BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity basketball team won the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) tournament championship last Friday, beating Delmarva Christian, 50-44, in the title game.
The Mallards built an early lead and outlasted the Royals down the stretch to win the ESIAC tournament championship. Worcester led, 16-7, after one quarter, but Delmarva Christian cut the lead to 19-18 at the half. The two teams went back and forth through the third quarter with Worcester maintaining a small margin.
The Mallards led, 46-44, with 18 seconds remaining when a pair of free throws by Owen Nally extended the lead to 48-44. Delmarva Christian got a good look at a three-pointer that would have cut the lead to 48-47, but the shot did not fall. Wyatt Richins then converted a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 50-44 and the Mallards held on for the conference title, touching off a wild celebration in the home team’s gym.
The win completed a remarkable season for the Mallards, who were up and down through much of the early stretch. Worcester started just 1-4, but won its last seven games and eight of its last nine to finish 13-7 overall on the year.