Delmarva Christian’s Mia Elliott goes strong to the basket in the fourth quarter to score two of her 18 second-half points and lead the Royals past the Cavs 58-37. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Royals junior Ryley McCluskey speeds the ball up court on a fast break.
Royals senior Ainsley Bell hits three of her 20 points.
Royals junior Journey Handy powers in for two in the first half.
Royals junior Ryley McCluskey finishes off a fast break.
The DIAA Crown Trophy plaque for academic achievement was presented to Royals senior Ainsley Bell, shown with her coach Jedidiah Roach.
Ryley McCluskey hits in the paint for the Royals.
Royals senor Ainsley Bell speeds to the basket.
Royals junior Mia Elliott looks to go up strong against Middletown’s Sani Savage.
Royals sophomore point guard Bella Marinelli looks to pass to the paint.
Royals junior Josephine Peranteau takes a shot.
Royals junior Josephine Peranteau plays tough defense on Middletown’s Alayna Dorst.
Royals junior Mia Elliott grabs a rebound from Sani Savage.
Ryley McCluskey saves a loose ball for the Royals.
Royals head coach Jedidiah Roach urges his team on in the fourth quarter.
Royals senior Ainsley Bell controls the dribble up the sideline.
Royals junior Mia Elliott hits two of her 18 points in the second half.
Delmarva Christian’s Mia Elliott goes strong to the basket in the fourth quarter to score two of her 18 second-half points and lead the Royals past the Cavs 58-37. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Royals junior Ryley McCluskey speeds the ball up court on a fast break.
Royals senior Ainsley Bell hits three of her 20 points.
Royals junior Journey Handy powers in for two in the first half.
Royals junior Ryley McCluskey finishes off a fast break.
The DIAA Crown Trophy plaque for academic achievement was presented to Royals senior Ainsley Bell, shown with her coach Jedidiah Roach.
Ryley McCluskey hits in the paint for the Royals.
Royals senor Ainsley Bell speeds to the basket.
Royals junior Mia Elliott looks to go up strong against Middletown’s Sani Savage.
Royals sophomore point guard Bella Marinelli looks to pass to the paint.
Royals junior Josephine Peranteau takes a shot.
Royals junior Josephine Peranteau plays tough defense on Middletown’s Alayna Dorst.
Royals junior Mia Elliott grabs a rebound from Sani Savage.
Ryley McCluskey saves a loose ball for the Royals.
Royals head coach Jedidiah Roach urges his team on in the fourth quarter.
Royals senior Ainsley Bell controls the dribble up the sideline.
Royals junior Mia Elliott hits two of her 18 points in the second half.The Delmarva Christian girls’ basketball team went into the halftime break trailing 20-18, but the Royals turned on the afterburners in the second half, outscoring the Cavs 40-17, to down Middletown 58-37 in the March 1 opening round of the state tournament in Georgetown.
Royals senior Ainsley Bell led all scorers with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, five steals and three blocks.
“They weren’t handing our pressure well,” Bell said. “When we went to our press in the second half, it sparked up our energy.”
Junior Mia Elliott had a career night, scoring 18 second-half points to boost the Royals to victory. She finished with a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing off two assists, snagging six steals and blocking one shot.
“We just didn’t give up,” Elliott said. “We hustled and played hard. We wanted it.”
Junior Ryley McCluskey hit for nine points, six assists and two steals. Point guard Journey Handy scored six points, seven rebounds and five steals.
“We wanted it more,” Handy said. “They seemed to not handle it well with us coming back like that.”
Josephine Peranteau scored five points, six rebounds and three steals.
“Our reactions weren’t there in the first half,” said Royals coach Jedidiah Roach. “The second half we changed the press, and our reactions and our defensive intensity were better. I told them at half we were in desperate need and we have to get this done. They responded and turned it on, and the floodgate opened. We are going to try to ride the wave of this game and come up with something to compete with Caravel on Friday night.”
The 12th-seeded Royals travel to No. 5 Caravel Friday, March 3, to face the 2022 state champions.
Delmarva Christian’s Mia Elliott goes strong to the basket in the fourth quarter to score two of her 18 second-half points and lead the Royals past the Cavs 58-37. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Royals junior Ryley McCluskey speeds the ball up court on a fast break.
Royals senior Ainsley Bell hits three of her 20 points.
Royals junior Journey Handy powers in for two in the first half.
Royals junior Ryley McCluskey finishes off a fast break.
The DIAA Crown Trophy plaque for academic achievement was presented to Royals senior Ainsley Bell, shown with her coach Jedidiah Roach.
Ryley McCluskey hits in the paint for the Royals.
Royals senor Ainsley Bell speeds to the basket.
Royals junior Mia Elliott looks to go up strong against Middletown’s Sani Savage.
Royals sophomore point guard Bella Marinelli looks to pass to the paint.
Royals junior Josephine Peranteau takes a shot.
Royals junior Josephine Peranteau plays tough defense on Middletown’s Alayna Dorst.
Royals junior Mia Elliott grabs a rebound from Sani Savage.
Ryley McCluskey saves a loose ball for the Royals.
Royals head coach Jedidiah Roach urges his team on in the fourth quarter.
Royals senior Ainsley Bell controls the dribble up the sideline.
Royals junior Mia Elliott hits two of her 18 points in the second half.



