CLAYMONT — Chastity Wilson capped a frantic final minute, hitting a runner with 4 seconds remaining to lift St. Georges past Archmere, 56-55, in girls basketball action on Dec. 17 at the Moglia Fieldhouse. Her bucket marked the fifth and final lead change in the last 60 seconds.
Wilson’s basket was the last one in an entertaining contest. Archmere took a 31-28 lead early in the third quarter on a corner three by Brigid Hamberger, but the next six minutes belonged to the Hawks. They ran off 14 straight points to take a 42-31 lead. Three straight threes gave St. Georges a 37-31 advantage, and Ella Richardson scored on a reverse layup to add two more to that total. Finally, Richardson drained another triple.
Archmere scored five points late in the third — a two for Lauren Kim, followed by a three for Hamberger – setting up the dramatic final eight minutes. The fourth opened as the third had ended, with Hamberger draining a three, followed Kim’s steal of the inbounds pass and layup, and the Auks had pulled to within one. St. Georges built the lead back to five, 48-43, before Lucy Oliver hit a free throw, Kim scored off a turnover again, and Hamberger went for yet another triple, putting the Auks back on top, 49-48, with 3:50 remaining.
From there, it was back and forth to the finish. The Hawks went ahead on a runner by Donyae Samue;ls, only to see Archmere regain the advantage on a Kim field goal after a steal by Lydia Scarpaci. Ariana Fonda was next, but Kim answered. Wilson took her turn in the final 20 seconds, making it 54-53 Hawks, but Oliver got the lead back for the Auks on a layup with about 10 seconds to go.
Wilson was next on the seesaw, dribbling down the left edge of the key and spinning a shot off the backboard and in. The Auks set up a play on a timeout, inbounded the ball over midcourt and called time again. The resulting shot was off the mark, and the Hawks secured the victory with a rebound.
Wilson, a freshman, led the way with 30 points. She was the only Hawk in double figures; Richardson had nine. St. Georges (3-2) visits Howard on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
For Archmere, Kim had 19 and Hamberger had 14 points, including four three-pointers. Oliver added nine. The Auks (3-1) next play on Dec. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Viking Invitational at the St. E Center.
All photos by Mike Lang.
