CLAYMONT — After a slow start to the new year, Archmere and Newark Charter quickened up the pace — and the scoring — in the second half. The Auks controlled the fourth quarter after a back-and-forth third to defeat the Patriots, 40-29, in the Diamond State Athletic Conference opener for both teams on Jan. 4 at the Moglia Fieldhouse.
The Auks went into the half with a 12-10 lead thanks to a Miles Kempski slashing bucket with 10 seconds left on the clock. But Ian Leary hit a jumper early in the third, and when Nicholas Vaughn-Atonsah connected at the 5:55 mark, the Patriots had a 14-12 lead. Newark Charter added one more field goal before Kempski hit from three-point range with 4:34 left in the quarter for the Auks’ first points of the quarter.
But they were just getting started. Drew Duncan made a pair of free throws, and shortly thereafter, tied the game with an old-fashioned three-point play with 2:45 to go in the third. Gabriel Park answered with a three-pointer, but Duncan scored again, and Charlie Malloy hit a three-pointer to send the game into the fourth quarter tied at 25.
Malloy connected again from far beyond the arc 45 seconds into the fourth to put the Auks on top for good. Matt Malloy found himself all alone under the hoop for a layup, and on the other end, the Patriots struggled to get anything to fall. They made just two field goals in the quarter, and the Auks stretched the lead with buckets from Matt Malloy, Riley Schultz and, for their final field goal, a nice layup by P.J. Blessington with an equally nice assist to Duncan. Archmere made four of six free throws down the stretch to seal it.
Kempski led the Auks with 14 points, and Duncan added 8. Archmere (2-2) visits Tatnall on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
For Newark Charter, Park had 10, while Vaughn-Atonsah had 7. The Patriots (3-6) play Odyssey Charter on Jan. 9 at the Grail Sports Complex at 5 p.m.
All photos by Mike Lang.
