Delaware's Polytech knocks off Caesar Rodney

By Andy Walter, Sports editor

WOODSIDE - As good as Polytech High's girls' basketball team has been the past few years, there was always something that got in the Panthers' way.

Caesar Rodney.

While Polytech was establishing itself as one of the top programs in the Henlopen Conference, it was the Riders who won the last three Northern Division titles.

So it was no small step for the Panthers to down rebuilding CR 58-26 Friday night before another big crowd at Polytech.

Under the new Henlopen schedule, each team plays just one conference game against the other 13 teams in the league. So while CR and Polytech meet again late in the season, this is the only one that will count in the standings.

"We had to win tonight," said Polytech coach John O'Connor. "They're still CR, they're well-coached. They play tough.

"It reminded me in some ways of several years back where we were young and they were seasoned. I give them credit, they battled right to the gun tonight."

"Coming out and taking this early win was something we needed to do," said senior Tyresa Smith.

The Panthers (1-1) were also trying to regroup after opening the season with a disappointing 50-36 loss to St. Mark's Tuesday.

"When we came back to practice, we knew what we had to do," said Smith. "We had to show everybody that, just because we lost that game, we still can do it.

"Everybody took that loss real hard. So everybody wanted this (Friday's game) more than anything."

After the Panthers opened up a 17-6 lead early in the second quarter, the Riders did threaten to get back in the game. A pair of quick baskets sliced Polytech's lead to 17-11 with four minutes left before halftime.

But the Panthers ended the half on a 10-0 run and never looked back.

Polytech spread its offense around with five players scoring at least seven points. That included Dena Dempster (13 points), Smith (12) and Nikki Hayes (11).

Hayes, a junior, has now netted 23 points in two games. She gives the Panthers another scoring threat to compliment the senior nucleus of the squad - Smith, Dempster and Kim Rowley.

"She's stepped up her game a whole lot," Smith said about Hayes. "She's much stronger, she's much tougher.

"We look for everybody now. We know that they can finish."

CR coach Bill Victory, on the other hand, knew this might be a tough one for the Riders. There are just two seniors on a squad that includes five sophomores and two freshmen.

In one 12-minute stretch which ended at the end of the third quarter, CR netted only four points. Center Micki Younger led the Riders with eight points.

"It's not the end of the world," said Victory. "I've been beat by 70 before.

"You know what, we're going to be around for a while. Maybe this is their (Polytech's) run. Tyresa and them have been paying the price for three years."

Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@newszap.com.