GREENVILLE — A six-point halftime lead for the Caesar Rodney High girls’ basketball team turned into a six-point deficit at the start of the third quarter.

The Riders missed their first 11 shots of the third quarter as A.I. du Pont scored 12 unanswered points.

But Caesar Rodney regrouped and was able to earn a 54-47 nonconference win on Monday afternoon. Junior Alissa Haith and sophomore Alexis Reid combined to score 24 of the Riders’ 31 points in the second half.

“The resiliency of our team amazes me because of how young we are,” CR coach Victory said. “Young kids sometimes made some young mistakes and we did that but we got the W. It was an ugly win and I’m OK with that. A.I. is a tough bunch and causes all kinds of problems with their length so I’m pleased with the outcome.”

The Tigers had opened up a 29-23 lead in the third before the Riders (4-2) ended the quarter on a 20-4 run.

Reid netted 10 points in the third quarter alone.

“I took the open shots that I should have and passed the ball when I should have,” Reid said. “I was just getting open shots.”

“It’s a win but we still have growing to do,” she added. “We’re so young so we can grow together and have something good by the end of the season.”

Haith gave the Riders the lead back with a pair of free throws. The Tigers answered with a layup by Lauryn Griffin to go up 31-30, but Haith scored a layup of her own the next possession to put CR on top for good.

Zoe Scott hit a bucket from underneath the basket on the next possession, was fouled an hit the resulting free throw. What followed that was another Haith layup, a jumper by Reid, a Haith basket in traffic and a three by Reid to end the quarter.

Haith paced the Riders with 24 points while Reid added 16.

“We had to come out strong,” Haith said of the response in the second half. “It’s difficult but we all found a way to figure it out. We always have to use good communication, set screens and all that. We have good chemistry together and we’re used to playing with each other. That’s nice.”

The Tigers were able to close the gap to as little as four points in the fourth quarter, but free throws by Jordan Moseley and Haith were enough for the Riders to seal it.

It was the third time this season already the Riders have traveled upstate for a game. They hold wins over A.I. and Hodgson along with a loss to St. Elizabeth for their nonconference schedule.

Victory thinks thats schedule will help his young team later in the season.

“By the time we get to the Henlopen Conference schedule we are going to be different I promise you,” Victory said. “We’ve been up here getting tested by teams like this and Hodgson, playing teams that can really test us. I just can’t wait to see what we’re going to turn into down the road.”