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'D' sparks Tigers past Charter of Wilmington

A.I. du Pont High students loudly chanted “We want Appo!” Wednesday night, knowing the Tigers’ boys basketball team was well on its way to a coveted rematch with the Jaguars.

A.I. avenged one loss in its DIAA Boys Basketball State Tournament first-round game, dominating visiting Wilmington Charter 54-37, and now sets its sights on doing the same against Appoquinimink.

A.I. is scheduled to visit No. 3-seeded and Flight A rival Appoquinimink (17-3) at 7 p.m. in Friday’s second round, weather permitting. A.I. was nipped by Appo 57-55 in overtime on Feb. 19 in their regular-season meeting in Middletown.

To get there, Jordan Teagle scored 13 points and Elijah Agwu added 11 as the Tigers zipped out to a 22-7 halftime lead against Charter and were never threatened.

“They came out and the defensive intensity was great,” A.I. coach Tom Tabb said of his team. “Seven points in a half is great defense. Our defense generates our offense and if we can play up to our potential we’re pretty tough.”

No. 14-seeded A.I. du Pont (12-9) kept the momentum going from last week’s 74-54 win over Blue Hen Conference champion Mount Pleasant.


A.I. du Pont’s Chetor Carter looks to his teammates at the end a successful first half for the Tigers in a DIAA state tournament game Wednesday at A.I. du Pont High School.

No. 19-seeded Wilmington Charter finished 10-11. The Force had won their regular-season duel 46-36 against A.I. on Feb. 3 at Charter, but the Tigers never seemed in jeopardy this time.

Matt Brenneman’s 10 points led Charter.

“This is one game,” Tabb said. “Mount Pleasant was one game. So we take it game by game. It’s about putting a good series of games together and executing and that’s what we’re trying to do. We were up at the beginning of the year, then we were up and down in the middle. Right now we’re staying humble and hungry and we want to close out the season strong.”

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @kevintresolini.

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A.I. du Pont's Julius Inge drives against Charter's James Flanders in the second half of the Tigers' opening round win in a DIAA state tournament game Wednesday at A.I. du Pont High School

A.I. du Pont’s Julius Inge drives against Charter’s James Flanders in the second half of the Tigers’ opening round win in a DIAA state tournament game Wednesday at A.I. du Pont High School

A.I. du Pont's Elijah Agwu maneuvers in front of Charter's James Flanders and Aaron Whitenight (right) in the first half of a DIAA state tournament game Wednesday at A.I. du Pont High School

A.I. du Pont’s Elijah Agwu maneuvers in front of Charter’s James Flanders and Aaron Whitenight (right) in the first half of a DIAA state tournament game Wednesday at A.I. du Pont High School

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