For The Dialog
BRANDYWINE HUNDRED – Concord, undefeated and the third-ranked team in the state, welcomed Padua Feb. 11 for a nonconference girls basketball game, and the Raiders prevailed in front of a packed house, 55-42.
The teams came out on fire, with Concord’s Zhan’e Snow scoring first on a layup, but the Pandas’ Gabby Julian connected on a deep three-pointer. After another Snow putback, Mackenzie Scully hit a three. Concord, which celebrated senior night, took an 8-6 lead on a baseline jumper by Holly Panchak, but Padua continued with the three-point theme as Megan Mallon answered to give her team the lead once again. The first quarter ended in a 15-15 tie.
Julian untied it with another deep three less than a minute in, but with Mallon on the bench in foul trouble, the Raiders went on an 8-0 run to take a 23-18 lead. They held the lead by five at intermission.
Two early baskets by Aahliyah Selby – one a three-pointer – gave the Raiders their first double-digit lead at 31-20, but the Pandas cut it to seven on field goals from Scully and Mallon. Panckak answered with four straight, and the quarter ended with the Raiders on top, 40-28.
Jamiyah Dennis took over in the fourth, scoring nine of her game-leading 17 points in the stanza. Julian and Mallon had five each in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough.
Mallon led the way for Padua with 15, and Julian added 14, including four three-pointers. The Pandas are 7-8 and host St. Andrews on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Selby joined Dennis in double figures with 11 points. The 16-0 Raiders travel to Appoquinimink for a 12:30 start on Saturday afternoon.
