Woodbridge boys’ basketball tops Laurel, 81-74, in high scoring game

Last Thursday in Greenwood, a classic, but typical Henlopen South Division basketball contest occurred between two teams, perhaps playing for their playoff lives. The home game for the Woodbridge Blue Raiders against the traveling Laurel Bulldogs came down to the wire, with the Raiders winning the hard-fought matchup, 81-74. 

The Raiders were looking for payback as the Bulldogs had already defeated Woodbridge at their first meeting in Laurel, 67-64, this year on Thursday, January 8. 

Both teams entered the game having won their most recent contests.

In the first quarter, TaSean Williams-Conway started the scoring with a jump shot from the left corner at the 7:30 mark. Laurel’s Ashton Ayres-Lucas followed with an offensive rebound and scored the first  Bulldog basket for two points at the 6:50 mark, making the score tied at 2-2. It was the only tie of the game, and the Raiders led from that point forward, all the way to the end. 

The Raiders scored the next seven points and led 9-2. Khalil Burton scored two points for Laurel at the 5:20 mark, making the score 9-4. At this point, the Raiders went on a run and scored 16 points compared to four points for Laurel. At the 3:40 mark, Williams-Conway would make his first of two four-point plays after hitting a three-point shot while being fouled. Both teams were using various zone press defenses. The quarter ended with the Raiders on top by 17 points, 25-8, which would be the largest lead of the game, so far. 

In the second quarter, both teams traded baskets throughout, with Laurel outscoring Woodbridge with 17 points compared to 12. The Bulldogs had decreased the lead down to 12 points from 17 to 37-25. 

In the third quarter, at the 6:40 mark, Williams-Conway made his second four-point play of the night, making the score 41-25. The 16-point lead would be the largest lead for the Raiders in the game so far. The quarter ended with the Raiders leading 58-44. 

In the fourth quarter, with seven minutes left, the Raiders were on cruise control, and the score was 66-51. At the 6:27 mark, Laurel’s Za-Bryan Eley hit a three-point basket, and the comeback was on, making the score 66-51. Eley would hit another three-point basket at the 5:34 mark, making the score 66-54. Eley was unstoppable as he scored two points in the lane at the 5:17 mark, making the score 66-56. 

Woodbridge committed several turnovers and missed numerous shots, while the Bulldogs scored 12 straight points to decrease the lead down to 8 points, 68-60. At the 3:15 mark, Woodbridge settled down and began to use the stall tactic and passed the ball around the perimeter. Woodbridge’s Kamryn DeShields made three baskets in the next two minutes, which increased the lead to 72-60. 

The remainder of the contest became trading baskets and free throws. Laurel could get no closer than nine points, 80-71 with only 15.5 seconds remaining, even after outscoring the Raiders in the last quarter 30-23.

“The game was intense from the beginning. We played with great pace, and great energy on defense. Williams-Conway, Sauls, Hayes, and DeShields played outstanding, allowing us to maintain a lead during the closing minutes of the game. Really, I was just very proud of the entire team and coaching staff for staying with the game plan. That Laurel team also played with great energy and heart,” said Woodbridge head coach, Marvin Morris.

The Raiders were led in scoring by Williams-Conway with 32 points and five blocked shots, Malachi Hayes added 16 points, DeShields had 15 points, and Ivray Sauls retrieved 10 rebounds.

Laurel was led in scoring by Khalid Burton with 23 points and Eley had 22 points.