Top 2 teams put on defensive clinic as Sanford Warriors hold off Dover, 42-38

Sanford’s Jordan Taylor shoots over Dover’s Taishaun Allen during the battle between the state’s Top 2 teams

DOVER — The top-ranked Sanford Warriors took to the road and battled toe-to-toe with No. 2 Dover before pulling out a 42-38 win in front of a sold-out crowd Saturday. 

The Warriors held the game’s largest lead, 14-7 midway through the opening quarter, and had a 21-19 lead at the half. Dover led a 32-31 advantage with eight minutes left, but Sanford put the game out of reach late when Nico McNeill converted one of two free throws with under three seconds left.

Jayden Taylor led Sanford with 16 points, while Khareem Hart added 13, making four shots from beyond the arc. For Dover, JayVion Denis also made four shots from deep and ended up with a team-high 12 points. Sanford improved to 5-2, while Dover lost to an in-state team for the first time since last season. The defending state champ’s record fell to 5-2.