Panthers Punch Ticket To State Semis With 56-48 Victory In OT

The Polytech High School boy’s basketball team fought its way back from a nine-point deficit at the half to down top-seeded Concord, 56-48, in overtime in the Delaware state quarterfinals Tuesday night.

Raiders’ Rick Malloy, one of the top players in the state, had the hot hand in the first half, shooting four three-pointers and dropping them all including a buzzer beater at the end of the first quarter, to give Concord a nine-point lead at the half.

The Panthers came out gunning though to start the second half, opening a 13-2 run to reclaim the lead.

Concord wouldn’t go away, keeping the game close up to the final seconds of regulation. Following a Ricky Hicks three, the Raiders found themselves trailing by three with 30 seconds remaining. Raiders’ Sean Brady would answer from the left corner to send it to overtime.

But, the overtime would be controlled by Juwan Gray and the Panthers. Gray cashed in on six points, finishing the night with 18, to knock off the top team in the tournament and advance to the state semis.

DeVaughn Mallory led all scorers with 19 points.

The Panthers now look to play on Thursday, March 12 at 8 p.m., in UD’s Bob against Sanford.