By Andy Walter

NEWARK — Dover High’s longstanding dream of winning a DIAA state title in boys’ basketball got one step closer tonight.

The second-seeded Senators took control in the fourth quarter to post a 59-53 victory over No. 3 Middletown in the DIAA state semis at the Carpenter Center tonight.

The hard-earned victory puts Henlopen Conference champion Dover (22-2) in the program’s sixth state finals.

The Senators will face No. 4 Salesianum (15-8) in the state title game on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Carpenter Center. Dover beat the defending state champion Sals, 72-52, on Feb. 13 but Sallies was missing three starters.

The  Sals beat top-seeded St. Elizabeth, 65-51,  in tonight's second semifinal.

Dover took the lead for good with 1:21 left in the third quarter when sophomore Jay’Vion Denis buried a three-pointer from the top of the key to put the Senators up 36-35.

The Cavaliers (18-6) trailed only 42-41 when Jack Murdaugh sank a three-pointer with 7:28 left in the contest. But Dover answered with a 10-1 run and Middletown never got that close again.

The Senators led 59-49 before Middletown netted four points in the last four seconds.

Dover led for 25:37 of the 32-minute contest. There were six ties and six lead changes.

While the Senators went up by as many as 12 points, the Cavs never led more than two.

Dorell Little (16 points), Denis (13) and Denim Perkins (12 points, 10 assists) all scored in double figures.

Zion Mifflin had a team-high 15 points for Middletown with Aviyon Matthews had nine points and 11 rebounds.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter @DSNSports.

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