For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Padua got 38 of their 50 points from their seniors on Senior Night in a 50-30 win over Appoquinimink Wednesday night on Broom Street. The win helped erase any bad aftertaste from the loss to Caravel the previous night.
After a low-scoring first half, Padua (12-8) put the game away in the third, scoring the first 13 points of the third quarter and maintaining its defensive intensity to stretch the lead to 29-14. Appoquinimink (11-8) did not quit, however, going on a seven-point run of its own, but the Pandas took a 31-21 lead into the final stanza.
Padua cranked it up again in the fourth, led by senior Hannah Schlegel, who scored six of her eight points in the quarter. She and Emma Matthews and Rachel Liskiewicz left the floor with a minute to go to a nice ovation from the crowd. (Senior Kelly Rozenko was ill and could not attend the game.)
“It was emotional knowing this is the last time we are playing on our home court,” Matthews said.
Padua did not get off to a flying start, leading just 7-6 after the first quarter, with Matthews scoring all of the team’s points. She added six more in the second, and Liskiewicz contributed with a three-pointer. Appo’s Amber Cale answered with four second-quarter free throws to keep the Jaguars close, with the Pandas taking a 16-14 lead into the locker room.
Matthews led the way with 18 points, while Liskiewicz added 12. Cale and Shirle’ Brown each scored nine for the Jaguars.
Matthews said the Pandas have come a long way this season and are playing more like a team heading into the state tournament. The Pandas will wait for their seeding and opponent.
Appoquinimink is back at home today vs. St. Georges in a game that has twice been postponed by snow. Game time is 5:45.
