Fast start, strong finish powers Royals to 46-36 win over Spartans

There’s something to be said for keeping even-keeled in the crux of a high school basketball season when it feels like almost anybody can beat anybody.

The Delmarva Christian girls’ basketball team wasted no time in getting over a 32-30 loss at Mardela (Md.) Jan. 30, bouncing right back with a 46-36 win over Lake Forest Jan. 31. The Royals distanced themselves from the Spartans early in the first quarter.

“They were moving the ball pretty well at the beginning, finding open shots, and they were passing the ball well inside, so we got a couple easy buckets,” coach Frank Roach said.

One of the big reasons for the fast start was the return of senior Eva Elliott, who came back against Mardela and assembled a six-point, four-steal, four-block and four-assist stat line. With the rust shaken off, Elliott did a little bit of everything against Lake, despite playing limited minutes. She tallied nine points, three rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.

“It feels really good,” Elliott said. “Not being in was terrible.”

The Royals did feel the sting when she wasn’t on the court in the first half, as the Spartans mounted a comeback to keep things close at the break. 

“With Eva not being there the whole game, the young ones had to step up,” Roach said.

The offense opened up in the third quarter, and both teams started collecting points nearly twice as fast as they had in the first two quarters. Senior Eve Bohinski led the charge with 18 points, six steals and two blocks, while sophomore Avery McCoy finished with 15 points, four steals, five rebounds and five assists.

Freshman Payton Harris kept Lake Forest in the contest, with the game knotted 30-30 heading into the fourth. A plan was needed to reel in the young scorer.

“They had a main option, and I said, ‘Let's go try to take her away and let the others do more,’ and I think that was the ticket,” Roach said.

Another youngster, freshman Anaiah Mulhern, was given the task of shadowing Harris all over the floor. It worked.

Lake Forest didn’t score until there was about 2:30 left in the game, as the Royals continued scoring and won the final frame 16-6 to take the game 46-36.

Delmarva Christian will head out of town for the next two games, but Senior Night against Salisbury School is set for 4:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6.