Yony Morales in the 113 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Milford’s Robbie Rosser (top) brings Sussex Central’s Yony Morales down to the mat in the 113 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Indian River’s Will Rayne (top) holds Caesar Rodney’s Michael Primo down on the mat in the 106 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Zach Flores points to the crowed after defeating Milford’s Bryan Wynes in the 285 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Indian River’s Will Rayne’s chin straps momentarily covers his mouth while wrestling Caesar Rodney’s Michael Primo down in the 106 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Cape Henlopen’s Zach Flores, left, and Milford’s Bryan Wynes battle for position in the 285 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Sussex Central’s Johnny Morris, right, pushes back on Milford’s Dominic Covington to stay in bounce in the 220 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Milford’s Dominic Covington, left, and Sussex Central’s Johnny Morris battle for position in the 220 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Milford’s Dominic Covington, left, works to get out of a hold by Sussex Central’s Johnny Morris battle in the 220 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Milford’s Dominic Covington, left, works to get out of a hold by Sussex Central’s Johnny Morris battle in the 220 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Smyrna’s Tony Wuest (top) defeats Sussex Tech’s Robert Van Pelt in the 195 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

Milford’s Dominic Covington, left, and Sussex Central’s Johnny Morris battle for position in the 220 pound championship match at the Henlopen Conference wrestling tournament at Sussex Central High School.

A loose ball eludes Newark’s Tyreek Booker (left) and Nick Zegna in the Yellowjackets’ Feb. 2 loss at Mount Pleasant. Newark is ranked No. 3 in the state.

THE NEWS JOURNAL/DELAWAREONLINE RANKINGS

BOYS BASKETBALL

1. Smyrna (18-2) prev. 1

2. Mount Pleasant (17-3) 2

3. Newark (16-3) 3

4. St. Georges (15-4) 4

5. Hodgson (15-4) 5

6. St. Thomas More (15-3) 6

7. Salesianum (14-5) 8

8. Woodbridge (18-2) 9

9. Glasgow (12-6) 7

10. St. Mark’s (14-5) 10

GIRLS BASKETBALL

1. Ursuline (18-1) 1

2. Sanford (16-3) 2

3. St. Elizabeth (11-7) 3

4. Caravel (13-6) 4

5. Conrad (18-1) 5

6. Concord (16-2) 6

7. Caesar Rodney (19-1) 7

8. Archmere (14-6) 8

9. Howard (13-5) 9

10. A.I. du Pont (14-5) 10

BOYS SWIMMING

1. Charter of Wilmington (9-0-1) 1

2. Salesianum (11-2-1) 2

3. Conrad (11-1) 3

4. St. Andrew’s (7-2) 4

5. Mount Pleasant (12-2) 5

GIRLS SWIMMING

1. Ursuline (9-1) 1

2. Charter of Wilmington (10-0) 2

3. Cape Henlopen (14-0) 3

4. Newark Charter (9-1) 4

5. Padua (8-3) 5

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Dawson Grinnage, senior, Hodgson boys basketball

THE WEEK: Scored 12 points in a 74-58 win over Howard last Tuesday, eight points in a 57-45 victory over Concord on Thursday and 12 points in a 31-27 loss at William Penn on Saturday. The Silver Eagles (15-4) are ranked fifth statewide going into Tuesday’s regular-season finale at Sanford.

THE WORK: Hodgson’s Ed Sobocinski said Grinnage is the hardest worker he has seen in 25 years of coaching. “Every single day, he comes in and works hard,” Sobocinski said. “Whether we’re doing a layup line, we’re working on defensive stuff. Whether it’s November, or whether we’re in February or March, he’s practicing at 100 percent every single play. I don’t think I’ve ever had a player do that.”

THE HUSTLE: “I’m a firm believer in the quote, ‘Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard,’” Grinnage said. “I believe in that. I prove it each and every day in practice and in the games, and it shows.”

THE VERSATILITY: “He does it all,” Sobocinski said. “He’s one of our best rebounders, he’s one of our best defenders. He scores in every game. … We’ve had him play point guard, we’ve had him play [center], he’s played every single position for us.”

THE STRENGTH: “I like to play the three, small forward position, in between point and center,” Grinnage said. “You can mix it up, go down low, come out on the wing. If it’s a slower defender, maybe somebody smaller than me, I can post them up. It gives me a little bit more freedom.”

Dawson Grinnage is one of the most versatile players for the fifth-ranked Hodgson boys basketball team.

THE LEADERSHIP: “I just try to make sure I do my part, helping the team any way possible, whether it be defense, rebounding, scoring, passing, shooting, just all aspects of the game,” Grinnage said. “…I try to work hard each and every day, set the example, try to be the leader as a senior.”

THE CLASSROOM: “My favorite subject is Math,” Grinnage said. “I just like to work with numbers a little bit, and I like money. That adds up.”

THE FUTURE: The 6-foot-4 Grinnage has received some recruiting interest, and hopes to continue playing basketball in college. He would like to study Finance.

Send Athlete of the Week nominations to Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson (left) keeps a tight hold on Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista in his 3-1 victory in the 160-pound final at the Henlopen Conference championships last Saturday at Sussex Central.

Every year, fans look over the brackets for the DIAA Individual Wrestling Championships and try to determine the toughest one.

The subject often leads to spirited debates, but this year, there is no doubt. Nine returning state champions will be in action on Friday and Saturday at Dover High, and three of them are in the same bracket at 160 pounds.

Cape Henlopen senior Cory Lawson won the 160-pound title last year and is the top seed this year. But this time, he will have to contend with No. 2 Andrew Brooks of Sanford – last year’s 138-pound champ and the outstanding wrestler at last weekend’s Independent Schools tournament – and No. 3 Brandon Bautista of Sussex Central, last year’s 152-pound winner.

If the seeds hold, Brooks and Bautista would clash in the semifinals, with the winner meeting Lawson in the final.

Lawson nipped Bautista 4-3 during a dual meet on Jan. 4. Then Bautista edged Lawson 4-3 in the final match of the DIAA Dual Meet Division I semifinals on Feb. 14, giving Sussex Central the team victory and eventually leading to the Golden Knights’ second state title. They tangled again in the Henlopen Conference finals last Saturday, with Lawson winning 3-1.

“I don’t know if there was anything technically I did differently, or if I wrestled better,” Lawson said. “Every time we wrestle, I think it’s who’s going to push each other harder and who’s going to go their absolute farthest distance to win.”

Henlopen Conference wrestlers have won 10 of the 14 weight classes in each of the last four years. When the state wrestling committee seeded this year’s brackets on Sunday night, nine of the top seeds were from the Henlopen.

They include Smyrna senior Chase Archangelo, who has a chance to be the 30th three-time champion in Delaware history. Archangelo won at 113 pounds in 2015 and 132 pounds last year.

This year, the Cleveland State signee is the top seed at 145. And he knows everyone wants to beat him.

“That just drives me to work harder, because I know I have a big target on my back,” Archangelo said. “Everybody is a great athlete, and there are a lot of great opponents. I want the best guy. I want everyone to have a chance to wrestle me and see what they can do with me.”

Caesar Rodney junior Cameron Hayes has an even bigger opportunity. He won at 106 in 2015 at Milford, then transferred to CR and won at 113 last year. That put this year’s top seed at 120 pounds halfway to becoming only the 11th four-time champ in state history.

“There’s a lot of pressure there. I don’t try to hide from it,” Hayes said. “I get nervous, and I try to turn it to sharpness. I go in, keep my head high and confident, but I don’t underestimate any opponent.”

The other top seeds are Salesianum sophomore Zach Spence at 106, Milford junior Robbie Rosser at 113, St. Georges junior Nick Novarnik at 126, CR freshman Jackson Dean at 132, Dover senior Anthony Fisher at 138, Sanford senior Timmy Griffith at 152, Sussex Central senior Blake Chambers at 170, Sussex Central senior Lucas Hudson at 182, Smyrna junior Tony Wuest at 195, Caravel senior Keith Medley at 220 and Cape Henlopen senior Zach Flores at 285.

Action will begin at 4 p.m. Friday, with the quarterfinals scheduled for 7. Saturday’s first session will start at 10:30 a.m., with the semifinals held at 11. Saturday’s final session will begin with fifth-place matches at 5:30, with the finals starting at 7.

Tickets are $5 for Friday, $6 for Saturday’s first session and $7 for the finals. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at https://statechamps.com/clients/diaa/ and will also be available at the door. The finals will be streamed for a fee at www.nfhsnetwork.com.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

The top-ranked Ursuline basketball team swamped its first nine in-state opponents by an average of 37.2 points, with the closest margin of victory of 15.

But the final three games of the regular season are considerably tougher for the Raiders, who are 18-1 and riding a 17-game winning streak. Ursuline trailed 20-14 after one-quarter before overcoming No. 2 Sanford 50-40 last Thursday. The Raiders led No. 4 Caravel by 11 going into the fourth quarter Saturday, then had to withstand the Buccaneers’ rally for a 40-36 win.

Another challenge awaits at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, as Ursuline travels to No. 6 Concord (16-2).

“Most good teams get better as the year goes on, and you find out some stuff about yourselves,” Ursuline coach John Noonan said. “The way our schedule works, this is just how it falls… You want a high level of competition all the way through because you don’t want to be complacent going into the [state] tournament.”

The two-time defending champs should definitely be ready when the DIAA Girls Basketball Tournament begins on Feb. 28. Ursuline has defeated opponents from New York, California, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The Raiders’ only loss was a 54-49 setback on Dec. 11 against Rufus King High of Milwaukee, which is 21-0 and ranked 22nd nationally by USA Today.

Noonan was happy to see his team come back against Sanford, which has a noticeable size advantage. He expects to clash with the Warriors again in the playoffs.

“We’re two different teams,” Noonan said. “We’re going to see each other again, I’m sure, and there’s going to be some matchup issues. We like to do one thing, they might do something else. It’s just punch, counterpunch.”

Sanford (16-3) took a 14-game winning streak into Thursday’s showdown. The Warriors played without 5-foot-9 sophomore Olivia Tucker, who has been out for two weeks and watched the game in a walking boot.

“We’re hoping that she can return, but if she doesn’t we have to play the hand that we’re dealt,” Sanford coach Marcus Thompson said of Tucker. “We have to be ready to come out there and play, and I think our girls did that.”

A.I. boys forfeit

The A.I. du Pont boys basketball team has forfeited Tuesday’s scheduled regular-season finale against No. 1 Smyrna following two incidents at Delaware Military Academy last Thursday.

“We’re investigating it with our kids,” A.I. athletic director Mark Alley said Friday. “There was an issue with some of our basketball players and their actions.”

An A.I. player was ejected during DMA’s 58-46 victory. Then after the game, a brief scuffle reportedly broke out involving A.I. players and fans. Alley said school administrators are reviewing tape of the incidents and will talk with players when school resumes Tuesday.

The forfeit leaves Smyrna with an 18-2 record, while A.I. drops to 11-9. The Tigers are likely to qualify for the 24-team DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament, but Alley said the school may decide to not participate.

“There’s a good possibility our team is going to also pull out of the tournament, but we don’t know at this point,” Alley said. “It’s still under investigation.”

Tommie Neubauer, executive director of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association, said DIAA received a report on the ejection on Friday.

“We allow the local school to handle it first, and then we assess anything after that,” Neubauer said. “So right now, this is an A.I. du Pont situation. And from what I understand, from everything given to me, they are fully aware of what has happened.”

Dooley retiring from mat

William Penn’s Marvin Dooley announced his retirement as a wrestling coach at the Blue Hen Conference tournament over the weekend.

The eight-time Blue Hen Coach of the Year and 2007 Division I Coach of the Year has a 246-94 record in dual meets over 23 years as a head coach. His teams have won 13 conference titles, and he has coached nine state champions and 47 Blue Hen champs.

Dooley was a two-time state champion at 185 pounds under former William Penn coach Jack Holloway in 1986-87. He also coaches football and baseball at the school.

Rounding it up

— Middletown’s Dante Immediato became the 11th four-time champion in the 57-year history of the Blue Hen Conference wrestling tournament on Saturday. Immediato, who won the state title at 126 pounds last season, will be the No. 3 seed at 138 pounds in this weekend’s DIAA meet at Dover High.

— Howard wrestler Tyler Clifton was awarded the fourth annual Tim Bisson Scholarship at the Blue Hen tournament. The $2,000 scholarship goes to the senior who has transformed their life over their high school career to become a positive role model, as Bisson did at A.I. du Pont.

Bisson’s parents, Nancy and Butch, also donated $1,000 to Attack Addicition, a local organization that works to increase awareness of drug and alcohol addiction and treatment options.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Ursuline’s Kryshell Gordy (14) slips between Sanford’s Kendra Warren (45) and Samantha Pollich during the Raiders’ 50-40 home win last Thursday.

Ursuline’s Marie Dickson churns to victory in the 200-yard individual medley at last year’s DIAA Swimming and Diving Championships. This year’s meet will be held Saturday at the University of Delaware’s Rawstrom Natatorium.

A.I. du Pont will not participate in the upcoming DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament.

A.I. du Pont High principal Kevin Palladinetti made the decision on Tuesday, based on an incident after the team’s 58-46 loss at Delaware Military Academy last Thursday.

“We are going to forego any remaining basketball games, including the playoffs,” Palladinetti said.

School was not in session on Friday or Monday, so Tuesday was the first opportunity Palladinetti had to talk with the team. He gathered the players, head coach Tom Tabb and his staff, athletic director Mark Alley and other school administrators for a morning meeting.

“My focus was on incidents or allegations of things that transpired after the game, involving our team,” Palladinetti said. “It did not have anything to do with the DMA team at all. When the clock hit zero, the game was over. There were some things being reported to me that I needed to follow up on.”

An A.I. player was ejected with about 40 seconds left in the game. That’s when Palladinetti said Tabb decided to forego the customary postgame handshake line involving players from both teams.

“He informed the team that there was not going to be a handshake line, that he would shake the hand of the [DMA] coach and they would then walk to the locker room together,” Palladinetti said. “Essentially, that was how he intended to quell any emotions from boiling over in the handshake line. I commend Mr. Tabb for having the foresight to put a plan like that in place.

“Unfortunately, before he could even get to the handshake with the coaches from DMA, our players acted in a way that I don’t support. It violates our standards of sportsmanship and conduct.”

On Friday, the decision was made to forfeit Tuesday’s regular-season finale against No. 1-ranked Smyrna. The Tigers (11-9) were still likely to qualify for the 24-team state tournament, but their season is now finished.

“I know it’s not the popular decision,” Palladinetti said. “I know it is very unpopular with the players and with their parents, and rightfully so. It’s a disappointing way to end the season. But it’s something that I am comfortable with after consulting with the coaching staff and the assistant principal.”

Swimming sold out

Tickets for all four sessions of the annual DIAA Swimming and Diving Championships, to be held this week at the University of Delaware’s Rawstrom Natatorium, are already sold out.

Girls preliminaries will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, with boys prelims at 6 Thursday.

The girls finals will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by the boys finals at 6 p.m. Both finals will be streamed for a fee at www.nfhsnetwork.com.

New coach at DMA

The Delaware Military Academy girls volleyball team, which won its second straight DIAA title in November, will have its third coach in three years.

Jennifer Johnson will replace Sydney Cook, who guided the Seahawks to a 16-4 record last season. Cook replaced John Grossman, who left for a job at Strath Haven (Pa.) after coaching DMA to a 20-0 season in 2015.

Johnson has coached the last four seasons at Newark, improving the Yellowjackets from 6-9 in 2013 and 5-10 in 2014 to 10-5 in each of the last two seasons.

“Jen is part of the local volleyball community,” DMA athletic director Michael Ryan said. “She’s been coaching for quite a long time. She’s going to bring us experience, maturity, a kind of no-nonsense approach. We’re really excited to have her.”

Rounding it up

— The Henlopen Conference basketball championship games will be held Friday night at Cape Henlopen. Northern Division champion Caesar Rodney (19-1) will take on Southern Division winner Laurel (15-3) for the girls title at 6. The boys game follows at 8, with Northern champ Smyrna (18-2) going against Southern winner Woodbridge (18-2).

— The Blue Hen Conference basketball championship games will be held Saturday at St. Mark’s. The boys game tips off at 1 p.m., with Flight A champion Mount Pleasant (17-3) taking on St. Georges (15-4). The Hawks finished in a three-way tie with Hodgson and Glasgow atop Flight B, and won the tiebreaker by having the highest state tournament point index.

Flight A champ Concord (16-2) will go against Flight B winner Hodgson (14-6) in the girls game at 4. Tickets are $5 for each game, or $7 for both. The gym will be cleared at the conclusion of the boys game.

— Indian River boys basketball coach BJ Joseph recently reached 200 career victories. After going 5-15 last year, the Indians have improved to 12-7 going into Tuesday night’s regular-season finale at St. Thomas More.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

HOCKESSIN – “There are no bad wins.”

Those were the words of Sanford School boys basketball coach Stan Waterman on Tuesday, after his Warriors built a huge lead, then held off No. 5-ranked Hodgson 56-49 in both teams’ regular-season finale.

There may have been as many fouls and turnovers as points, but Waterman will take it. At the same time, he knows improvement is vital before the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament begins on March 1.

The defending champions are 12-8, a far cry from the 21-2 team that delivered the school’s eighth state title last spring. But Sanford is 4-0 against teams ranked in The News Journal’s Top 10 this season, with wins over No. 1 Smyrna, No. 5 Hodgson, No. 7 Salesianum and No. 9 Glasgow.

“This year, for the first time, when I look at the teams around the state I think there are nine or 10 teams that if they get hot right now and get on a nice stretch, they’re capable of winning it,” Waterman said. “And I think we’re one of those teams. But we have to play better.”

The Warriors looked as good as ever early, hitting 6 of 10 from the field on the way to a 17-3 lead after one quarter. The Silver Eagles (15-5) scored the first two points and hit the last free throw, but Sanford scored all 17 in between.

The second quarter was a different story, as Hodgson got right back in it. Full-court pressure created some Sanford turnovers, and L.J. Stansbury and Dawson Grinnage combined for three 3-pointers to pull the Silver Eagles within 24-19 at the half.

“They kind of switched their defenses a little bit, and we weren’t recognizing what they were doing,” Waterman said. “We missed some easy shots, we didn’t make some free throws, so it was hard to get some continuity going.”

Neither team had much continuity in the third quarter, combining for just seven points over the first 4:56. Corey Perkins’ layup sent Sanford into the final period with a 37-28 lead.

The teams combined for 36 free throws in a foul-fest of a fourth quarter. Two foul shots by Derek Stanford got Hodgson within 42-39 with 4:06 to play. But Perkins drilled a long jumper, Perkins and Marcus McCollum each hit a free throw, and McCollum banked in a layup to push the Warriors’ lead back to 48-40 with 2:47 to go. The Silver Eagles could get no closer than four points the rest of the way.

“The first quarter, we played some really, really good basketball,” Waterman said. “The second quarter was ugly. And then we just managed to do enough to win, to hang on and win at the end.”

Sanford benefitted from a balanced attack, as Connor Rufo and Perkins each scored 14, McCollum had 13 and freshman Jyare Davis added 11. Hodgson got 21 points from Stansbury and 11 from Grinnage.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Hodgson’s Keenan Williams (4) jumps up for a layup in their away game against Sanford.

Hodgson’s John Stansbury (15) with a three point shot attempt in their game against Sanford.

Hodgson’s Keenan Williams (4) jumps over Sanford’s Noah Walsh (23) as he dives for a loose ball.

Hodgson’s Derek Stanford (3) jumps up for a shot attempt at Sanford’s Sean Williams (4) defends.

Hodgson’s John Stansbury (15) brings the ball down the court in their away game against Sanford.

Hodgson’s Malik Holloman (50) jumps up to block a shot attempt by Sanford’s Ryan McKeon (5).

Hodgson’s John Stansbury (15) gets fouled going up for a shot in their game against Sanford.

Sanford’s Ryan McKeon (5) reaches to stop a shot attempt by Hodgson’s John Stansbury (15) during their game at the Sanford School.

Hodgson’s John Stansbury (15) defends as Sanford’s Connor Rufo (1) brings the ball down the court.

Sanford’s Jyare Davis (13) with a shot attempt in their 56-49 win over Hodgson.

Hodgson’s John Stansbury (15) steals the ball from Sanford’s Jyare Davis (13) during their game at the Sanford School.

Sanford’s Connor Rufo (1) with a no look pass in their 56-49 win over Hodgson.

Hodgson’s Nasir Galloway (5) dribbles the ball down the court as Sanford’s Corey Perkins (2) defends during the first quarter of play at the Sanford School.

Hodgson’s Nasir Galloway (5) goes up for a shot as Sanford’s Connor Rufo (1) defends in their game at Sanford School.

Sanford’s Ryan McKeon (5) reaches to block a shot attempt by Hodgson’s John Stansbury (15) during their first quarter of play.

Hodgson’s Dawson Grinnage (30) dribbles down the court as Sanford’s Marcus McCollum (24) defends during their game at the Sanford School.

Hodgson’s Keenan Williams (4) momentarily jumps up in the air as he drives to the hoop during their game against Sanford.

NEWPORT – Conrad girls coach John Kulesza said any successful basketball team has to have different gears.

The fifth-ranked Red Wolves put it in overdrive on their home floor Wednesday night and raced away to a 55-42 victory over No. 10 A.I. du Pont, in the regular-season finale for both teams.

“We have some horses, and we can run,” Kulesza said. “We didn’t necessarily say that was what we wanted to do today. But when you come into a game you’re looking for advantages, and that was one of the advantages we had.”

Conrad (19-1) put the pedal to the metal midway through the second quarter, ending the half on an 11-0 run and never looking back. The Red Wolves consistently beat the Tigers (14-6) in transition.

“We had a couple of off days, couldn’t practice because we had a wrestling tournament,” A.I. coach Tracy Howell said. “It kind of really showed that we were tired. We battled maybe the first quarter and a half, and then we kind of lost our steam.”

The Tigers showed some spring early, taking a 15-12 lead on Al’kirah Wilson’s layup with 6:59 left in the second quarter. Then the teams traded 5-0 runs before Conrad found another gear.

Alyssa Faville turned a steal into a layup. Julie Kulesza knocked down a 12-footer. Stefanie Kulesza hit two free throws. Then Faville scored on a fast break, Julie Kulesza made a free throw and Faville struck on another fast break to push the Red Wolves to a 28-20 halftime lead.

“It was really fun,” said Faville, a 5-foot-4 freshman guard. “I knew that I’m the shortest one out there, so I’m obviously not going to get a lot of rebounds. So I normally leak back and hope they pass the ball to me.”

The teams combined for 67 shots in a frenetic first half. Then Conrad increased the pace even more.

Stefanie Kulesza, Faville, and Julie Kulesza scored on consecutive fast breaks to cap a 13-0 run and balloon the Red Wolves’ advantage to 43-25 with 1:29 left in the third quarter.

“We were pushing the ball, getting open fast-break layups,” said Julie Kulesza, who made her final six shots from the field on the way to a game-high 15 points. “That’s what we were focusing on.”

Conrad made a surprising run to the semifinals of the DIAA Girls Basketball Tournament last season. The Red Wolves will catch no one by surprise when this year’s playoffs start next Tuesday, despite starting a sophomore, two freshmen, and two eighth-graders.

“We feel good,” John Kulesza said. “I wish we would continue to do all the little things. I thought we made some mistakes tonight, but that’s our youth. We’re going to do some things, and we’ll do them well at times. Other times, we show our youth.”

Faville, who finished with 14 points, said a win over another ranked team will give the Red Wolves a boost.

“That’s going to give us a lot of confidence, that we beat a really tough team,” she said. “We’re going to come out stronger in the tournament.”

Lauryn Griffin led A.I. with 14 points. Wilson chipped in 10.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Conrad’s Julie Kulesza looks for room to pass as she’s defended by A.I.’s Sydney MacDonald in the third quarter of Conrad’s 55-42 win over A.I. at the Conrad School of Science in Newport on Wednesday evening.

Conrad’s Jordan Rook (No. 15) puts up a shot over A.I.’s Sydney MacDonald (No. 11) in the third quarter of Conrad’s 55-42 win over A.I. at the Conrad School of Science in Newport on Wednesday evening.

Conrad’s Stefanie Kulesza (No. 44) puts up a shot in front of A.I.’s Sydney MacDonald (No. 11) in the third quarter of Conrad’s 55-42 win over A.I. at the Conrad School of Science in Newport on Wednesday evening.

Conrad’s Alyssa Faville drives past A.I.’s Sydney MacDonald (left) in the third quarter of Conrad’s 55-42 win over A.I. at the Conrad School of Science in Newport on Wednesday evening.

A.I.’s Lauryn Griffin puts up a shot over Conrad’s Alyssa Faville in the second quarter of Conrad’s 55-42 win over A.I. at the Conrad School of Science in Newport on Wednesday evening.

A.I.’s Ber’Nyah Ward-Mayo cuts between Conrad’s Alyssa Faville (left) and Julie Kulesza (right) in the second quarter of Conrad’s 55-42 win over A.I. at the Conrad School of Science in Newport on Wednesday evening.

Conrad’s Julie Kulesza (right) drives past A.I.’s Ber’Nyah Ward-Mayo (left) in the first quarter of Conrad’s 55-42 win over A.I. at the Conrad School of Science in Newport on Wednesday evening.

Conrad’s Stefanie Kulesza (right) blocks a shot from A.I.’s Sydney MacDonald in the second quarter of Conrad’s 55-42 win over A.I. at the Conrad School of Science in Newport on Wednesday evening.

Red Clay Consolidated School District has upheld a decision by A.I. du Pont High School Principal Kevin Palladinetti to remove the boys basketball team from consideration for the upcoming DIAA state tournament.

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“We understand it was a difficult decision by staff at A.I. High School, but we support that decision and stand behind it,” said Superintendent Merv Daugherty. “The district believes the disciplinary consequence fits the seriousness of the incident.”

Jen Field, whose son is a senior on the team, told The News Journal that a group of those opposed to Palladinetti’s decision will meet Friday night to discuss what, if any, next steps they will take.

Palladinetti’s decision stemmed from an incident following the Tigers’ loss at Delaware Military Academy on Feb. 16.

With 40 seconds left, an A.I. player was given a technical foul. At that point, A.I. head coach Tom Tabb said he told the players on the bench to skip the customary postgame handshake line. Instead, the coach told the team he would shake hands with the DMA team, and the players were to remain behind him and follow him off the court as a group.

“When the game was over, a player started to walk and then sprinted, which caused a chain reaction where the other players followed, the coaches followed, parents followed, some DMA parents followed,” Tabb said Thursday.

RELATED: More on the incident and reaction

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Officials from both schools said the A.I. players ran toward a stairwell leading to the second level of the gymnasium, where DMA students and fans had been watching the game.

DMA officials said they blocked the players from accessing the mezzanine while another teacher directed DMA students out through an emergency door.

Several parents of A.I. du Pont players have alleged that racial slurs were spoken by DMA players, fans and students during the game. But Palladinetti said Tabb, Assistant Principal Damon Saunders (both of whom are black) and the other A.I. assistant coaches did not report hearing any racial slurs.

DMA Commandant Anthony Pullella was at the game and said he did not hear any racial comments. Michael Ryan, the athletic director, said DMA officials conducted their own investigation, questioning parents, players, coaches and fans. He said no evidence was uncovered about any racial comment being used.

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In a statement issued Friday, Red Clay officials said the district will also “continue to work with DMA to investigate allegations of inappropriate actions by their players and fans. The district has requested that DMA administration investigate from their school. Red Clay also requested a formal investigation from DIAA about the conduct of the fans during the AIHS/DMA game. We will share all investigative findings concerning fan conduct when we receive them from DMA and DIAA.”

“The district is taking the claims of inappropriate behavior from game attendees very seriously,” Daugherty said. “We do not condone the behavior in any way and will continue to work closely with DMA to uncover any acts of impropriety.”

A.I. duPont High School principal Kevin Palladinetti tries to answer questions from parents and political leaders about an incident after the team’s 58-46 loss at Delaware Military Academy last Thursday that lead the team from participating in the upcoming DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament.

KVonn Cramer (33) will lead top-seeded Mount Pleasant into the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament.

Mount Pleasant earned the No. 1 seed among boys, and Ursuline took the top seed among girls when the seedings and pairings for the DIAA basketball tournaments were determined Friday.

The girls tournament starts Tuesday, followed by the boys on Wednesday. Eight first-round games will be played each night, on the home court of the higher-seeded teams.

The top eight seeds in each tournament received first-round byes and will host second-round games, with the girls playing Thursday and the boys playing next Friday. The lone exception is the second-seeded St. Thomas More boys, which will play at a site to be determined.

Admission to all first- and second-round games is $5, and all games will tip off at 7 p.m. each day.

The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship games of both tournaments will be played at the Bob Carpenter Center. The girls quarterfinals will be Saturday, followed by the boys on Sunday. Starting times for each day will be determined once all second-round games are complete.

The girls semifinal doubleheader will be Wednesday, March 8, followed by the boys semifinals on Thursday, March 9. The girls championship game will be Friday, March 10, with the boys final on Saturday, March 11.

Tickets for all sessions played at the Bob are $8, and are available online in advance at https://statechamps.com/clients/diaa/. Tickets may also be sold at the door, but the boys quarterfinals, semifinals and finals have often sold out in advance the last four years. Each championship game will also be streamed for a fee at www.nfhsnetwork.com.

DIAA BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

First round

Wednesday, all games start at 7 p.m.

No. 17 Cape Henlopen (14-6) at No. 16 Caesar Rodney (14-6)

No. 24 Wilmington Friends (12-8) at No. 9 St. Georges (16-4)

No. 20 Lake Forest (12-8) at No. 13 William Penn (11-9)

No. 21 Red Lion Christian (11-8) at No. 12 Milford (12-8)

No. 18 Indian River (12-8) at No. 15 St. Mark’s (15-5)

No. 23 Howard (11-9) at No. 10 Appoquinimink (13-7)

No. 19 Caravel (14-6) at No. 14 Hodgson (15-5)

No. 22 Laurel (12-8) at No. 11 Sanford (12-8)

Second round

Friday, March 3. All games start at 7 p.m.

Cape Henlopen-Caesar Rodney winner at No. 1 Mount Pleasant (17-3)

Friends-St. Georges winner at No. 8 Glasgow (13-7)

Lake Forest-William Penn winner at No. 4 Woodbridge (18-2)

Red Lion Christian-Milford winner at No. 5 Smyrna (18-2)

Indian River-St. Mark’s winner vs. No. 2 St. Thomas More (17-3), site TBA

Howard-Appoquinimink winner at No. 7 Newark (16-3)

Caravel-Hodgson winner at No. 3 Salesianum (15-5)

Laurel-Sanford winner at No. 6 St. Elizabeth (13-7)

Quarterfinals

Sunday, March 5

At Bob Carpenter Center, times TBA

Semifinals

Thursday, March 9

At Bob Carpenter Center, times TBA

Championship

Saturday, March 11

At Bob Carpenter Center, time TBA

DIAA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

First round

Tuesday, all games start at 7 p.m.

No. 17 Milford (12-8) at No. 16 Lake Forest (14-6)

No. 24 DMA (12-8) at No. 9 Laurel (17-3)

No. 20 Mount Pleasant (12-8) at No. 13 Cape Henlopen (12-8)

No. 21 Delmarva Christian (9-11) at No. 12 Hodgson (14-6)

No. 18 Dover (9-11) at No. 15 Howard (14-6)

No. 23 Wilmington Friends (12-8) at No. 10 Archmere (14-6)

No. 19 St. Thomas More (13-7) at No. 14 Sussex Central (14-6)

No. 22 Delcastle (12-8) at No. 11 A.I. du Pont (14-6)

Second round

Thursday, all games start at 7 p.m.

Milford-Lake Forest winner at No. 1 Ursuline (19-1)

DMA-Laurel winner at No. 8 Sussex Tech (14-5)

Mount Pleasant-Cape Henlopen winner at No. 4 Sanford (17-3)

Delmarva Christian-Hodgson winner at No. 5 Conrad (19-1)

Dover-Howard winner at No. 2 Caesar Rodney (19-1)

Friends-Archmere winner at No. 7 St. Elizabeth (13-7)

St. Thomas More-Sussex Central winner at No. 3 Caravel (14-6)

Delcastle-A.I. du Pont winner at No. 6 Concord (16-3)

Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 4

At Bob Carpenter Center, times TBA

Semifinals

Wednesday, March 8

At Bob Carpenter Center, times TBA

Championship

Friday, March 10

At Bob Carpenter Center, time TBA

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

DIAA Boys Basketball bracket

DIAA Girls Basketball bracket