For The Dialog
NEWARK – A 14-0 run turned a 10-point St. Mark’s deficit into a four-point lead, but the Spartans’ shot disappeared as the fourth quarter wore on in a 40-34 loss to Concord in a boys basketball quarterfinal-round game Sunday afternoon at the Bob Carpenter Center. The loss ended the season for St. Mark’s, which finished the year at 15-6.
Concord got off to a great start on the strength of two three-pointers by senior Joe Cooper, but St. Mark’s trailed by just one, 9-8, after one. Concord took command in the second, outscoring the Spartans, 15-7, to make the halftime score 24-15.
A free throw by William Chapman gave Concord its largest lead at 25-15, but that is when St. Mark’s mounted its comeback. The Spartans scored the last 11 points of the third, taking a 26-25 lead into the final eight minutes. Senior Nick Papa and junior Matt Williams each had four points during the run. The Spartans’ assault continued into the fourth as they grabbed their largest lead at 29-15.
Cooper, however, took over after that. He his a two-point field goal, followed by a couple of threes, giving the Raiders a lead they would not lose. St. Mark’s lost the shooting touch; the team would not hit a field goal in the last 4:47 of the contest.
Cooper led the Raiders with 19 points, including five of eight from three-point range. Chapman added 12. Concord will now get a rematch with top-seeded Salesianum on Thursday night at the Bob; the Sals won, 50-33, when the teams met during the regular season. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m., but it will be approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of the first semifinal between Cape Henlopen and St. Georges. Tickets are available at diaa.ticketleap.com.
Papa finished the night with 12 points to lead St. Mark’s.
