Polytech Overcomes Fourth-Quarter Deficit To Hoist Henlopen Trophy

Trailing by eight points entering the fourth quarter, the Polytech High School boy’s basketball team overcame the deficit to defeat Milford in the Henlopen Championship, 47-42, Friday night.

The Panthers put together a solid first quarter, leading the Bucs, 13-7, but Milford wouldn’t go away. Fighting back in the second quarter, Milford got back within one point at the half, before taking over the lead at the start of the second half off a quick layup by Brion Murray. 

For a majority of the third quarter, the Bucs held the Panthers scoreless. With just 1:30 remaining, Polytech’s John Pierce tallied the only two points for his squad at the free throw line, as Milford took a 27-19 advantage into the final eight minutes. 

Chipping away at the lead, a three-pointer by Juwan Gray and a free throw by DeVaughn Mallory would finally get the Panthers knotted back up with the Bucs, 35-35.

With 2:20 remaining in the game, Polytech reclaimed the lead and maintained it, including a momentum swing off a Mallory two-handed slam following a dish by Ricky Hicks.

Time ticking away, Milford cut the deficit to one with a three-pointer, but two free throws separated the score back to three. Seven seconds left on the clock, Milford had one more chance to tie the ball game up. Devin Kravitz brought the ball up and fired up a three-pointer from the left wing, but failed on the attempt, as two more free throws sealed it up, 47-42.

Both teams head into the state tournament, as Polytech earned a first-round bye as the No. 8 seed. Milford landed the No. 16 seed, setting it up for a matchup against No. 17 Delcastle on Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m.