The seventh-seeded Ravens received 20 points from senior Brittney Adkins, including 10 in the pivotal third quarter, and came from behind to defeat No. 10 Caesar Rodney 54-46 in the second round of the Delaware High School Girls Basketball Tournament.

Sussex Tech (21-2) won behind a steady diet of Adkins drives to the basket. Junior Anika Jones chipped in 18 points for the Ravens, who will meet 15th-seeded Charter in Monday's quarterfinals at Smyrna at 7.

"We knew we needed this game," Adkins said. "If we didn't win, we were going home. I knew I had to take it to the basket and perform my job."

Adkins also was a key in the pressure defense that forced Caesar Rodney (15-9) into 26 turnovers.

"We had to play aggressive defense," Sussex Tech coach Wesley Townsend said. "We wanted to get the ball in to Adkins a little earlier, but we got the ball to her in the third quarter and she made it huge."

The Riders' bus arrived late, and they had to scurry onto the court for about six minutes of warmup shots.

CR showed no ill effects, however, going ahead 14-6 on Jori Victory's long jumper with 1:18 left in the first quarter.

The Riders, who got 16 points from freshman Brittani Shells, held a 24-21 lead at halftime. But Sussex Tech came out more aggressively in the third quarter.

Sussex Tech scored the first eight points of the second half. The Ravens took the lead for good at 25-24 on a short jumper by Adkins. The Ravens led 38-35 going into the fourth quarter and opened it up to 46-35 on a layup by Jones that capped another 8-0 run.

"Everyday at practice, coach tells us to take it to the basket," Jones said. "When we're able to drive the lane, it opens it up for some other things."

It was a tough loss to swallow for Caesar Rodney coach Bill Victory.

"We left our school late. We ran off the bus getting dressed. It just came unglued," Victory said. "Thank goodness, the world's not going to come to an end.

Reach Mike Finney at 734-7945 or mfinney@delawareonline.com.

Sussex Tech 54, Caesar Rodney 46

CAESAR RODNEY (46) -- Millner 1 0-4 2, Shells 6 3-4 16, Everson 0 0-0 0, Anderson 3 1-4 7, Younger 3 2-4 8, Reed 0 0-0 0, Miller 0 0-0 0, Brittingham 0 0-0 0, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Aldridge 2 0-0 4, Victory 1 2-2 4, Graham 0 3-4 3. Totals 17 11-22 46.

SUSSEX TECH (54) -- Adkins 7 6-15 20, Jones 6 6-11 18, Mone. Malabet 2 0-1 4, Henderson 2 3-6 7, Harper 1 0-0 2, Pavlik 1 1-4 3. Totals 19 16-37 54.