BERLIN- In the third chapter of yet another epic trilogy between the two old rivals, Worcester Prep’s girls’ varsity basketball team edged Saints Peter and Paul, 34-33, last Saturday on the road to capture the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference tournament championship.
The Mallards and the Sabres met three times in the span of 11 days with the teams splitting the first two. Worcester beat Saints Peter and Paul, 32-28, at home back on February 10, but the Sabres beat the Mallards last Tuesday, 34-32, to essentially clinch the ESIAC regular season title and sew up the top seed in the conference tournament.
Each team advanced in the conference tournament semifinals last Friday, setting up another epic clash in the ESIAC championship at Easton last Saturday. Last year, the teams split their regular season games in the conference, but Saints Peter and Paul won the ESIAC tournament championship, 32-22. This year, the Mallards returned the favor, holding on after giving up a big lead to capture the title with the dramatic 34-33 win.
Worcester got out to a big lead early and led by as many as 17 at one point. Saints Peter and Paul nibbled away the lead and Worcester led 19-8 going into the half. Worcester came out a little flat in the third as the Sabres continued to chip away. The Mallards led, 27-20, heading into the fourth, but there was no quit in the Sabres.
With Worcester leading 34-30, Saints Peter and Paul nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to just one point at 34-33 with six seconds remaining. However, without a timeout, the Sabres could not stop the clock and the Mallards held on for the 34-33 win and the conference tournament title.