Junior guard Nicole Czechowicz led Caravel with 10 points on Wednesday.
WILMINGTON – Two local teams coming off of frustrating losses in the Diamond State Classic had a chance to feel better about themselves on Wednesday.
Caravel defeated Padua 39-31 in the consolation game of the First State Orthopaedic Cup at the St. E Center, and both coaches felt their teams benefitted.
It was especially rewarding for the Buccaneers (5-3), who lost 61-31 to Seton Keough of Baltimore on Monday. Caravel started two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior.
“It’s a talented group, but two of them were playing middle-school basketball last year,” Buccaneers coach Kristin Caldwell said. “Just to get them the game experience against quality opponents that we’ve given them is really valuable. As long as they stay hungry and willing to receive feedback and ready to work, we’re going to be all right.”
Padua (1-5) struggled offensively Monday in a 50-9 loss to Central Bucks East of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and the Pandas missed their first 12 shots Wednesday to fall behind 9-0 after one quarter.
But Megan Mallon finally tore the lid off the basket with a driving layup 20 seconds into the second quarter, and Padua went on a run. Isabella Julian turned a steal into a layup and hit a 3-pointer, and Mackenzie Scully made two free throws to tie it at 9.
“We just had to crack that seal,” Pandas coach Emily Grugan said. “Once we got that one, I knew they were going to start coming. I’m proud of them. I told them not to give up, just keep shooting, keep shooting, they’re going to fall.”
But Caravel scored 10 straight points over a 6½-minute stretch spanning the end of the second quarter and start of the third quarter.
Junior Nicole Czechowicz, who led the Buccaneers with 10 points, hit a baseline jumper to push Caravel’s lead to 27-18 with 59 seconds left in the third quarter. The Pandas could get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.
“I just came out with the right energy, and my teammates really helped me, picked me up after mistakes,” Czechowicz said. “We just worked really hard.”
Julian led Padua with 11 points, and Mallon added 10.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ