NEWARK – Micah Morgan led a balanced scoring attack as No. 3 Caravel advanced to the girls’ state basketball championship with a 48-40 win over second-seeded Sanford Saturday evening at the Bob Carpenter Center.
Morgan led the way with 13 points, and she received support from Ky’Asia Stanford, who had 11, Caroline Davis with eight and Jessica Reynolds with seven.
Caravel (18-5) gave Sanford every opportunity to climb back in the game late in the fourth, committing turnover after turnover, but Sanford could not take advantage. The Buccaneers, leading 42-37, were able to dribble nearly 25 seconds off the clock in the final minute as Sanford struggled to commit a foul. The Warriors also needed to foul three times before sending Caravel to the line.
Sanford did not give up. After two free throws by Stanford made the score 44-37, Sanford’s Taylor Samuels responded with a three-pointer with 14.7 seconds on the clock. Following a timeout, however, Sanford was called for a technical foul for a sideline violation, and Stanford hit both free throws. The Bucs hit all seven of their free throws in the fourth to help seal the win.
The Bucs threatened to put the game away early, leading, 14-2, after the first quarter, but Sanford fought back, getting within two at 22-20, but no closer.
Caravel coach Kristin Mills-Caldwell said she told her team to take a deep breath during the fourth when they were committing numerous turnovers.
The Buccaneers will meet the winner of the St. Elizabeth-Ursuline game Monday night at the Bob. Caravel defeated the Vikings during the regular season and lost to Ursuline. Mills-Caldwell said her team should just be its usual self on Monday night.
“I tell them that they earned the right to be here on Monday. Just play up to our potential. Let the real Caravel come out. There’s no need to be timid or cautious,” she said.
Alison Lewis led Sanford with 18 points, while Chrishyanah Alston added 12. The Warriors ended the season 17-6.
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