by Marshal Manlove Brian
Polk became the fifth Delaware high school basketball player to reach the 2000 point
career scoring plateau and his Ravens advanced to the third round of the championship
tournament defeating the Spartans of St Marks 48-44.
Polk joins Brandywine's Dexter Boney (2318), Wilmington's Erik Edwards (2241),
Tower Hill's Carmen Wallace (2004) and Caravel's Kristin Mills (2131) in this tiny group
of scoring sensations. His fade away 3-pointer with 6:59 to go in the half gave him the
three he needed to reach the mark. Sadly, because the game was a state tournament game,
tournament rules dictated that the game could not be halted to honor the achievement.
Sadder still because it wasn't recognized at half time or even mentioned over the PA
system. But there was still a great game to be played on the floor.
A back and forth battle had broken out on the floor. St Marks led after the first
and third quarters playing their controlled and calculated game plan throughout. Sussex
Tech used a relentless press and trap defense which kept them in foul trouble most of the
game, but that was countered by Polks 29 points.
Trailing by one with less than 30 seconds to go, Spartan Eugene Young missed a
layup that could have won the game. It was a bad way to end an otherwise decent game for
the 6-5 center who scored a Spartan high 20. They were then forced to foul to attempt to
regain possession but the Ravens converted at the line to seal the victory and advance to
take on Howard in the quarterfinals.
Polk was happy for the win. "The win was more important. Getting my 2000th
point was a bonus. Its great. Scoring that many was hard to do."
Polk becomes the first downstater to score 2000 points.
Sussex Tech 48, St. Mark's 44
St. Mark's 11 10 16 7 - 44
Sussex Tech 7 15 11 15 - 48
ST. MARK'S (44) - Miller 5 2-3 16, Young 8 7-12 23, Denney 1 0-2 2, Stuller 0 1-2 1,
Aradulski 2 0-0 5, Denney 0 0-1 0, Schindler 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 12-20 44.
SUSSEX TECH (48) - Polk 10 4-5 29, Jankovic 1 0-0 2, Hopkins 1 0-0 2, Hooks 1 0-0 3,
Chandler 1 0-0 2, Tingle 2 1-2 6, Walston 1 0-0 2, Smith 0 0-0 0, Wright 0 0-0 0. Totals
17 5-7 48.
Three-point goals: St. Mark's 2 (Miller, Aradulski), Sussex Tech 8 (Polk 6, Hooks,
Tingle).
