WILMINGTON — Charlie Malloy hit a three-point shot with 4:21 to go to give Archmere a lead over Tower Hill, part of a 12-4 game-ending run as the Auks captured a 46-38 boys basketball victory on Jan. 27 at the Carpenter Fieldhouse. The Auks snapped a three-game losing streak with the win.
Two free throws by Kevin Coleman had given the Hillers a 26-20 lead in the third, but Malloy answered immediately with one of his four triples. The Auks battled back to tie the game at 30, but Tower’s Alex Hudson beat the buzzer to give the Hillers a 32-20 lead heading into the fourth.
The teams went nearly two and a half minutes into the final quarter before Drew Duncan tied it up with two free throws. After they traded buckets, the Auks took the lead on Malloy’s three after a rebound at the other end by Miles Kempski. Archmere built the lead to four points, but Daniel Somerville energized the crowd with a corner three, cutting Archmere’s advantage to 39-38.
But Duncan came up huge the next time down the floor, grabbing an offensive rebound and hitting a baby hook shot with 2:35 to go. The Auks’ defense came up big on Tower’s next possession, as Malloy was able to grab a ball that was saved inbounds by a Hiller.
Archmere held the ball until there was just 1:18 to go, as the Hillers had to commit three fouls to get into the penalty and send the Auks to the line. Malloy made a pair of free throws, and despite two Archmere turnovers as the final minute began, the Hillers were unable to take advantage. Malloy made one more free throw with 44 seconds left, and the Auks used the two fouls they had to give to force the Hillers to burn precious seconds. Kempski finished the scoring with two free throws in the closing seconds.
Malloy led the Auks with 18 points, and Duncan had 12. Archmere (6-5) is on the road on Jan. 30 at A.I. DuPont at 4:45 p.m.
For the Hillers, Kevin Coleman was the lone player in double figures with 10. Tower Hill fell to 6-6 and hosts Sanford on Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
