By Andy Walter

DOVER — Eight Henlopen Conference squads made the 24-team field for the DIAA boys’ basketball state tournament but only one earned a first-round bye for the tourney that was revealed this afternoon.

Henlopen South champion Seaford (19-1) took the No. 2 seed according to the tournament point system, behind only top-seeded Middletown.

In the girls’ tourney, third-seeded Cape Henlopen was the only downstate school of the eight qualifiers to receive a first-round bye.

The boys’ tournament starts on Tuesday with eight contests starting at 7 p.m.
In matchups involving Henlopen teams, No. 24 Cape Henlopen will play at No. 9 Caravel, No. 12 Polytech hosts No. 21 Tatnall, No. 15 Dover hosts No. 18 Archmere, No. 14 Indian River hosts No. 19 Lake Forest and No. 11 Laurel hosts No. 22 Woodbridge.

In Thursday’s second round, Seaford will host the winner of the Dover-Archmere matchup.

The girls’ tournament begins on Wednesday with eight 7 p.m. matchups.
In pairings involving downstate schools, No. 9 Smyrna will host No. 24 Tower Hill, No. 13 Polytech hosts No. 20 Howard, No. 12 Delmarva Christian hosts No. 21 Middletown, No. 18 Early College goes to No. 15 St. Elizabeth, No. 19 Dover travels to No. 14 St. Mark’s and No. 11 Woodbridge hosts No. 22 Seaford.

On Friday, Cape Henlopen will host the winner of the Dover-St. Mark’s game.

The 14-team bracket for the DIAA Unified state tournament was also announced with eight Henlopen squads also in that field.

Top-seeded Dover and No. 2 Indian River both earned first-round byes in the tournament, which starts on Monday.

In first-round matchups involving downstate squads, No. 9 Polytech goes to No. 8 Newark Charter, No. 4 Caesar Rodney hosts No. 13 Middletown, No. 7 Cape Henlopen hosts No. 10 Seaford, No. 14 Milford goes to No. 3 Appoquinimink and No. 11 Woodbridges goes to No. 6 McKean.

On Friday, Dover hosts the Polytech-Newark Charter winner with IR hosting the winner of the Cape Henlopen-Seaford contest.

DIAA State Tournaments

Boys’ basketball

First round

Tuesday, Feb. 28

Games start at 7 p.m.

17-Mt. Pleasant (13-7) at 16-Conrad (15-5)
24-Cape Henlopen (12-8) at 9-Caravel (14-6)
20-Delcastle (9-11) at 13-Wilm. Friends (13-5)
21-Tatnall (10-10) at 12-Polytech (16-4)
18-Archmere (13-7) at 15-Dover (14-6)
23-Hodgson (12-8) at 10-St. Georges (15-5)
19-Lake Forest (12-8) at 14-Indian River (15-5)
22-Woodbridge (9-11) at 11-Laurel (15-5)

Second round

Thursday, March 2

Games start at 7 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant/Conrad at 1-Middletown (17-2)
Cape Henlopen/Caravel at 8-Sanford (14-5)
Delcastle/Friends at 4-Salesianum (13-7)
Tatnall/Polytech at 5-Appoquinimink (15-5)
Archmere/Dover at 2-Seaford (19-1)
Hodgson/St. Georges at 7-William Penn (13-7)
Lake Forest/Indian River at 3-Howard (14-4)
Woodbridge/Laurel at 6-Tower Hill (16-4)

Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 4

Games at 1 or 4 p.m. at higher seed.

Semifinals
Thursday, March 9

At Carpenter Center, games at 6:30, 8:10 p.m.

Finals
Saturday, March 11

At Carpenter Center, 6 p.m.

•••

Girls’ basketball

First round

Wednesday, March 1

Games start at 7 p.m.

17-Red Lion Christian (16-4) at 16-St. Georges (13-7)
24-Tower Hill (12-8) at 9-Smyrna (14-6)
20-Howard (14-6) at 13-Polytech (15-5)
21-Middletown (12-8) at 12-Delmarva Christian (17-3)
18-Early College (17-3) at 15-St. Elizabeth (10-10)
23-Wilm. Charter (11-9) at 10-Del. Military (15-4)
19-Dover (9-11) at 14-St. Mark’s (13-7)
22-Seaford (9-11) at 11-Woodbridge (17-3)

Second round

Friday, March 3

Games start at 7 p.m.

Red Lion/St. Georges at 1-Sanford (16-3)
Tower Hill/Smyrna at 8-A.I. DuPont (19-1)
Howard/Polytech at 4-Tatnall (16-3)
Middletown/Delm. Christian at 5-Caravel (14-6)
Early College/St. Eliz. at 2-Ursuline (19-1)
Wilm. Charter/DMA at 7-Appoquinimink (16-4)
Dover/St. Mark’s at 3-Cape Henlopen (18-2)
Seaford/Woodbridge at 6-Archmere (16-4)

Quarterfinals

Monday, March 6

Games start at 7 p.m. at higher seed.

Semifinals
Wednesday, March 8

At Carpenter Center, 6:30 and 8:10 p.m.

Finals
Friday, March 10

At Carpenter Center, 7 p.m.

•••
Unified
First round
Monday, Feb. 27

Games start at 3:30 p.m. unless noted.
9-Polytech at 8-Newark Charter
13-Middletown at 4-Caesar Rodney, 7 p.m.
12-William Penn at 5-Mt. Pleasant
10-Seaford at 7-Cape Henlopen
14-Milford at 3-Appoquinimink
11-Woodbridge at 6-McKean

Quarterfinals
Friday, March 3

Games start at 3:30 p.m.

Polytech/Newark Charter at 1-Dover
Middletown/CR vs. Wim. Penn/Mt. Pleasant
Seaford/Cape Henlopen at 2-Indian River
Milford/Appo vs. Woodbridge/McKean

Semifinals
Monday, March 6

Games start at 3:30 p.m.

Finals
Friday, March 10

At Carpenter Center, time TBA