Pats split two hoops games in Del.
John Carroll loses to No. 1-ranked Smyrna, beats Hodgson Vo-Tech
Staff report
Posted 1/05/11
The John Carroll Patriots girls basketball team split a pair of games last week as they traveled to Wilmington, Del., to play in the prestigious Diamond State Classic.
The Patriots opened play last Wednesday, facing off against Delaware’s No. 1 ranked team, Smyrna High School.
The Patriots went toe-to-toe, before falling in the end 48-43.
Smyrna took a lead into halftime of 27-15 after the Patriots had gotten off to a 8-2 lead.
In the second half a short-handed Patriot team that saw starting center Gina Maiorana go down to injury, regrouped and tied the score as the two teams entered the fourth quarter. Both teams traded the lead several times before Smyrna edged the Patriots by five. Miranda Ripken led the Pats with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Maria Edwards added 10 points, with eight coming in the second half.
In the second game played Thursday the Patriots rebounded with a 51-46 win over No. 6 Hodgson Vo-Tech as senior Amanda Wolfe dropped in 20 points. Ripken added a steady 13 points and Emily Soller scored 10, including a pair of three-pointers.
The win runs John Carroll’s record to 7-5 in a brutal month of games that saw the Patriots play 14 games including two scrimmages and against some of the areas toughest teams. “I am glad we took on this tough schedule, we have gotten so much better in just the last few weeks,” head coach Mike Blizzard said. “We are not the same team we were when this month began. It was tough but worth it. It will be nice to get in the gym and work on some things we need to iron out to get even better. I forget where my whistle is, it has been so long since we have had a chance to practice.”
The Patriots host Garrison Forest today (Wednesday) at 4 p.m.
Key game
A key game in the UCBAC Chesapeake Division is on tap for Thursday when unbeatens Joppatowne (6-0) and Aberdeen (6-0) meet on the Eagles home floor. Tip off is at 6:45 p.m.