NEWARK — Shots weren’t falling for Ursuline in the Raiders’ DIAA semifinal matchup March 6 against Sanford, and with 5:31 to go in the third, they trailed the Warriors, 22-13. But the defense never rested, and before the end of the quarter, the Raiders would score 16 straight points, then hold off every Sanford comeback attempt in a 37-34 win at the Bob Carpenter Center.
The Raiders, seeded second in the 24-team tournament, will play No. 1 Caravel for the state championship on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Friday at www.bluehens.com.
Ursuline made just three of 20 field goal attempts in the first half and were outrebounded, 23-12, yet they trailed by just eight at the half, 19-11. Sanford, who beat Ursuline last year in the state title game and again this regular season, increased that to nine before the Raiders began their surge.
Olivia O’Hara got it started with a fast break after taking a sweet pass from GG Banks. O’Hara was fouled and completed the three-point play. Taylor Brown hit a free throw, and Banks got two the easy way after a steal. Emma Anthony grabbed the ball following a Jazlynn Wesley block on the defensive end, and she fed Brown for a layup, cutting the Sanford lead to a single point and prompting a Warriors timeout.
Wesley’s defensive prowess has not gone unnoticed.
“She’s a difference-maker,” coach John Noonan said. “She changes shots in there, and she made some big plays tonight for us.”
Wesley continued the run with a second-chance bucket, putting the Raiders in front for the first time since it was 5-4 late in the first quarter. She was fouled and missed the free throw, but Banks was there for the rebound and shot off the glass, making it 25-22. Banks then stole the Warriors’ inbounds pass and dished to a cutting Brown, whose bunny pushed the lead to five. The final points of the quarter came when Brown found Banks with a long outlet pass ahead of the pack for another layup.
Wesley said the message at halftime was simple. “Do what you’ve got to do. Take care of business. We just took care of business, that’s all.”
The Warriors, however, struck back as the fourth quarter opened. Naomi Allen scored to end the Raiders’ run at 16 points. Nearly two minutes elapsed before Allen scored again, this time following a steal by Tyler Edwards. Another Ursuline turnover led to a layup for Edwards, and with five minutes to go, it was a one-point Raiders lead.
Banks hit a baseline floater with 4:43 to go, and after a steal by Brown, Ursuline slowed the pace and started burning the clock. They held the ball for more than a minute before Banks found Wesley open for a layup, and the lead was up to five with 2:46 to go. Edwards answered immediately, cutting the Raiders’ lead to 33-30.
Over the next 80 seconds or so, the Raiders committed two turnovers and were called for an offensive foul, yet Sanford could not cut into the lead. After the offensive foul, Wesley continued with her block party, but this one was recovered by the Warriors and put back by Edwards, and Sanford trailed again by just one.
Banks and Wesley teamed up again with 34 seconds remaining, with Wesley hitting a short jumper while being fouled. She missed the foul shot, and the lead was three.
Jada Snow hit two free throws, but Banks did the same a few seconds later,
The Warriors missed a three-point attempt, and Banks got the rebound and was fouled with seven seconds left. She missed both free throws, giving the Warriors one final chance to tie. Edwards rebounded the second miss, but tripped as she landed. She got the ball to Snow, but her prayer from near halfcourt was deflected by Banks, and Ursuline lived to see another day.
Banks finished with 19 points and five assists, while Wesley had 10 points on 5 of 7 shooting, along with 11 rebounds and five blocks. Ursuline (17-6) traveled to Caravel on Feb. 8, dropping a 67-63 thriller.
Edwards and Snow each had 11 points to pace the Warriors, who finished the season 16-6.
Photos by Mike Lang.
