In last week’s holiday tournaments, three local girls basketball players had notable performances in helping their teams.

Reservoir’s Brianna Bradford scored 55 points in two games at the Sherwood Tournament. The senior point guard, who leads Howard County in scoring with a 24.8 average and is headed for Penn, hit for 29 in a 72-62 loss to Upper Marion, Pa., in the title game. The day before, she scored 26 in a 67-65 win over previously-unbeaten Wootton.

Fallston’s Jess Harlee scored more than half of her team’s points as she amassed 50 in leading the unbeaten Cougars to victory in their bracket of the North Carroll Holiday Hoops Tournament. The junior forward-guard scored 30 points in Friday’s 49-43 win over Notre Dame Prep and then hit 20 in the 47-36 title-game victory over the host team. She also had 40 rebounds – 20 in each game – as well as 14 steals.

The biggest total came from Severn’s Katie Dickerson, who matched the Admirals’ opponent with 37 points in the opening round of the Queen Anne’s Tournament Saturday. Dickerson hit 10 two-pointers and five three-pointers and went 2-3 from the line in a 76-37 win over North East. The Admirals have two more games to play, today and tomorrow, as the tournament continues.
-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 11:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Today marks the beginning of Kwanzaa, the annual seven-day celebration of African culture, but the girls basketball team at Digital Harbor adopted one of the principles of Kwanzaa as a theme for its season a month ago.

Ujima, the Swahili word meaning collective work and responsibility, is something coach Patrick McDonald tries to instill in his players every day.

”We can use sports as a great vehicle and a great behavior modification tool,” he said. “How do we get them through sports to understand the greater importance of being a part of something bigger than them? We all understand that as teenagers, it’s really about me, me, me, me, me, so the whole concept of ujima is collective responsibility, getting them to understand that, from a team perspective and from a community perspective, they have the power to make change.”

McDonald is always one for championing life lessons through sports and he said the Rams are responding. Not only are they 3-1 and ranked No. 8 this winter after reaching the state Class 1A semifinals last season, but they are playing well as a team.

They realize the team is more important than any one of them. That was obvious last season when I talked with their star Asia Logan, one of the best players in the area. All she wanted to talk about was her team.

“We try to give them different things that they can sink their teeth into,” McDonald said, “and hopefully when the game of basketball stops … and when the lights are out in the gym, you can walk away with something that will improve your overall life.”

--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

When Alice Puckett told me she was retiring as Fallston’s field hockey coach after 26 years, she said, “It’s no big deal.”

Well, it is a big deal. And not just because Puckett was one of the most successful field hockey coaches ever in Maryland. She was also one of the nicest coaches I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.

Gracious in victory and defeat – and despite all the successes, there were some bitter disappointments – Puckett always talked to the press after those disappointing games even when I’m sure she didn’t really want to. She always returned phone calls and graciously put up with many questions, especially in preseason and postseason.

She seemed to struggle at times to balance being a mom and a coach when it came to talking about her daughter Lindsey, a senior this year and The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro Player of the Year. She didn’t want to single Lindsey out too much, but Lindsey’s game spoke for itself and earned her a scholarship to play for Maryland, which just won the NCAA championship.

Now after 11 state championships, 340 wins and many Coach of the Year honors, Puckett will spend her next fall season watching Lindsey play for the Terps. Perhaps that says more than anything – family first.

She may not realize it, but Puckett will be missed by everyone in the local field hockey community.
-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Aberdeen boys and girls basketball players used their talents this month to raise money for needy families. Each one solicited pledges and then became a Shooting Santa, attempting 50 free throws with donations coming in for each free throw made or for a set amount.

The team raised more than $5,000 with two freshmen from the Eagles’ junior varsity teams collecting exceptional amounts. Brook-Lynn Williams raised $646.73 while Troy Quay Malloy brought in $569.

The Eagles weren’t the only ones getting into the act. Players from Joppatowne, Harford Tech and Perryville were also Shooting Santas and the four teams together brought in nearly $9,000. The Shooting Santas Foundation, started 10 years ago by Aberdeen girls coach Mike Blizzard, raised enough money to help seven needy families in Harford and Cecil counties this holiday season.

The players shop for the families and deliver the gifts themselves.

"It's an emotionally moving experience for them," Blizzard said. "Our goal is not only to help the families, but we're trying to create a younger generation that wants to do something similar when they're adults."

Blizzard would like to get all schools in the Harford/Cecil Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference involved in the program.

--Katherine Dunn and Jeff Seidel

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Two rival teams and a packed gym -– everything you look for in a high school boys basketball game. That was the case Tuesday night when No. 3 City played host to No. 2 Lake Clifton.

But an unfortunate incident also took place that, in the end, ultimately hurt the student-athletes who were showcasing their skills. Two Seton Hill University assistant coaches, Brian Carroll and Lukas Crump, made the five-hour trip from the Pittsburgh area to get a look at some Baltimore talent.

Bad weather and traffic put them behind schedule and they didn’t reach City’s gym doors until 10 minutes after tipoff. By that time, the doors were closed. The Baltimore City public school policy states that when a gym reaches full capacity, the doors are to be closed to adhere to fire code regulations. Some 25 others -- parents, supporters and a Baltimore Sun photographer -- also were not permitted into the gym after it reached its limit.

"When it’s at capacity, our school police say that we have the authority and obligation to halt access to an area for safety reasons," said Baltimore City schools spokesperson Edie House. "We had at least 25 other people standing out there also wanting to get in and we need to be fair. If we say to one they can not enter because of safety reasons, then there has to be equal treatment for everyone."

Carroll, a Loyola College grad and former player for the Greyhounds, took the initiative of finding an unlocked door in another part of the school – an unauthorized entrance, according to House – and worked his way near the gym, but wasn’t permitted inside despite showing identification that he was a college coach.

The bottom line: A basketball player from City or Lake Clifton missed out on a chance to impress a couple of college coaches and possibly earn a scholarship to further his education. What can be done to avoid a similar situation? Perhaps college coaches who plan to scout a game should call the home team school in advance to reserve a spot.

As for the rest of the people who were waiting to get inside with no success, perhaps a note should be placed on the outside doors with an explanation that the gym had reached capacity.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Went to my first high school wrestling match in decades Tuesday. It was at Loyola's Performance Gym. The Dons, No. 10 in The Baltimore Sun’s poll were taking on No. 5 Curley.

Curley won 37-31 by getting a pin in the final weight class.

But when I walked in, I thought I was in the wrong place. The lights were off –- except for one giant spotlight over the wrestling mat. I thought maybe they were going to have a National Anthem performance and then turn up the lights and get underway. But that wasn’t the case.

The wrestlers performed under the light, while the audience sat in darkness. It was like being at the Myerhoff or the Lyric, except the seats were harder and the crowd was noisier.

Afterward, Loyola’s coach Steve Truitt told me a number of schools use a spotlight for matches, while others don’t.

“I like it,” Truitt said. “It adds atmosphere.”

The coach did admit that he doesn’t think the refs always like it, however.

“The shadows make it more difficult for them to see the pins,” he said.

But Truitt is right, the lighting added to the excitement of the night.

-- Sandra McKee

Posted by Sandra McKee at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Reservoir High School senior girls basketball player Brianna Bradford is so busy with extracurricular activities, it isn’t surprising that when she sets goals for the year, she keeps them separate.

“I think I probably departmentalize more than most people,” she said. “One of my main school goals is, besides keeping my grades up, to build my art portfolio. IArt is something that has just blown me away. I never imagined I could be this good at it. I mean I took the first course because it’s required for graduation, but I just completely fell in love with it. It's been three years now and I’ll take the AP exam at the end of the year. You work on your exam all year. You have to have 24 pieces, 12 of which have to have a theme."

But there is a lot more. Bradford is a member of The National Honor Society, The National Spanish Honor Society, The National Society of High School Scholars, The Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) group, The 2009 Senior Class Board, The Howard County Youth Summit and Howard County Connections. She is also on the board of the American Heart Association and has an internship at the Fulton Animal Shelter, where she puts in five hours a week.

She crams all that in to her days that usually start at 5:45 a.m. and end at 11 p.m.

I’m guessing from the time school is out at 2:10 or so, until you go to bed, it’s go, go, go. And you’re 17, and it doesn’t feel like too much?

"There are a lot of times when one of the groups want me to do a special presentation and I say no. And if there is a test that I really have to study for, I say no to a meeting. School is No. 1 and that has never been a question for me. If there is any kind of conflict, between school and anything else, well, I’m not going.

"During the fall and spring, I do my internship at the Animal Shelter on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. In the winter, I do it on Saturdays, because you have to give five hours a week and during the winter with basketball games and practice and homework, there just isn’t enough time.”

Is your mom an active volunteer? Or your dad? Where do you get all this volunteerism?

"Well, my mom was a diarist for Howard County Connections before and she asked me and my sister to come to one of the meetings and I guess it just stuck, because I’ve been there ever since eighth grade.”

Do you set goals for each of your activities?

“I do. In School I have a goal for every class. Overall to keep to no more than one B, and even then it should be a really high B. I should be struggling to get an A. In basketball, I’m just trying to run the team as best I can and get my number of assists up. They’re OK, but they could be better. When I drive and the defense collapses on me, I want to be able to control my thoughts and movements enough to kick the ball out.

“At my internship I’m working on an amazing project about preventing pet obesity. On the Class Board, we’re working on fund raising for the prom and decorations; In MESA, the goal is to come in first in regional competition with our model electric-powered cargo plane and go to states; The Youth Summit works to gather input from teens in Howard County about [things that concern them] and discuss what we can do to correct it by taking it to the County Council; and on the American Heart Association board I want to see if I can get a lot of volunteers from the National Honor Society to help with the Heart Ball this spring.”

Sandra McKee

Posted by Sandra McKee at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Can't get to the game? Fox Sports Radio (AM 1370) and Digital Sports are simulcasting some of the top Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association/Baltimore Caholic League boys basketball games every week.

The games, with the exception of the BCL championship game, are set for Friday night at 7. Here are the scheduled games:

Dec. 19 Loyola @ Towson Catholic
Jan. 2 St. Frances @ Mount St. Joseph
Jan. 9 Towson Catholic @ Cardinal Gibbons
Jan. 16 St. Maria Goretti @ Archbishop Spalding
Jan. 23 Calvert Hall @ Mount St. Joseph
Jan. 30 St. John’s Catholic Prep @ Cardinal Gibbons
Feb. 6 Towson Catholic @ St. Frances
Feb. 13 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Playoff Game - TBA
March 1 Baltimore Catholic League Championship Game (1 p.m.)

Posted by Ron Fritz at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

St. Paul's Bailey Webster has been named the Gatorade Maryland Volleyball Player of the Year for a second straight year.

Webster, a 6-foot-3 middle hitter who is a two-time Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year, has signed to play for the University of Texas. She will enroll in Austin next month after graduating early from St. Paul's.

Named the No. 1 recruit in the nation this fall by PrepVolleyball.com, Webster is an Under Armour first-team All-American who will play in the inaugural All-America High School Volleyball Match and Skills Competition Sunday in Omaha, Neb.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Maryland State High School Field Hockey Coaches Association (MSHSFHCA) has announced its 2008 All-State teams:

First Team
Attack
Hannah Balleza, Severna Park
Maya Herm, Walt Whitman
Ali McIntosh, Kent Island
Lindsey Puckett, Fallston
Lauriann Parker – Glenelg
Midfield
Dana Allaband, Rising Sun
Kirstin Dennig, Pocomoke
Krissy Fusco, Fallston
Kim Goh, Stone Ridge
Brooke Griffin, South River
Courtney Haldeman, Hereford
Kristen Wille, Kent Island
Defense
Vicky Arthur, Connelly School of the Holy Child
Liza Blue, Garrison Forest
Amber Holland, Pocomoke
Goalies
Abby Bisbee, Bryn Mawr
Sarah Scher, Pocomoke

Second Team
Attack
Clare Becker, Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Ashlea Carl, North Carroll
Rachel Hannon, Archbishop Spalding
Kaitlin Maloy, South River
Caitlin Powers, Towson
Midfield
Meghan Eshleman, Broadneck
Leah Koznarsky, Middletown
Catherine Mirsky, Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Katelyn Nolan, Patuxent
Casey Pohlmeyer, Severna Park
Defense
Virginia Calderia, South River
Katie Matteo, Broadneck
Rachel Merritt, Chesapeake
Goalies
Emily Cain, Garrison Forest
Maddie Koch, Broadneck

Honorable Mention
Attack
Caitlin Dempsey, Fallston
Amber Nichols, Westminster
Alissa Polina, McDonogh
Caroline Seats, Roland Park
Caroline Sweeney, Rising Sun
Midfield
Cailie Murphy, Garrison Forest
Claire Brady, Century
Katie Jones, Winters Mill
Libby Nichols, Friends
Kat Gartner, Archbishop Spalding
Defense
Shannon Palmer, Archbishop Spalding
Lindsay Nichols, Westminster
Goalie
Ashley Dalisera, Severna Park

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

When Mervo senior Lance McCoy drops a few lines about himself, he puts as much effort into it as he does into his wrestling.

The Mustangs' 140-pound wrestler introduces himself this way:

"My name is Lance McCoy and I am one of the best wrestlers in the state of Maryland. I am a 2x city champion, regional placer 2, 3, 5; 2x state qualifier and I was on the all-city team. I was a city champion my ninth and eleventh grade year(s) (Making Mervo history). My current record - only including high school matches - is about 65-15. I won the Parkville Tournament twice,and the Overlea tournament. I won OW [Outstanding Wrestler] at the Parkville Tournament this past weekend and and won OW at Baltimore City championships. I was also featured on Digital Sports after ending my past wrestling season with a 28-3 record."

Last weekend, at Parkville, Mervo struggled, finishing 11th in the 15-team event, but McCoy, the defending Baltimore City champ in the 140 weight class, did, indeed win the Outstanding Lightweight Wrestler award. The award was earned with a technical fall and two pins. One of those pins came in less than 45 seconds.

-- Sandra McKee

Posted by Sandra McKee at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

A packed gym was at Walbrook on Friday night to watch All-Metro junior forward Roscoe Smith and the home team knock off D.C-based Cesar Chavez, 73-66, in the nightcap of the Function at the Junction. Among those in attendance was Memphis coach John Calipari, who watched Smith score 35 points, grab 11 rebounds, block eight shots and dish out three assists in what has become a typical all-around standout effort.

The 6-foot-8 Smith is one of the most highly-touted juniors in the nation and he's drawn interest from most of the major college programs. After registering 12 double doubles as a sophomore, Smith is averaging 29 points, 12 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in helping the Warriors to a 3-1 mark. Calipari was in the area because his Tigers were playing at Georgetown on Saturday afternoon.

-- Glenn Graham

Posted by Glenn Graham at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Imagine your high school sports days. Now -- and this is BIG stretch for almost all of us –-imagine that you and your teammates have won the league championship and finished No. 1 every year.

Feeling any pressure?

Well, that kind of sums up the story for the St. Frances girls basketball team –- six-time defending champions in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference and the final No. 1 team the last three years.

Panthers junior forward Briana Hutchen laughed when asked if her team felt that pressure to stay on top.

"Who wouldn’t feel pressure in the No. 1 spot?” Hutchen said, but her comments show that she and her teammates have it all in pretty good perspective.

“We realize it’s not going to be easy and everything’s just not going to be handed to us always.”

The Panthers have handled the pressure exceptionally well so far with some on-court pressure of their own and a level of quickness that overwhelmed both No. 2 Arundel and No. 4 Western last week. The win over Arundel was a big one, but you got the sense that beating Western Saturday at the Breezy Bishop Showcase meant a little more to the Panthers because it was a showdown of teams from Baltimore City.

Said Hutchen: “Everyone’s out to beat you. Everyone wants to be where you are, so we have to play up to our level no matter who we’re playing and [Saturday night], it just happened to be Western and we had to prove to them that we’re the No. 1 team in Baltimore.”

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Chances are you’ve already made plans for tonight, but if not, you might want to check out some of the best girls high school basketball the area has to offer at Western’s third Breezy Bishop Showcase. If you can’t make it tonight, there are plenty of games to catch tomorrow and Sunday.

Tonight’s games feature No. 6 City vs. No. 7 Archbishop Spalding at 7 p.m. and No. 4 Western vs. Oak Hill Academy from Virginia at 9 p.m. Next door at Poly, the Engineers will play Milford Mill at 8 p.m.

This mixer is too big for one gym – especially tomorrow’s 11 games -- so games run simultaneously in Western’s gym and Poly’s gym.

Tomorrow’s lineup features No. 1 St. Frances taking on Western at 7 p.m. as well as No. 3 Seton Keough vs. City at 5 p.m. Two nationally ranked teams, Oak Hill Academy and H.D. Woodson, play in the 9 p.m. contest. The rest of the schedule: IND vs. New Town, 11 a.m.; Holy Cross vs. Neumann-Goretti, Pa., noon; Jericho Christian vs. Miller School, Va., 1 p.m.; Milford Mill vs. Fallston, 2; Poly vs. Spalding, 3; No. 13 Randallstown vs. Bowie, 4; Towson Catholic vs. Bishop Ford Catholic, NY, 6; and Elizabeth Seton vs. Hill School, Pa., 8.

Sunday, the local public school teams cannot play, but there will plenty of action: IND vs. Jericho Christian, noon; H.D. Woodson vs. Paul VI, 1; Spalding vs. Bishop Ford, 2; Towson Catholic vs. Friendship Academy, 3; Mercy vs. Hill School, 4; Seton Keough vs. Calvin Coolidge, 5.

The tournament is named for retired Western coach Breezy Bishop, who ranks among the area’s all-time winningest coaches with 420 victories, 15 city championships, two state titles and many Coach of the Year awards, including four All-Metro nods and the Converse/WBCA National award in 1995.

--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

When I was at Randallstown High School earlier this week, I saw something I never expected to see on a freezing cold evening at a school best known for basketball – a bunch of guys with lacrosse sticks.

Boys basketball practice was going on in the gym, but these guys were honing their skills under the lights on the tennis courts and against the walls of the outdoor basketball court.
I knew they were serious when I heard one of them yell, “You can’t play like that if you want to play higher-level lacrosse.”

Randallstown isn’t exactly equated with high-level prep lacrosse, but coach Earl Thompson and his guys are trying to change that. Thompson, who was not out on the tennis courts that night, said interest in the sport has been building at Randallstown for the past three years or so.

After finishing 7-4 last season and falling in the regional playoffs in sudden-death overtime, the Rams are determined to keep getting better. And they’re doing it without benefit of a recreation feeder system.

Thompson said he has heard that about 50 guys could come out for the team in the spring and he is drawing them by fostering a strong sense of community and accountability among the players.

“We’re not only a team, but it’s like a brotherhood,” Thompson said. “They’re very committed and we have a creed. Our creed is: ‘We do solemnly swear and vow so to live to exemplify the high ideals of brotherhood, scholarship and sportsmanship and show myself worthy of membership in the Randallstown lacrosse team.”

Some of the guys are so dedicated that they even go out and try to drum up sponorship so the team can invest in the top-notch gear it lacks.

Thompson is working to get a recreation league started, and he said he also wants to get some of his players more experience outside of school.

“We’re trying to get some of our guys into club lacrosse, so they can be seen by Division I schools, because a lot of these kids don’t necessarily have the money to go to these schools and lacrosse is a good sport. Like I told them, ‘You will not get an NFL contract or an NBA contract, but if you can do the basics and you get good at it, you can get a four-year ride at a very good institution of education and that’s just as good as an NFL contract any day of the week.’”

Obviously, the Rams heard that message loud and clear. They’re willing to be out in the cold working toward their goals and they will be out there on their own until practice starts Feb. 28.

--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Just a reminder to coaches as the winter season picks up steam in the next few weeks with a heavy load of tournaments – don’t forget to nominate your best athletes for The Baltimore Sun’s Athlete of the Week.

If one of your athletes has a stellar week, please call our nomination line, 410-332-6801, before 6 p.m. Sunday. Our week runs from Monday through Sunday, but our nomination line is open 24/7.

When you call, please first let us know if you are nominating a boy or a girl and then give your team’s results for the week and your athlete’s statistics for the week. You can also add any supporting information you would like such as season averages and past honors.

Leave your name and a phone number where you can be reached on Sunday night. We must be able to reach you on Sunday night for your athlete to be chosen. The athlete must be available on Monday to have his or her picture taken unless we already have it.

Only coaches or their representatives can nominate athletes of the week. We also ask that you nominate only one athlete from your team at a time, because if you can’t choose, we certainly can’t.

Thanks to all the coaches who have given us some great nominees this fall and we look forward to honoring the winter season’s best players.

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Last night’s girls basketball showdown between No. 1 St. Frances and No. 2 Arundel lived up to its billing with St. Frances pulling out a 56-45 victory, but something was missing – Arundel’s 6-foot-3 All-Metro forward Simone Egwu.

Egwu suffered an ankle injury while running during volleyball season and hasn't been able to play in a game since. That was a month ago and it might be another month before her ankle is ready.

"It’s just frustrating because you want to be out there helping your team do everything that you can, but unfortunately I just had to do my best from the sidelines," Egwu said after last night's game.

The Wildcats sure could have used her, because 6-foot-4 All-Metro center Sheronne Vails, who had 18 points and 17 rebounds, drew a lot of defensive pressure late in the game. She could have used more help especially with another Wildcats’ six-footer, senior forward Naimah Kimbrue, also out with a torn ACL.

Panthers coach Jerome Shelton said Egwu, who averaged 16.1 points and 10.5 rebounds last season, would have changed things considerably.

"This would have been a whole different game. There’s no doubt about that," he said. "I think she’s more physical in the post and makes strong post moves. She’s very good at drawing fouls. I remember that from the previous years, but she’s also a pretty good post passer too. She’s unselfish with the ball and she knows how to find her teammates, so I think some of that was missing too."

Arundel coach Lee Rogers said he wants to bring Egwu along slowly -- he would certainly rather have her healthy come state tournament time than risk exacerbating the injury now. He said he's not sure when she will return. Egwu said she hopes to be back in January.

--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

There's a host of early season tests tonight in boys basketball that could give us an idea of what is to come for the rest of the season.

In the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference, No. 19 Mount St. Joseph takes its 5-0 mark to No. 6 John Carroll (4-1), which tries to rebound from a 69-62 league loss to Towson Catholic. Guard Eric Atkins leads the visiting Gaels, who will try to shut down Patriots standout forward Isaiah Philmore.

Guard play will be essential in Loyola's visit to Towson Catholic. The Dons feature senior Matt Rum, while Towson Catholic leans on Devin Spencer.

The key matchup in Baltimore County has New Town visiting Milford Mill. The host Millers rebounded from a season-opening loss to Calvert Hall by getting past Gilman, 55-46, last night led by guard Xavier Drake's 21 points.

In Carroll County, the projected two top teams square off when Century hosts North Carroll. Both teams have plenty of experience returning with the host Knights led by 6-foot-8 senior Matt Duerr, and guards Kevin Holt and Tyler Cockey. The Panthers rely on David Birnie and Kenny Krieger.

All mentioned games were set for 7 tonight.

-- Glenn Graham

Posted by Glenn Graham at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

There’s something about playing Arundel that brings out the best in St. Frances guard Shatyra Hawkes.

Last season as a sophomore, Hawkes announced her arrival as the newest star in a long line of exceptional Panthers players when she orchestrated the fourth-quarter run that boosted her team to victory. Last night, she did almost the same thing in the third quarter.

With No. 1 St. Frances clinging to a 34-33 lead over No. 2 Arundel with 3:51 left in the third quarter last night, Hawkes hit a three-pointer, fed teammates Deanna Harmon and Sophy Ingobeni and hit a short jumper in an 11-3 run that put the Panthers in the lead, 45-36, going into the fourth quarter. They won, 56-45.

Last December, she had a three-pointer and two assists in a 9-0 run that gave them a 54-47 lead with two minutes to go. They held on to win 55-52.

However, Hawkes, a first-team All-Metro selection last season, spread the credit for last night’s win all around. She wanted to talk about everybody else after the game, especially fellow guard Tanira McClurkin, who may be the quickest player on a team full of lightning quick players.

“This year we played together as a team. Our togetherness was outstanding,” said Hawkes.

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 12:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Here's a look at the Carroll County football players that made the All-Monocacy Valley Athletic League First-Team:

Chesapeake Conference

Offense

Dylan Ewen, North Carroll, Senior, Offensive line

John Hajnos, Westminster, Senior, Kicker

Defense

Brett Baer, Westminster, Senior, Linebacker

Blue Ridge Conference

Offense

Josh Bordner, Century, Junior, Quarterback

Corey Anderlik, Century, Senior, Running back

Ethan Dorsey, Liberty, Senior, Running back

Jon Shaw, Winters Mill, Senior, Running back

Greg Belle, Liberty, Senior, Offensive line

Matt Bodnar, Century, Senior, Offensive line

Dan Carr, South Carroll, Senior, Offensive line

Pat Robinson, Liberty, Senior, Offensive line

Nick Wolcott, Century, Senior, Offensive line

Zach Zile, Century, Junior, Tight end

Trenton Joseph, Liberty, Senior, Wide receiver

Jon Shaw, Winters Mill, Senior, Wide receiver

Luke Wright, Century, Senior, Wide receiver

J.P. Hudson, Century, Junior, Kicker

Defense

Greg Belle, Liberty, Senior, Defensive line

Dan Williams, Century, Junior, Defensive line

Nick Wolcott, Century, Senior, Defensive line

Sam Wright, South Carroll, Senior, Defensive line

Corey Anderlik, Century, Senior, Linebacker

Josh Bordner, Century, Senior, Linebacker

Tyler Bridges, Francis Scott Key, Senior, Linebacker

Adam Slatniske, South Carroll, Senior, Linebacker

Dave Blackwell, Winters Mill, Junior, Defensive back

Brendon Blanchette, Francis Scott Key, Senior, Defensive back

Larson Kimble-Liberty, Senior, Defensive back

Adam Patterson, Century, Senior, Defensive back

Luke Wright, Century, Senior, Defensive back

Jordan Bode, Liberty, Junior, Punter

Posted by Glenn Graham at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The high school football season came to an end this weekend with four local teams playing in championship matches.

Wilde Lake kicked off with a well-fought, 13-0 loss to Westlake in the 3A competition, Dunbar followed with a stirring last-minute drive led by quarterback Jonathan Perry and capped with a two-point conversion by Tavon Austin for a breathless, 20-19 win over Fort Hill in the 1A Class.

And River Hill won its second consecutive 2A title with a 31-6 victory over Eastern Tech in the snow. Though Eastern Tech was disappointed, it too had a wonderful season, finishing 13-1 and can be proud too, because it never gave up.

Of those three contests, the one whose final outcome was the most surprising was Dunbar's. The title was the Poets' third in a row and for much of the afternoon it didn't appear likely.

Dunbar pulled out the victory with an 89-yard drive over the final 1:56 of the game, going to its two-minute drill that saw the Poets score the winning points with just two seconds left in the game.

Who even knew Dunbar had a two-minute drill? No one had seen it in a game all season, as the Poets won by such big margins that the 35-point margin, running clock rule was invoked most games.

"We've been up on a lot of teams," said Dunbar coach Lawrence Smith. "I'd ask why are we practicing the 2-minute offense, we'll never get a chance to use it. But Jonathan and my assistant, offensive coordinator Travis Blackstone insisted.

"Because they insisted, we practiced it every day. And because we practiced it every day, there was no panic or confusion. Everyone knew his assignment, and then the chemistry came together on that last drive."

Dunbar showed what being a great team is all about. Preparation. Being ready for the unexpected. The Poets were all of that.

And Smith said it wasn't just the preparation in practice. When he was asked if he wished his team had been more battle-tested during the regular season, he said, no, that his team had been tested.

"We score points in spurts," said Smith. "But that doesn't mean the games we played were not battles. Any time you play Baltimore City schools, you're going to be tested. Against teams like City College and Edmondson you are in a dog fight. The final scores may not indicate that. But they were dog fights. Every play was a battle and no one sees my players icing down for a week after each of those games."

As for the three-peat, something only five other schools have accomplished, Smith said his primary mentor Ben Eaton would have been proud and appreciative of the accomplishment.

"Three straight is remarkable,"Smith said. "The legendary Doug Duvall, another one of my mentors, is the last coach to win it three times. To be in that group is unbelievable. And I know Coach Eaton would have loved this. This was his dream and I know he's shining down on us.

"Coach Eaton always wanted this little school in East Baltimore to have a program that could be mentioned on the same level as . . . the best in the state."

There is no doubt Dunbar is there. For as Smith said, "Champions don't die and we didn't die" and then he thought about that amazing game-winning 89-yard drive and Austin's two-point conversion and allowed a smile.

"We left it all on the field," he said. "It's a great thing."

Sandra McKee

Posted by Sandra McKee at 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The basketball season has barely begun and it’s already time for No. 1 vs. No. 2 in girls basketball: No. 1 St. Frances at No. 2 Arundel Monday night at 7.

St. Frances, six-time defending Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference champion, is aiming for its third straight win over the Wildcats, who have won six straight Anne Arundel County titles.

This one could be as close as last year, when the Panthers pulled away late to win, 55-52, in their East Baltimore gym.

That game included an introductory star turn for Panthers guard Shatyra Hawkes, then just a sophomore. She sparked the Panthers with two assists and a three-pointer in a 7-0 run that put them up 54-47 with two minutes left. Hawkes could be a key again along with forward Briana Hutchen and 6-foot-2 center Sophy Ngobeni.

The Wildcats, however, have a stellar trio of their own. Simone Egwu, a 6-3 center, and Sheronne Vails, a 6-4 forward, will try to use their height advantage to control the paint as they have not been able to do in the past. Guard Ashley Davis, who hit for 24 points last season, could put the game away if she gets hot.

Make plans to come on out and catch one of the most anticipated contests of the season as well as some of the best players in the area, but get there early. This one always draws a big crowd.
--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Penn State sophomore defensive end Aaron Maybin, a Mount Hebron grad, is one of three finalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, an honor bestowed to the nation's top defensive player.
A first-team All-Big Ten performer, Maybin is tied for second in the nation with 12 sacks, and 19 tackles of his 45 tackles went for losses. Ohio State's James Laurinaitis and USC's Ray Maualuga -- both linebackers -- are the other candidates for the award, which will be announced during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show that will air on ESPN next Thursday.
Glenn Graham

Posted by Glenn Graham at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Bailey Webster isn’t waiting until fall to head to the University of Texas.

The St. Paul’s volleyball All-America signed early with Texas and plans to enroll there next month. She said she will graduate early from St. Paul’s and head to Austin in mid-January.

“I felt like it was a lot of benefits to it,” said Webster. “It will get me ready. I’ll have a chance to train with the girls, to pick up weights and to learn, so I would be ready for the fall and I would be more acclimated to the campus.”

Webster added that she likes to be organized and that she can better balance the demanding fall volleyball season with her academic load if she gets adjusted this spring. She also said that she would like to graduate from college a semester early, so she can get a head start on the master’s degree she likely will add to her undergraduate business degree.

Webster will continue to play basketball for the Gators until she graduates.

“I didn’t know whether play or not, but I’m so close with all my basketball team and they all wanted me to play and I still love basketball. We settled it with [Coach Jim Stromberg], so I can go halfway [through the season],” said Webster.

Webster, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, will take time out to play in the inaugural Under Armour All-America High School Volleyball Match and Skills Competition in Omaha, Neb., on Dec. 21.
--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

If you’ve seen Poly boys soccer coach Nick Greer lately, you’ve probably noticed something different about him – a new mustache.

Greer isn’t making a fashion statement, he’s raising money.

With the “defacement of my (otherwise perfect) visage,” Greer is part of a nationwide fund-raiser called “Mustaches for Kids,” which aims to fund various school projects through Donors Choose. Teachers grow the mustaches for a month to draw attention to their efforts.

“I just thought it would be a good thing, a good opportunity for me to give back,” said Greer, a science teacher who is raising money for several Baltimore City public school teachers’ projects, including a student service learning trip to Central America and some new books.

“Donors Choose is a Web site where teachers can go and make a mini-grant or request funds for materials and people log on and donate to your project if they like it. I won a grant last year when Donors Choose first started, and I won another one by doing this. We picked five or six projects from around the city to see if we can get them funded.”

As of last night, Greer’s projects have raised $320 and some of them are completely funded. He said, as of last weekend, Baltimore projects had raised more than $12,000.

Greer said many of the donations are small and it doesn’t take much to fund a lot of them.

“I know a lot of people who say, ‘You’re a teacher. You give so much to students, but how can somebody like myself help?’ This is a good way to connect with people who don’t have a direct connection to the schools. I can say, ‘Here’s your chance, because $20 can make a difference in a student’s life,’ ” said Greer.

To see Greer with his mustache (dubbed Mr. Oates, a la John Oates of the musical duo Hall and Oates), you can check out his blog, greerteach.worldpress.com. His entries have a link to his page on donorschoose.org.

When can he shave? Dec. 13.
--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 12:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association has announced its All-Conference teams. Click here for a look.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Archbishop Spalding grad Christine Nairn, last year's Metro Player of the Year in girls soccer, has fit right in as the youngest member of the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team, which is currently competing in the 2008 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

After getting two starts in pool play to help the U.S. win Group B with a 2-1 mark, Nairn was a second-half replacement in yesterday's 3-0 quarterfinal win over England, notching two assists in the victory. When on the field, Nairn, who will attend Penn State in the spring, has taken all the team's corner kicks and free kicks. The U.S. is set to return to action tonight in the semifinal round.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)