CLAYMONT — Archmere’s boys basketball team faced a Saint Mark’s team missing several starters on Jan. 24, and the Auks took advantage, pulling away in the second quarter on the way to a 49-30 victory at Moglia Fieldhouse.
The Auks led, 6-5, after a sluggish first quarter. Archmere’s Matt Dellose scored on a follow shot three minutes in for the game’s first points, and the Spartans didn’t get on the board until just 2:13 remained. Max Coughenour hit a three-point shot to give Saint Mark’s a 3-2 lead.
The second quarter started with promise for the Spartans as James Baffone drilled a three, catapulting his team into a two-point lead. But they would score just one more point, while the Auks took control.
Archmere tied the game on a pair of free throws by Matt McCarty, and the Auks took the lead for good when Dellose scored following an offensive rebound. McCarthy then hit a three, and the small but boisterous Auks student section rose to their feet. The run reached nine points before a Spartans free throw, but Archmere scored the final five points of the half, with Max Ewing picking up the final field goal of the second.
Donovan Artis got Saint Mark’s deficit into single digits with a short jumper to open the second half, but the Auks again took control. They outrebounded the smaller Spartans, and five players scored in the period. Their lead grew to 30-14 before two Chad Dohl free throws and a Baffone field goal, but Jon Dearing beat the buzzer on a second-chance shot to stake the Auks to a 32-18 lead after three.
Archmere spent a lot of time at the free throw line in the fourth, making 11 of 13 attempts to hold off any comeback thoughts by the Spartans. For the game, the Auks connected on 19 of 24 shots from the line.
McCarthy scored 16 points, including making eight of 10 free throw attempts. Dellose added 12. The Auks improved to 5-3 and play the second of four consecutive home games on Wednesday at 6:15 against Newark Charter.
For the Spartans, Baffone had nine points, and Dohl contributed seven. Saint Mark’s (7-3) travels to Delmarva Christian on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
All photos by Jason Winchell.
