By Andy Walter

DOVER —The potential finality of a state tournament game is lurking around the corner for any team.

Even though his Dover High girls’ basketball team was favored on Wednesday night, Senator coach Jahi Davenport knew that, too.

“I think everybody in the state right now is having that same speech,” he said. “If you lose, you go home.”

But No. 10 Dover took the tension out of this one right from the start, building a 34-point halftime lead before coasting to a 59-32 victory over No. 23 Wilmington Charter in the opening round of the DIAA girls’ basketball state tourney.

The Henlopen Conference champion Senators (18-4) next go to Georgetown to face No. 7 Delmarva Christian (18-1) Friday at 7 p.m.

Dover never trailed after senior Ashtyn Torbert hit a jumper 46 seconds into the contest.

At one point in the first half, the Senators reeled off 29 unanswered points against the Force (11-10), who couldn’t get any shots to fall in the first two quarters. Dover held a commanding 40-6 advantage by halftime.

While Charter actually outscored the Senators, 26-19, in the second half, Dover remained in control the rest of the way.

“We did what we needed to do,” said junior Sara Benson, who tallied a team-high 13 points. “I liked that we got off to a good start. Normally, we start a little slow and then we pick it up.”

Besides Benson, Amari Sudler added 12 points while Torbert had 10 for Dover, which picked up its first state tournament win in two years.

Davenport, though, knows the Senators can’t expect to get out to a big lead like that next time.

“It’s just getting the kids used to being in this environment and understanding the mental toughness that they have to have,” he said. “During the tournament, it’s not going to be like this. We’ve just got to tighten up on some things and execute a little bit better.”

Delmarva Christian is something of a mystery since 11 of its 19 games have been against Maryland schools. The only Henlopen Conference programs the Royals played were Delmar, Sussex Central, Laurel and Sussex Tech.

Davenport said he hasn’t had a chance to look at Delmarva Christian yet.

“We never take any game for granted so it’s one day at a time,” he said. “You start looking ahead, you kind of get side-tracked. We’re just lacing them up at this point.”

“Like Coach says, it’s always the biggest game of the year every time we play,” said Benson. “We’ve got to play every game like it’s our last.”

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Other games

Smyrna 47, Archmere 41: The No. 24 Eagles roared back in the second half to upset the No. 9 Auks in another first-round state tournament game.

A three-pointer from senior Kylie Jones with 1:20 left gave Smyrna the lead for good at 43-40. The shot capped a 13-0 run for the Eagles.

After trailing by eight at halftime, Smyrna outscored Archmere, 29-15, in the second half. Kai Burnette netted 15 points with Amiyah Ellerbe adding 14.

The Eagles (14-7) play at No. 8 Appoquinimink (12-9) on Friday at 7 p.m. in the tourney’s second round. The Jaguars just beat Smyrna, 71-59, in the last game of the regular season.

Woodbridge 68, Early College 27: The No. 11 Blue Raiders rolled into the second round of the state tournament with the win over the No. 22 Hornets.

Senior guard Reghan Robinson poured in 40 points with eight assists and seven steals for Woodbridge (17-5), which will play at No. 6 Sanford (14-5) on Friday at 7 p.m.

A’niyah Taylor (12 points) and Tianna Neal had 10 rebounds apiece for the Blue Raiders, who outscored Early College, 28-6, in the second quarter.
Marshay Brown had 17 points to pace the Hornets.

Saint Mark’s 53, Cape Henlopen 49: The No. 18 Vikings rallied to make it a close game in the fourth quarter before falling short to the No. 15 Spartans.

Cape Henlopen, which beat Saint Mark’s by a point in last year’s first round, finishes at 14-7.

Odessa 44, Lake Forest 30: The No. 16 Ducks earned the program’s first state tournament victory by downing the No. 17 Spartans.

Odessa advances to play at No. 1 Caravel on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Seaford 42, Wilm. Friends 39: The No. 12 Blue Jays advanced to the second round with the win over the No. 21 Quakers.

Amira Tingle netted 23 points for Seaford (15-6), which plays at No. 5 A.I. DuPont on Friday at 7 p.m.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on X at @DSNsports.