By Andy Walter

HOCKESSIN — Getting off to a good start isn’t the only thing that matters in a game.

But it doesn’t hurt.

Tenth-seeded Woodbridge High learned that lesson again the hard way as a slow start doomed the Blue Raiders in a 64-39 loss to No. 3 Sanford in the DIAA girls’ basketball state semifinals on Wednesday night.

Woodbridge (13-4), which was making the program’s first appearance in the semis, fell behind, 20-5, in the first quarter. So even though they were out-scored by only 10 points the rest of the way, the damage was already done.

The Warriors (16-1), who won the program’s fifth state title in 2019 — the last time the state crown was decided — will take on top-seeded St. Elizabeth in the finals. The Vikings beat Caravel, 56-35, in Wednesday’s other semi.

The championship game will be played on Friday at 6 p.m. at Dover High.

“They out-played us, they out-scrapped us,” said Woodbridge coach Isaiah Robinson. “They were the better team.

“I really thought we were ready but we just didn’t get off to a good start. And they’re definitely not one of those teams you can get down to and think you’re going to just jump back in the game. They’re always at the top for a reason.”

“We kind of knew what we were getting into,” said senior forward Cha’Krya Johnson. “But we should have come out with more energy than what we did.”

After trailing 33-18 at halftime and 40-22 in the third quarter, Woodbridge did get back within 14 points a couple times in the second half. But Sanford out-scored the Raiders, 18-9, in the fourth quarter to pull away again.

Johnson had a big final game for Woodbridge, netting a game-high 25 point. In the second half, she tallied 17 of the Raiders’ 21 points.

“I told them, we will always fight to the end,” said Robinson. “We just didn’t really get in any type of rhythm.”

“We didn’t really execute how we should have,” said Johnson. “But, all in all, we gave it everything we’ve got.

“They’re a good defensive team. They executed on our mistakes.”

Sanford coach Marcus Thompson said he had a lot of respect for Woodbridge’s program. The Raiders made the long trip north to play in an upstate summer camp a few years ago.

“They have a really good team,” he said. “But, more importantly, they’re building the program. I think that’s important.

“They came up here in the summer league a couple years ago, people don’t that. They were trying to compete against the best and it showed. I told them there was a reason they were in this game. This wasn’t a fluke or anything. They’re a very good basketball team.”

Sanford, which has only one senior on its roster, got double-digit scoring from Dallas Pierce (14), Abby Meredith (14), Azareya Kilgoe (13) and Amiya Carroll (10).

Woodbridge will lose four seniors from this squad but will return some good young players to build around. Robinson hopes they learn from this year’s experience.

“I hope they take the experience and get ready to do it again next year,” said Robinson. “We’ll be back.”

“It’s been a rollercoaster, but we made it this far,” said Johnson. “Things didn’t go how we wanted.”

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@newszap.com.