Royals take their lumps from strong northern squads
Four straight home games against northern teams resulted in a .500 record for a Delmarva Christian boys’ basketball team with state tournament aspirations.
The Royals edged out Wilmington Charter and Red Lion in the first two games, but a dangerous MOT Charter squad pulled away from a close game to win 62-49 Jan. 30, and Archmere Academy picked up its 10th win of the year 74-49 Jan. 31.
Against MOT Charter, Delmarva Christian junior Josh LoRusso hit a buzzer-beater to end the third quarter and make it a 39-38 deficit for the Royals. While the boys had grabbed the momentum of the moment, the Mustangs clamped down on defense and opened up on offense.
Junior Graling High led all scorers with 23 points and was virtually unguardable in the final eight minutes. Kohen Gaines was also a force for the Mustangs, earning a double-double with a game-high 10 boards while chipping in 11 points.
Delmarva Chrisitan was led by freshman Aarian Tucker’s 10 points and six assists. Noah Barbrow’s nine rebounds and two steals led the Royals, while two blocked shots from senior Andrew Collins led all players.
Collins continued his strong play the following day against Archmere. He tied the Auks’ Khaleef Wilson Jr. with a game-high 21 points and led all glass-cleaners with 10 boards. He blocked three shots in the matinee.
Archmere used big second and third quarters to pull away in the 74-49 victory.
The Royals are hoping to take the good from the final two games of January and leave the bad behind as they embark on their February schedule. At 8-6, Delmarva Christian is looking to pile up wins for a chance to make it to the dance. Half their six upcoming games are against opponents they have already beaten.
Aaron Mushrush joined the sports team in Summer 2023 to help cover the emerging youth athletics scene in the Cape Region. After lettering in soccer and lacrosse at Sussex Tech, he played lacrosse at Division III Eastern University in St. David's, PA. Aaron coached lacrosse at Sussex Tech in 2009 and 2011. Post-collegiately, Mush played in the Eastern Shore Summer Lacrosse League for Blue Bird Tavern and Saltwater Lacrosse. He competed in several tournaments for the Shamrocks Lacrosse Club, which blossomed into the Maryland Lacrosse League (MDLL). Aaron interned at the Coastal Point before becoming assistant director at WMDT-TV 47 ABC in 2017 and eventually assignment editor in 2018.
