Wow!

No other way to put last night's boys basketball showdown: No. 2 St. Frances 90, No. 3 Calvert Hall 84 in three overtimes.

Here's a few observations from last night's instant classic:

* Nine different players reached double figures and each one no doubt has one particular highlight moment over the course of the game's 44 minutes.

* The game showcased two of the finest big men in the area -- St. Frances 6'7 senior F Terrell Vinson and Calvert Hall 6'8 junior F Jonathan Graham and both brought their best. Vinson scored 26 points, added 22 rebounds and took over the game with six points in the final minute of the third overtime. Graham scored 29 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Both came up with big shots and also some blocks when they were guarding each other.

* The Panthers started the game making one of five free throws in the first half and finished regulation hitting 11 of 23. But they made five of six in the deciding third overtime. The Cardinals hit their first eight from the line, finished making 21 of 28, but made just two of five in the third overtime.

* St. Frances sophomore point guard R.J. Williams (14 points) was going left most of the game, but hit a clutch layup driving to his right to give the Panthers a 78-76 lead with seven seconds left in the second overtime. Calvert Hall's Donya Jackson hit two free throws to tie the game with four seconds left.

* St. Frances was 9-of-14 (64 percent) from the field in the first quarter.

* After making the pivotal three-pointer at the buzzer in regulation to send the game into overtime, St. Frances junior G Dante Holmes (21 points) fouled out during the second overtime. But he made sure to do his part from the bench with plenty of vocal support and also passing out water bottles during timeouts.

* Who would like to see a rematch in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League playoffs?

-- Glenn Graham

Posted by Ron Fritz at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Reginald Lewis football coach Anthony Knox received a late Christmas gift when he recently learned that his program would receive several thousand dollars in donated weight training equipment from Merritt Athletic Club in Owings Mills, where Knox works part time.

"It's a total upgrade, because what we have right now is pretty much nothing," Knox said. "It's a good thing that Merritt is donating this stuff to us, because we don't have anything we can do to compete with the other schools, since our weight room is not that good. This will definitely make the kids feel a little better about themselves."

The equipment was expected to be delivered this week.

-- Rich Scherr

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The nasty winter weather is behind us and school is back in session, that news couldn't come at a better time if you're a boys basketball fan.

For St. Frances and Calvert Hall, that means: Game on! The No. 2 Panthers travel to No. 3 Calvert Hall in what could very well turn out to be an instant classic. Both teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Associaition A Conference and the Baltimore Catholic League.

St. Frances (20-3) is undefeated and in first place in both leagues -- 12-0 in the MIAA and 9-0 in the BCL. Calvert Hall (20-2, 9-1 in the MIAA, 8-1 in the BCL) is looking to change that. Both teams are playing outstanding team ball at both ends with each having individual standouts.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Ice and snow postponed a lot of games yesterday, but it also postponed another big high school "sporting" event in Carroll County: One of the semifinals of the Buffalo Wild Wings High School Rivalry Fundraiser Tournament.

South Carroll had been scheduled to take on Winters Mill yesterday, but that showdown has been rescheduled for Feb. 25. In the other semifinal, Francis Scott Key is scheduled to face North Carroll on Feb. 11.

Students will try to advance to the spring championship round by eating the most at the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Westminster. The school with the largest take, based on coupons handed over with each order between 3 and 10 p.m. that one day, wins, but each school gets to keep 15 percent of its share of the take for its athletics department.

The winner moves on to the final in April when the grand prize will be worth an additional 15 percent of the total take from all three rounds in addition to the usual 15 percent for the final round. That total is already up to $2,567 after just the first round.

Which school looks like the favorite to win? It would have to be South Carroll after the Cavaliers raised a whopping $755.49 in the first round. Francis Scott Key was second with $379.57. Each, however, starts from scratch in the semifinals, so it's still anybody’s ballgame.

--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Anne Arundel County Indoor Track championships will be Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, said Greg LeGrande, coordinator of athletics for the county's public schools.

Postponed twice by bad weather, the meet was in danger of being canceled, because it was difficult to find a facility that wasn't already booked. The meet had to be run by Saturday because regional meets begin on Monday with some Anne Arundel teams competing in regionals on Tuesday. Teams qualify for the state championships in the regional meets.

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

With the icy weather closing schools across the area again today, all of the high school athletic events have had to be rescheduled. Here are the ones we know:

Baltimore County’s indoor track championships, postponed for a second time, are scheduled for tomorrow at 3:45 p.m. at the Fifth Regiment Armory. If weather forces another postponement, the meet will be run Saturday at CCBC-Essex at noon with some events being altered for the facility.

Anne Arundel County’s indoor track championships apparently are in limbo but could be run tomorrow. The meet had been rescheduled for today after Howard County postponed its relays so its neighbors could use the Prince Georges Sports and Learning Complex in Landover.

Some other make-up dates:

Wrestling: No. 3 Old Mill at No. 15 Severna Park, tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
Boys basketball: Marriotts Ridge at Glenelg, Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Girls basketball: Glenelg at Marriotts Ridge, Monday at 5:30 p.m.

-- Katherine Dunn and Jeff Seidel

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The inclement winter weather closed schools in most of the surrounding area, with the exception of Baltimore City, postponing the majority of today's prep sports schedule.

As for games that still may be played in the city, check with the home team school this afternoon during school hours to see if the game is still on. Decisions are usually made shortly after noon.

-- Glenn Graham

Posted by Ron Fritz at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Mount St. Joseph (17-4) is at No. 12 John Carroll (21-10) tonight in wrestling but the Patriots’ coach Keith Watson isn’t talking about home-gym advantage. His team, he said has been felled by illness and injury this season and will probably not be at full strength.

“But even if we were there is no way we’d beat Mount St. Joe this season,” he said. “And McDonogh isn’t going to beat them Friday night either. “

Watson agrees No. 1 McDonogh has five strong seniors, but said he believes No. 2 Mount St. Joe has more strength at more positions.

“The score will probably be something like a 10 point difference,” Watson said of the Gaels’ – Eagles match. “St. Joe will win and it will be the best $3 dollars you pay for a wrestling match this season.”

Posted by Sandra McKee at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The new stadiums, ball parks and arenas that have popped up everywhere are all fine with their huge scoreboards, roomier seats and all the other updated conveniences.

As for me, I'll take Wrigley Field any day of the week. Friday night, I was treated to a fine boys high school basketball game when visiting Calvert Hall answered the bell and knocked off Mount St.Joseph, 65-57.

The play was excellent and the atmosphere matched it. The gym at Mount St. Joseph is 'old school' at its best -- a sturdy hardwood floor, worn wooden bleachers, two basic scoreboards on opposite walls made of concrete block and championship banners hanging from the rafters. There's even some gymnastic equipment stored in the far corner.

It made for a great setting to watch a basketball game with the place nearly filled to capacity. A Calvert Hall assistant coach even did his part, sporting a bow tie. Hoosiers coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) would have felt right at home.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

In the next few weeks, you will see a lot of pink on basketball courts around town as girls and women’s teams take part in the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association Pink Zone, aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer among young women who play and watch the games.

Many teams will be decked out in pink. As you can see by the photo on the front page of today’s Sports section, North Carolina’s women wore pink for their game yesterday against Maryland.

This year's Pink Zone initiative has special meaning for the women’s basketball community after the death Saturday of North Carolina State coach Kay Yow from breast cancer. North Carolina wore the pink uniforms yesterday in her honor and the Terrapins wore pink warm-up shirts.

Yow, a Hall of Fame coach with more than 700 wins, fought a public battle with breast cancer for more than 20 years. As she continued to coach, Yow raised awareness of the disease and helped raise money for research. She was the sister of Maryland athletic director Debbie Yow. Maryland's official Pink Zone game will be Feb. 15 against Rutgers.

A number of local high school teams, including Bryn Mawr, Dulaney and Western, will host Pink Zone events in which they donate the proceeds to breast cancer research. Teams in other sports have had similar events, including South River’s field hockey team and River Hill’s volleyball team – and many others (sorry I can't mention them all.)

For some of these young athletes it is a very personal experience, having lost relatives or in some cases, their mothers to the disease. For others, it gives them an awareness that may save their lives sometime in the future.

Funds raised from the Pink Zone events are usually donated to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund and that’s where the money from Bryn Mawr, Dulaney and Western will go.

This year’s nationwide designated Pink Zone dates are Feb. 13-22, but programs may elect any date close to that. Bryn Mawr's event is Wednesday against St. Mary's at 5 p.m. while Dulaney's is Friday against Hereford at 7 p.m. Western’s will be Feb. 17 at 3:45 p.m. against Reginald Lewis.

Come out to a Pink Zone in the next few weeks. Wear pink and honor a women’s basketball pioneer while supporting a cause that every young woman needs to know about.

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Former Mount Hebron football standout Aaron Maybin, an All-America defensive end at Penn State this past season, made quite an impression with his standout sophomore year at State College.

The latest to take notice is ESPN draft guru and Baltimore native Mel Kiper. In his first 2009 NFL mock draft released yesterday, Kiper projected Maybin to go to the San Francisco 49ers with the tenth overall pick. Listed as a defensive end/outside linebacker, Maybin was compared to Ravens All-Pro Terrell Suggs for his potential edge rushing ability.

-- Glenn Graham

Posted by Tim Wheatley at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It's not uncommon for one team to dominate a track meet and win by a huge margin. But that usually happens in the regular season. What the top-ranked McDonogh girls did in last Friday's Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland indoor track championship meet at the Prince George's County Sports and Learning Complex was really one for the books.

The Eagles finished with 186.5 points, leaving defending champion Seton Keough (59) in the dust. To put it in perspective, if the scores of the teams that finished second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth were combined, it would exactly match McDonogh.

There's no question the Eagles were motivated They suffered close losses to Seton Keough each of the past two years, which gnawed at them

Kristen Brown set a meet record in the 55-meter hurdles (8.13 seconds) ,while Amanda Kimbers (7.13) did the same in the 55-meter dash. McDonogh finished 1-2-3 in both events. Brown also posted a meet record later in the long jump (18- feet, 1.75 inches) and was second in the shot put, an unusual combination. Kimbers also won the 300.

McDonogh also won the 800 and 1,600 relays and took second in the 3,200 relay. The Eagles finished first or second in 12 of the 14 events, missing only in the high jump and 3,200. That’s about as close to perfect as you can get in a championship meet.

McDonogh was very business-like and handled the huge win with class. There were no crazy celebrations, no look-at-me histrionics that are commonplace nowadays.They just did what they came there to do.

-- Jeff Seidel

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Senior Zach Sullivan of Archbishop Spalding was named the Gatorade Maryland Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year yesterday.

The award recognizes athletic excellence as well as academic achievement and character on and off the racecourse. Sullivan is now a finalist for the national award, which will be announced next month.

Sullivan, a first-team All-Metro selection, won his second straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship last fall in 15 minutes,m 55 seconds. He also won the Maryand-DC Private School championship (15.33).

He has a 3.67 grade point average.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

When you get your next copy of Sports Illustrated, play close attention to the Faces in the Crowd page. You'll see a familar face there -- St. Paul’s volleyball player Bailey Webster.

The two-time All-Metro Player of the Year earned a spot after becoming the Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year for a second straight time. She was named the No. 1 recruit in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com and signed early to play for Texas, where she is already taking classes. No, she's not commuting. She graduated from St. Paul's last month, a semester early.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

After going 3-0 last week, including an impressive 73-55 win over Digital Harbor, the Dunbar boys basketball team moved into the Top 15 this week at No. 12 with a 10-3 mark.

This afternoon, the Poets host Lake Clifton, which had a dandy of week itself in taking over the No. 1 spot with its 63-54 win over previous No. 1 St. Frances. For Dunbar, matching up against forwards Will Barton and Cleveland Melvin, along with guard Jason Sharp, will be a tough chore, but it will have the home crowd and positive energy to give the Lakers a test.

Game time is set for 5:15 p.m.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

If you’ve watched Digital Harbor’s girls basketball team play this season, you’ve probably noticed the back of their warm-up shirts: “Champions 381.”

The 381 stands for the number of days the African American population of Montgomery, Ala., walked to get around town during the bus boycott, one of the key actions in the fight for civil rights.

The boycott began on Dec. 5, 1955, the day that Rosa Parks went on trial for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. (She was convicted but refused to pay the fine and appealed.) The boycott ended on Dec. 20, 1956, when the Supreme Court ruled segregation of buses to be unconstitutional.

“We use that as motivation,” said Rams senior forward Tiana Mitchell. “If they could walk for 381 days, then we can play for 32 minutes.”

Coach Patrick McDonald said he’s received a lot of inquiries from officials and fans about the 381. It’s one of several motivating themes for the No. 8 Rams' 10-1 season, which McDonald said teaches lessons that transcend basketball.

“For them to walk for 381 days during the bus boycott when they decided to break that atrocity that was written into law, I tell [the Rams], 'You can play 30 minutes of basketball. It’s not that big of a deal. You just have to make the sacrifice,' ” McDonald said.

“We talk about it every day in practice,” Mitchell said. “That’s our motivation. We’ve got it on a banner, on our shirts. We’ve got it everywhere. We carry it with us spirit-wise, too.”

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I’m sitting here at Morgan State’s Hill Field House watching Western’s No. 2 girls basketball team play Riverdale Baptist, The Washington Post’s No. 1 team.

The basketball is pretty good. The attendance is pretty bad. There might be 100 people here including the boys playing in the next game.

Which makes me wonder. Why is a game like this scheduled at 2 p.m.? Why not at 6 or 7:30 p.m. when more people could come?

Don’t tell me girls basketball won’t draw. When Western hosted the Breezy Bishop Showcase last month, the Doves used Poly’s gym for the biggest games because it has much more seating capacity. Good thing because Poly’s gym was packed when Western played No. 1 St. Frances. It was standing room only too for a game between two teams with no Baltimore connections, H.D. Woodson and Oak Hill Academy. That was a great showdown between two nationally-ranked teams and fans wanted to see it.

But those games were played at 7 and 9 p.m. respectively on a Saturday. More family and friends and players from other teams could come to those games. Not many of them can make it at 2 in the afternoon on a weekday.

And, even though Riverdale is winning 24-14 at halftime, this is a big game.

Western’s record doesn’t look that great at 6-5, but the Doves have played a much tougher schedule than any other local team. Riverdale Baptist is the fourth nationally-ranked team (No. 13 in USA Today) on their schedule and the Doves beat one of them -- Thomas Jefferson from New York. Three years ago, the Doves upset Riverdale at the Basketball Academy.

Local fans are familiar with Riverdale Baptist, from Upper Marlboro. The Crusaders have been to the Basketball Academy several times and they also often play St. Frances and Arundel (whom they meet later this season).

The Western-Riverdale Baptist game should be drawing quite a crowd, but it needed a prime time slot to do so. It deserved one.

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

St. Frances graduate Angel McCoughtry offers periodic blog updates with the Associated Press on her senior season with the Louisville women's basketball team.

By ANGEL McCOUGHTRY

For The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Hi, Angel here again. I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays.

Today, I'd like to tell you about our three seniors — me, Chauntise Wright, and Candyce Bingham — and how we all ended up here at the University of Louisville.

We all took different paths, and I think it is an interesting story because we all have something in common. The three of us did not sign with the University of Louisville out of high school.

As a senior in high school I had signed and planned on going to St. John's. I was very excited about my decision and having a chance to play in the Big Apple. But after several tries I did not get the SAT score I needed, so I enrolled in a prep school.

Chauntise had signed with Seton Hall her senior year in high school, but like me she was in the same boat with the SAT score. But Tise took a different route and waited to find out what she should do to enroll in school.

On the other hand, while I was at prep school and Tise was trying to figure out her best options, Candyce Bingham was enrolled as a freshman at Xavier.

An assistant coach on the previous staff gave Chauntise a call and said, 'We would like to have you here at the University of Louisville.' He told her, 'I know your situation but we are here to help you get an education and continue playing basketball.' Chauntise believed in what he said and enrolled at Louisville and redshirted her first year.

Meanwhile, the assistant coach came to visit my prep school. I was thinking, 'Who is this guy and where is Louisville located on the map?' But all that changed when I came on my visit.

I felt such a family atmosphere and for some reason I just felt in my heart this was the place I needed to be. Louisville had never been ranked in the Top 25 and a lot of people questioned why I decided on being a Cardinal. Louisville had never been past the second round in the NCAA tournament and didn't average large crowds.

But I felt this is where I should be.

Two years after I signed with Louisville, Candyce decided to transfer. She's from Louisville and signed with Xavier because she wanted to move away from home. But after two years there she decided that she wanted to come back — and now she is happier than ever.

I thought that'd be interesting to share, because things have changed since the three of us came to Louisville. We now average over 6,000 fans a game, we've been ranked in the Top 25 the past three years and last season was our first Sweet 16 appearance.

It just goes to show you that you should always follow your heart!

We are just coming back from a game at South Florida with a 4-0 record in Big East. I have to admit it feels very good because last season we started off 0-3 in the conference. I am very proud of all the young ladies because they are buying into what Coach Walz wants them to do.

Tonight, when we played South Florida and I fouled out with 5 minutes left in the game, the girls came together and played even better with me sitting on the bench. I joked that I need to foul out more often! The point is, it made me so proud and that proves that the team is continuing to improve.

Since starting to write this blog, it has inspired me to write more — so I've been writing almost every day. I have started to write my life story about how I overcame a lot of obstacles to get to where I am.

I hope to inspire young girls and let them know that you can do anything you want to do.

Well, it's been good talking to you!

Angel

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The St. Frances and Lake Clifton boys basketball teams have both done their part. In the preseason poll, the defending Baltimore Catholic League champion Panthers earned the No. 1 spot with the Baltimore City champ Lakers right on their heels at No. 2. Midway through the season, both teams haven't budged with each team enjoying excellent seasons.

The Lakers have a unique opportunity to change that tomorrow when the teams meet in the final night of the 13th annual Basketball Academy at Morgan State. Game time is set for 7:30.

St. Frances (16-2 and 10-0 against area competition) is led by Montrose Christian senior transfer Terrell Vinson, while the Lakers (8-0) lean on senior Will Barton, who transferred from National Christian Academy before playing his first two years at City. Vinson, 6 feet 6, and Barton, 6-7, both bring versatile inside-outside games.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Digital Harbor’s 6-foot junior forward Asia Logan can sure get off the ground.

She showed just how high this afternoon during an amusing incident at the Basketball Academy at Morgan State’s Hill Field House.

An errant shot wedged the ball between the rim and the backboard and it stuck there. Referee Nimrod Westcott, who is about 6 feet 3, tried but could not reach the ball, so Digital Harbor coach Patrick McDonald smiled and called out, “Asia, go get it.”

Logan jogged a few steps and knocked the ball loose. As high as she jumped, she could easily have grabbed the rim, so I wondered if she had ever dunked a basketball.

Turns out she has never tried. She’s more interested in continuing to develop a fine repertoire of below-the-rim skills that make her one of the area’s best players. She demonstrated that today with 21 points and 20 rebounds in the No. 8 Rams’ 43-32 win over No. 9 Catonsville.

“My teammates say, ‘Asia, you know you can get up, you know you can dunk.’ I say, ‘All right! I can’t do it. I can’t,’” she said with a laugh.

(One final note: In all fairness to Westcott, he did not get a running start as Logan did.)
--Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I have touched on the subject of professional athletes being role models to our youth in the past and have strongly sided on letting parents handle the responsibility, along with coaches, teachers and any other adults close to them.

I have found an exception, although Florida State standout safety Myron Rolle isn't a pro football star just yet. Rolle, a pre-med major who earned his undergraduate in 2 1/2 years, will bypass the NFL Draft this spring along with the seven-figure signing bonus he would have received as a high draft pick.

Instead, he has accepted the prestigious Rhodes Scholar that he was awarded in November and will study abroad for one year at Oxford, working toward a master's degree in medical anthropology.

For Rolle, the NFL and millions of dollars will wait until 2010. After his football career, he wants to open health clinics in the Bahamas to help the needy. Now that's a refreshing and unique path Rolle will take that anybody can look up to.

-- Glenn Graham

Posted by Ron Fritz at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

A massive number of strong wrestling teams from five states will descend on Baltimore County Community College-Catonsville tomorrow for the two-day Mount Mat Madness tournament hosted by No. 3 Mount St. Joseph.

But the area’s No. 1 team, River Hill, won’t be there.

It is a circumstance that contributes to the view held in some places around the area that River Hill’s success is suspect. How strong are the Hawks? And who can tell given they do not wrestle the area’s top private schools or go to Mount Madness?

But it is hard to argue with success. River Hill is 22-1.

Out in Howard County, River Hill coach Brandon Lauer is not unaware of the questions. But the Hawks’ coach has a philosophy that has served his team well.

"Mount Mat Madness is an excellent tournament with some of the best teams in and out of the state," he said. "But dual meet tournaments guarantee you a certain number of matches. My highest level wrestlers – Scott Mantua and Nathan White – would benefit from MMM, but the rest of my guys who need more experience might only get two matches, maybe four."

Last weekend at the Fort Hill dual meet tournament, each of his competitors wrestled in nine matches over the weekend. When he takes the Hawks to the Arundel Duals – at which they will meet Archbishop Spalding and Loyola among others – his wrestlers will each wrestle eight times.

Lauer said his goal is to get his wrestlers as much experience as possible during the regular season so they can be at their best for the season-ending state tournament.

He said he usually does not schedule private schools because the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association treats those matches differently during the seeding process if MPSSAA teams finish the season with the same record.

"My philosophy is to wrestle the public schools and don’t worry about possible tie situations," Lauer said. "And we are wrestling the strongest public school teams in the counties that surround us. We’ve wrestled Old Mill. We’ll wrestle Hereford. We wrestle Sherwood, traditionally one of the top three teams in Montgomery. At the Rocket Duals, we wrestled Urbana, the fourth-ranked team in the state. At Fort Hill, we saw two tough Pennsylvania teams."

In the end, said Lauer, "I could care less what others have to say. My job is to prepare my team for the state championships, and I think going to the dual meet tournaments benefits all of my guys in terms of experience and match time."

Sandra McKee

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

Mount Hebron's head football coach Ross Hannon stood in the school's main office Tuesday with something like a proud expression on his face. As he stood there, he watched his former player Aaron Maybin greet other school officials and teachers with warm handshakes and hugs.

The Penn State redshirt sophomore had returned to his high school to announce he would be declaring himself for the NFL's April draft, and Hannon couldn't have been more pleased.

"Aaron is larger than life at this school," said Hannon shortly after Maybin had made his announcement in the school auditorium. "Our current student body probably believes he walks on water. He's a shining star. He's exactly what every head coach hopes his players can be. A hard working, committed student athlete."

Maybin, 6 feet 4, 245 pounds, not only earned All-America honors this season playing defensive end for the Nittany Lions, he completed work on his degree with a double major in integrated art and communication.

"That auditorium was filled not only with our current students, but with former students and the parents of former students from five and 10 years ago," said Hannon. "It's great to bring everyone at Mount Hebron together."

Maybin was what Hannon called "the base" of the Vikings' football program from 2002 until his graduation in 2006. In the span the Vikings achieved the best records in Mount Hebron's history. They produced 7-4 and 8-2 records in consecutive years and went to the playoffs in 2004 for the first time since 1982.

This season, while a busy one at Penn State -- Maybin led the Lions and the Big 10 in sacks with 12 and also led the team in tackles for losses with 20, and in forced fumbles with three -- he still found time to return during the Vikings' regular season to show his support.

"He's gone from here, but he never left," said Hannon. "He was first team All-American and a finalist for the Bednarik Trophy that goes to the best defensive lineman in the country, and yet, I'd turn around at one of our games and there he'd be on our sidelines encouraging our kids."

Maybin said he knows he is headed into a whole new world where there are ample opportunities for a personality change, what with all the money and adulation, but he said by phone yesterday that he doesn't think he will be negatively impacted by his coming situation.

"I have a very solid foundation and a great support system," Maybin said. "I have an amazing family. I don't see my core values changing. I don't see myself changing. There are new opportunities ahead and I'm excited about them, but I know no one is ever going to make it any further than the next person who helps you on your road.

"That's why I come back to Mount Hebron when I have a free opportunity. Many people did it [gave time and support] to me. It's my responsibility to give it back to the people coming after me."

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

In addition to featuring great high school basketball competition, the Basketball Academy will salute a variety of folks who have contributed to Baltimore basketball this weekend at Morgan State’s Hill Field House.

During halftime of Friday’s 6:30 p.m. game: the Baltimore Old Timers and Legends.
During halftime of Friday’s 8 p.m. game: The late, Ray Short a Basketball Academy supporter who died last year.
During halftime of Saturday’s 6 p.m. game: Baltimore’s current and past professional players. Juan Dixon, Keith Gatlin and Joey Dorsey are expected to attend.
During halftime of Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game: The late DJ K-Swift, from 92Q, who had been the DJ at the Academy for several years.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

You can’t find much better high school basketball competition this time of year than at the Basketball Academy. The 13th annual event tips off a 2 p.m. tomorrow at Morgan State’s Hill Field House with some superb matchups on the girls and boys sides. Ten of The Baltimore Sun's ranked teams will be featured.

The don’t miss games: For the boys, No. 1 St. Frances vs. No. 2 Lake Clifton, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.l and for the girls, No. 2 Western vs. Riverdale Baptist (The Washington Post’s No. 1 team) at 2 p.m. on Friday.

Here’s the complete schedule:
Tomorrow
Girls
No. 8 Digital Harbor vs. No. 9 Catonsville, 2
No. 3 City vs. Randallstown, 3:30
Boys
Mervo vs. Parkville, 5
No. 5 Digital Harbor vs. Owings Mills, 6:30
No. 4 Walbrook vs. Largo, 8
No. 10 Woodlawn vs. Douglass, 9:30

Friday
Girls
No. 2 Western vs. Riverdale Baptist, 2
Boys
No. 10 Woodlawn vs. No. 8 Digital Harbor, 3:30
Parkville vs. Douglass, 5
No. 2 Lake Clifton vs. Laurel, 6:30
Dunbar vs. Riverdale Baptist, 8
No. 6 City vs. Veritas, 9:30

Saturday
Girls
No. 8 Digital Harbor vs. Randallstown, 10:30 a.m.
No. 2 Western vs. No. 9 Catonsville, noon
No. 3 City vs. Riverdale Baptist, 1:30
Boys
Owings Mills vs. Mervo, 3
Dunbar vs. Laurel, 4:30
No. 6 City vs. Riverdale Baptist, 6
No. 1 St. Frances vs. No. 2 Lake Clifton, 7:30
No. 4 Walbrook vs. Veritas, 9

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It's a treat any time two good basketball teams square off at this point in the regular season with both still undefeated in league play. How about two games? In Gambrills tonight, Arundel will host Old Mill (the varsity boys game starts at 5 with the girls to follow) in two games, which guarantees something will give. The Arundel boys are 11-0 overall and 6-0 in Anne Arundel, while Old Mill (9-1) is 5-0 in the league.

Both boys teams like to get up and down the court with quick guard play and athleticism up front. Key players to watch: Arundel forward Auraum Nuiriankh and guard R. J. Harris; Old Mill forward Marvin Pinkney and guards Eric Savage, Mike Holley and Chris Day. In the girls game, Arundel has long dominated the county, and Old Mill has provided the biggest push in recent years.

The Wildcats girls (7-3, 5-0) have a tough inside-outside game led by post players Simone Egwu and Sherrone Vails with guard Ashley Davis a primary threat along the perimeter. The Patriots (9-1, 6-0) have speed and experience led by senior guard Ciarra Lucas.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

McDonogh senior Stacy Berg, the Eagles' starting catcher, has earned a berth on the USA Maccabi softball team that will play in Israel in July. A year ago, Berg played on the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the Pan American Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Last spring, Berg helped the Eagles win the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference championship. She has orally committed to play for Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass.

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Covering boys basketball on a full-time basis for the first time in my years at the newspaper, one of the more fun and interesting responsibilities is handling the weekly top 15 poll.

So far this season, there's been a good mix of talent and balance among the teams in the coverage area. Up to now, the front end of the poll has held up well thanks to St. Frances, Lake Clifton, Calvert Hall and Walbrook -- ranked one through four, respectively -- which have all shown consistency week in and week out.

Further down the poll has been a little more of a crapshoot with plenty of capable teams jockeying for position. Let me know what you think: Is there a team out there being overlooked? Are there teams overrated? Is one particular county being overlooked?

Posted by Glenn Graham at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Loyola senior swimmer Sean Roddy had a big day on Saturday in a home meet against Mercersburg, Pa. as he posted two automatic All-America times and broke a school record that has stood since 1988.

Roddy posted automatic All-America times in the 200 individual medley (1 minutes, 53.81 seconds) and the 100 breast stroke (57.41 seconds). His time in the 100 breast stroke broke the record set by Mike Haynes in 1988.

In leading the Dons to a 109-77 victory, he also anchored the 400 freestyle relay which finished in 3 minutes, 12.84 seconds – an All-America consideration time.

This is the third time Roddy, who is headed for Louisiana State University, has been an All-American in the 200 IM and the 100 breast stroke.

--Katherine Dunn

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

River Hill’s All-Metro distance runner Katie Harman made an oral commitment Monday to run next year for James Madison.

Harman, who said she will to sign a letter of intent when the signing period opens on Feb. 4, plans to run cross country, indoor track and track and field for the Dukes, in Harrisonburg, Va.

Harman also considered Loyola and UMBC before making her final decision.

“It was an all-around good package,” Harman said. “I liked the school on my visit. I liked the team and I like the coach. The coach seemed like a really good coach, and they have a good program already.”

This week’s Baltimore Sun girl athlete of the week, Harman is a two-time state champion in cross country and won titles during last year’s indoor season at 1,600 and 3,200 meters. She has a 3.67 grade-point average.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Mervo track coach William Vaughan had a soft, almost high-pitched voice that made me laugh. I relished hearing it at every meet that I covered. I'll miss it.

Vaughan died at 41 Tuesday after complications from pneumonia. He had been suffering from kidney failure in recent months and was awaiting a donor.

Track meets are a challenge to cover because they are basically organized chaos. Vaughan always helped me sort out the chaos. I’d ask him: “What time will we be finished and what do I need to know?” He was almost always right in his answers.

Vaughan cared deeply about his team and the sport in general. He showed up to run the computers at meets of every level, including meets that didn't involve Mervo. His mission was to get his athletes (he coached the girls but also worked with boys) and others opportunities in life through track -- just like former Mervo girls track coach Ron Neal, who died three years ago nine days after suffering a stroke at the state meet. He was 47. Two tragic losses in a short span.

For all the times we talked and worked together, however, I never really got to know Vaughan. I wish I did. One night last spring, I got an IM from “Pookietiming.” It was Vaughan. He asked how I was doing and then casually mentioned that he was sick. I asked if he had the flu. Kidney trouble, he said. Then he paused. I asked what was wrong. Was it an infection? He told me it was much more serious and that he was going on dialysis. I didn’t know what to say.

We communicated by IM several days later, and Vaughan said he was on the list for a kidney transplant and was getting weaker. He tried to contact me several days later, but I missed him. I meant to call him back but kept forgetting. We never spoke again.

Out of habit, I’ll probably look for him the next few times I’m at a meet. I’m sure he’ll be there in spirit, becasue there was no place he was more at home at than on a track.

Jeff Seidel

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

In last night’s 71-56 win for the No. 1 St. Frances girls basketball team over its top Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland rival, No. 4 Seton Keough, there were so many impressive aspects that one thing got a bit lost in the shuffle – the free-throw shooting.
The two teams combined to go 33-for-37 from the line. The Panthers hit 14 of 16 while the Gators hit 19 of 21.
The real star from the line was the Gators 6-foot-4 senior center Asya Bussie, who went 15-for-16 from the line. Bussie finished with 19 points thanks to taking advantage of the chances the Pathers gave her.
--Katherine Dunn

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

Despite the nasty weather, students got to school today throughout the area and a light, but interesting prep schedule remains intact.

The marquee matchup comes in girls basketball with No. 1 St. Frances hosting No. 4 Seton Keough in a pivotal Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference game set for 6 p.m. Also in the IAAM, No. 7 Spalding visits No. 10 Mercy at 5:30. In Baltimore County, No. 9 Catonsville will get a tough test with Milford Mill visiting at 6:30.

In boys basketball, Atholton (8-0) tries to remain undefeated when it visits always-tough River Hill at 5:30.

The big wrestling showdown takes place in Anne Arundel, where perennial state power and No. 5 Old Mill hosts upstart North County with the first match set for 6 p.m.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

One of the most anticipated showdowns of the girls basketball season is tomorrow night when No. 4 Seton Keough travels to No. 1 St. Frances in a rematch of last season’s Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship.

Unless you’ve been hibernating all year, you know the Panthers won their sixth straight A Conference title that game, but you may have forgotten that Seton Keough won the regular-season meeting. After wins last night, both remain unbeaten in the A Conference.

The Panthers (11-1) won their first 10 games before falling to the Hun School, from New Jersey, last week at the Blue Star Invitational at Immaculata College in Pennsylvania.

The Gators (12-4) fell to No. 2 City in last month’s Breezy Bishop Showcase, but they had a strong showing at the Sandra Meadows Classic in Duncanville, Texas last week. They dropped their first game, but came back to win the next four.

This season, with fewer teams in the A Conference, the two will play twice during the regular season, meeting again on Feb. 4 at Seton Keough. There’s also a very good chance they will play a third time – in another A Conference final.

For now, come see the first act, which tips off at 6 p.m. at St. Frances.

-- Katherine Dunn

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Some of the performances at least week’s holiday tournaments and meets deserve one last look – especially since you don’t see these every day:

North Carroll’s Amber Melville won the high jump at the Frostbite Invite with an impressive leap of 5, feet 8 inches. That would have been good enough to win seven of the eight girls indoor and outdoor state titles of the last school year. She would have tied for the other. Melville, who won the Class 4A state title outdoors as a freshman, also won the Carroll County championship in the event Saturday, matching her state title leap of 5-6.

McDonogh’s Candice Hendricks, a sophomore guard, hit all nine of the shots she took from the field in scoring 19 points in a 73-45 win over National Cathedral at the Holly & Hoops Tournament.

River Hill’s Katie Harman broke the meet record for 3,200 meters at the Southern Maryland Mega Meet last week by 36 seconds. Her time of 11 minutes, 01.21 seconds is the fastest in that distance this season by a Baltimore-area girl. Harman also broke the meet record at 1,600 meters in 5:10.05. The senior won state Class 2A titles at both distances last winter.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)