The coaches in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference have announced their all-division teams:

Chesapeake
First Team
Bri Jones, Aberdeen
Zameria Jones, Joppatowne
Nia Alleyne, Aberdeen
Shakara Head, Joppatowne
Rachael Holehouse, Fallston

Second Team
Sarah Heaps, North Harford
Jimmia McCluskey, Aberdeen
Morgan Golec, Patterson Mill
Quay Malloy, Joppatowne
Haley Ford, North Harford

Honorable Mention
Alyssa March, Fallston
Ayanna Stewart, Aberdeen
Desiree Foye, Elkton
Abbie Smucker, C. Milton Wright

Susquehanna Division
First Team
Allanah Galloway, Harford Tech
Maria Kalambihis, Harfod Tech
Heather Lesniowski, Rising Sun
Connor Hanley, Bel Air
Kebrina Johnson, Edgewood

Second Team
Heather Hancharick, Bohemia Manor
Madison Story, North East
Kelsey Lovelace, Perryville
Emily Edmunds, Harford Tech
Caela Tindilia, Bel Air

Honorable Mention
Brynae Goodley, Bohemia Manor
Jasmine Mutunga, Bel Air
Alyssa Henry, Rising Sun
Ashley Frazier, Harford Tech
Candace Knight, Havre de Grace
Whitney Hynson, Perryville
Megan Ferch, North East

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

Officials of the Second Annual I-95 Kickoff Classic have announced the local teams that will participate in the Labor Day weekend event: Calvert Hall, Gilman, Loyola, Dunbar, Franklin, Patterson, Archbishop Curley and Mount St. Joseph.

The Classic, which runs the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before Labor Day, will open with Mount St. Joseph facing Friendship Collegiate Sept. 1 at 5:30 p.m. at Bowie State.

That game will be followed by the first game ever played under the lights at Bowie State -- Calvert Hall, The Sun's 2010 No. 1 football team and the defending MIAA A Conference champion, taking on St. John's from Washington 7:30 p.m.

The Classic will continue on Sept. 2 and 3 at Morgan State with games featuring the local Baltimore-area programs playing teams mostly from the Washington area.

On Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m., Gilman will play Oscar Smith, a perennial national power from Virginia Beach. Before that, Franklin, the state Class 3A runner up last fall, will take on Wise, the state Class 4A runner up, at 5 p.m.

On Sept. 3, Patterson will play Archbishop Curley to get things started at 10:45 a.m.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Football
        

The Second Annual I-95 Kickoff Classic will feature Calvert Hall, The Baltimore Sun's 2010 No. 1 football team and the defending MIAA A Conference champion, taking on St. John's from Washington on Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Bowie State.

That game will kick off a three-day event that moves to Morgan State for Sept. 2 and 3 and will feature eight private schools, seven public schools and one charter school from the Baltimore and Washington areas.

The Kickoff Classic, which last year featured only private school teams, was rated third among football classics across the country last fall.

Information about the other matchups will be released next week.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 5:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Football
        

The No. 3 Severna Park baseball team will continue its game against host Glen Burnie on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

The Falcons and Gophers were tied at 8 on Friday when their game was suspended because of darkness.

Glen Burnie had a 6-0 lead after the first five innings, but Severna Park rallied with eight runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

The game will be started in the top of the ninth inning.

Posted by Baltimore Sun sports at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Baseball
        

The Thursday showdown between No. 1 McDonogh and No. 2 Notre Dame Prep has been postponed until Friday.

Lots of rain Wednesday night in Owings Mills made the Eagles' low-lying field too wet to play on, but the rematch of last year's IAAM A Conference final will be played there at 4 p.m. Friday.

Both teams opened their seasons with wins over A Conference foes on Tuesday -- McDonogh, 16-14 over Roland Park, and NDP, 18-6 over Mount de Sales.

Last season, the Eagles defeated the Blazers, 17-8, for their second straight A Conference title and a 20-0 finish.They became only the second team in A Conference history to win back-to-back titles and also to finished undefeated. John Carroll won in 2007 and 2008 and went 18-0 in 2008.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls lacrosse
        

The Anne Arundel County boys basketball coaches have announced their All-County teams:

First Team
Larry Mike, Glen Burnie
Eric Savage, Old Mill
Darnell Solomon, Broadneck
Bryan Harris, Southern
Cody Joyce, Southern

Second Team
Joe McCargo, Old Mill
Tajuan Watson, Annapolis
Aaron Brown, Meade
Galvin Salmond, Old Mill
Tyler Washington, Arundel

Honorable Mention
Delonte Joyce, Annapolis
Domico James, Annapolis
Bobby Bates, Broadneck
Billy Fowler, Arundel
Brandon Spain, Glen Burnie

--Glenn Graham

Posted by Jon Fogg at 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Baltimore County girls basketball coaches have named their All-County teams;

Firest Team
Ateh Ade, Western Tech, Jr., Forward
Taylor Burgess, Randallstown, Sr., Forward/Guard
Tracey Carrington, Dundalk, Sr., Guard
Shadequa Longus, Woodlawn, Sr., Guard
Julia McLaughlin, Hereford, Jr., Center
Jannah Tucker, New Town, Soph., Guard
Zoey Whittington, Catonsville, Sr., Forward

Second Team
Ariana Foote, Franklin, Soph., Center
Nancy Kelly, Dulaney, Sr., Forward
Kara Kleinhammer, Loch Raven, Sr., Guard
Janelle Lane, Woodlawn, Jr., Center
Tyshay Montgomery, Western Tech, Jr., Guard
Kinross Obiefule, Perry Hall, Soph., Guard
Rebecca Silver, Hereford, Sr., Guard
Ebony Smith, Owings Mills, Sr., Center

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

The Anne Arundel County girls basketball coaches have announced their All-County teams:

First Team
Imani Bailey, Meade
Latifah Butler, Northeast
Denver Clyde, North County
Domonique Hagins, South River
Tiffany Grant, Arundel

Second Team
Bre Bolden, South River
Brooke Echard, Southern
Mikayla Jerkins, Severna Park
Maddie Keating, Severna Park
Kameron Ward, Broadneck

Honorable Mention
Ayonche Clash, North County
Aleeyah Hopkins, South River
Dinah Jones, Broadneck
Allysha McFarland, Annapolis
Jamie McKeither, Meade
Breonna Pinkcett, Arundel
Natesha Riley, Old Mill
Rose Smith, Chesapeake

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

The season isn't over yet for Archbishop Spalding's No. 1 girls basketball team.

The Cavaliers (28-4) have accepted an invitation to play in the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational April 1 and 2 at Georgetown Prep's Hanley Center in Bethesda.

The girls semifinals will be held April 1 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. with the championship the following day at noon. The semifinals will be broadcast live on ESPNU with the title game on ESPN2.

Others in the four-team field: Riverdale Baptist, which the Cavaliers defeated 69-58 in December at the Breezy Bishop Classic, and Hollywood Christian and Dr. Phillips, both from Florida.

Riverdale Baptist, from Upper Marlboro, is always a top rival for the best Baltimore teams, while Hollywood has won its games by an average of 61.7 points this season, according to the press realease from ESPN. Dr. Phillips features freshman guard Taryn Griffey, whose dad is Ken Griffey Jr.

At the first tournament in 2009, Seton Keough defeated Riverdale Baptist in the girls championship game and St. Frances also played in the tournament. Spalding coach Bookie Rosemond said both local coaches told him the tournament was something he should look into.

Although this extends the season two weeks longer than expected, Rosemond said the girls were eager to play.

"They're tired, I know, but this is something they're really looking forward to," he said. "They really roll out the red carpet. The national television exposure. It's just a great opportunity for the girls. It's tough for us now -- because we thought our season was over -- to get remotivated, get back together and prepare for what sounds like three pretty good teams."

None of Spalding's top six -- Maggie Morrison, Shaquilla Curtis, Brya Freeland, Sherea Swinson, Camille Calhoun and Raven Makins -- plays a spring sport, so they don't mind extending a 28-4 season that began Nov. 26 and includes their first IAAM A Conference championship in nine years as well as a 4-0 run through their bracket at the Nike Tournament of Champions the week after Christmas.

Any more events on the horizon after the ESPN tournament?

"This is it," Rosemond said with a laugh. "I sure hope it is, because I'm exhausted."

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

The Baltimore City/County All-Star Basketball game will be played Friday night at Lake Clifton High School with the girls tipping off at 5:30 and the boys at 6:30. The games will be held in separate gyms.

The annual event pits the top senior players in Baltimore City against their counterparts from Baltimore County.

On the boys side, all three local state champions have players in the game -- Dunbar's Iakeem Alston and Devonte Wallace, Digital Harbor's Kevin Smith and Milford Mill's Isaiah McCray and Tevin Hanner. Patterson's Harry Martin will coach the city boys and Milford Mill's Al Holley will guide the county boys.

On the girls side, Baltimore City Division I champion Western has Tenicia Spence, Rayia McKnight, Taylor Carter and Brielle Ward while Baltimore County champion Hereford is represented by Rebecca Silver and Marieke Oosterwijk. Western's Tiffany Silver will coach the city girls while Hereford's Ellen Fitzkee and Woodlawn's Vanessa Locke coach the county team.

Following are the complete rosters:

Boys
Baltimore City
Karrell Goines, Patterson
Leron Fisher, Lake Clifton
Iakeem Alston, Dunbar
Edwin Amos, City
Kevin Smith, Digital Harbor
Devon Colston, Carver
Rodney Pratcher, Edmondson
Devonte Wallace, Dunbar
Kavon Pyatt, Edmondson
Rickey Meekins, Patterson
Jaylin Sharp, Northwestern
Donte Williams, Patterson
Trae Summers, Lake Clifton
Jordan Jones, Southside
Rashaun Rasheed, City

Baltimore County
Curry Davis, Randallstown
Joey Jones, Hereford
Devin Brown, Woodlawn
Devonte Coleman, New Town
Tavon Geter, New Town
Corey Thomas, Woodlawn
Isaiah McCray, Milford Mill
Isaac Brown, Owings Mills
Nick Doolin, Randallstown
Jamal Williams, Parkville
Cameron Shields, Eastern Tech
Nick LaGuerre, Lansdowne
Akeen Echols, Kenwood
Tevin Hanner, Milford Mill
James Milton, Parkville

Girls
Baltimore City
Lakeisha Taylor, Southwestern
Tenicia Spence, Western
Shamera Oneal, Southwestern
Myrea Carroll, Southside
Taylor Carter, Western
Ke'Shara Floyd, Digital Harbor
Rayia McKnight, Western
Imani Stokes, Poly
Demetria Simmons, Maritime
Brielle Ward, Western
Erica Smith, Southwestern

Baltimore County
Zoey Whittington, Catonsville
Rebecca Silver, Hereford
Tracey Carrington, Dundalk
Shadequa Longus, Woodlawn
Nancy Kelly, Dulaney
Taylor Burgess, Randallstown
Kara Kleinhammer, Loch Raven
Ebony Smith, Owings Mills
Miranda Cozart, Kenwood
Lindsay Bradford, Randallstown
Tashay Smith, Overlea
Kelli Pease, Lansdowne
Ronje' James, Pikesville
Marieke Oosterwijk, Hereford

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Basketball
        

Questions, questions and more questions. That's what the high school boys lacrosse season brings throughout the area.

In the mighty Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference, No. 1 Boys' Latin and No. 2 and defending league champ St. Paul's seem to be slightly ahead of the rest, but don't count out any of the teams that comprise the tops seven spots in the preseason poll.

Can No. 3 Gilman, led by senior standouts Conor Doyle and Ryan Tucker, find its way to the top? Is No. 4 Calvert Hall, unquestionably talented, too young to take charge this season? Will No. 5 McDonogh's dominating defense led by seniors Bryson Greene and Kyle DeVinney shut down all the league's talented offenses?

Elsewhere, Class 4A-3A state champ and No. 11 Severna Park lost a bunch of talent from last year's 20-0 team. Does that open the door in Anne Arundel for the likes of No. 13 Arundel, Broadneck or South River to take over?

The Class 3A-2A North region looks to be one of the most stacked in the area this season -- much like last year when No. 9 Hereford came away with the region crown and then its third straight state title. The Bulls had to get past No. 8 Fallston in overtime in the region semifinals and then had their hands full against No. 12 Bel Air in the title game before moving on to state play. While Hereford lost some key pieces -- including Metro Player of the Year Rustin Bryant -- both Fallston and Bel Air bring back plenty. Could this be the year somebody brings down Hereford?

In Carroll County, Westminster has a ton back led by senior goalie Eric Natale, while South Carroll boasts the county's top one-two offensive punch in Ben McCarty and Chris Frederick. Will it be Westminster's stingy defense or South Carroll's powerful attack? No. 10 Glenelg is tops in Howard County until somebody proves otherwise, but this season brings qualified candidates. Bolstered by a deep and talented midfield, can No. 14 Marriotts Ridge break through?

In Baltimore City, is there a team capable of ending City's 40-game win streak in league play? All questions that will eventually be answered over the course of what promises to be a great season of boys lacrosse

Posted by Glenn Graham at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The recently annointed No. 1 John Carroll boys basketball team is hoping to make some noise at the 51st annual Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament set to begin Thursday and run through Saturday at Frostburg State University in Cumberland.

The eight-team field, which also includes No. 5 St. Frances, is loaded with talent as the Patriots (31-2) open against St. Benedict's (N.J.) Prep at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. St. Frances (19-7) will meet Washington's Gonzaga in Thursday's opening round at 9:15.

In sweeping the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League crowns, the Patriots have leaned on their strong senior guard tandem of Malcolm McMillan and Ronald Scott. That won't change at the Alhambra, but coach Tony Martin knows others will have to pull their weight as well, particularly inside.

"It's a great opportunity, and the kids are excited," Martin said. "There's a lot of big teams, so we're going to have to rebound the basketball. If we can handle ourselves on the boards, then maybe our senior guard play can take over."

Posted by Glenn Graham at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

The 23rd annual Anne Arundel County Senior All-Star Classic will take place tonight at Old Mill High School. The North-South games will bring together more than 50 of the county's top seniors with the girls game scheduled for 6 p.m. followed by the boys at 8. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

On Thursday, students and faculty at Calvert Hall will join Jim Valvano’s Team to “Show Your Spirit” in the fight against cancer. Participants will pay $5 to wear gear from their favorite college teams during the first day of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament. Funds raised will be donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

It has been just 18 years since The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded by ESPN and Valvano. Since 1993, The V Foundation has raised more than $100 million and awarded cancer research grants in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Researchers have developed their laboratories and taken their science from the labs to the clinics with the help of funds raised by The V Foundation.

For more information about “Show Your Spirit” or the V Foundation, log onto http://www.jimmyv.org/component/content/article/56-general/70-how-can-i-help-show-your-spirit.html.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Glenelg Country School announced its boys basketball team, winners of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Assocation B Conference this season, will be moving up to the A Conference next year. The Dragons went 27-4 this season and were 21-1 in capturing the B Conference crown.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

With one dominating performance, one thrilling ending and an impressive second-half rally, area boys basketball teams went a perfect 3-for-3 in Thursday's state semifinal action at University of Maryland's Comcast Center.

Defending Class 3A state champion Milford Mill looked the part with a sound 58-37 win over Friendly. In the other 3A semifinal, surprising Centennial continued to do just that, surviving two last-second shots from South Hagerstown to come away with a 56-54 win to reach the state title game for the first time.

Milford Mill will take on Centennial at 3 p.m. Saturday. In 4A, No. 1 Patterson rallied from a 10-point first half deficit against Eleanor Roosevelt -- taking over with a big third quarter for a 67-59 win that sends the Clippers to their first state title game. They will meet North Point -- a 71-56 winner over Magruder -- at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Can the positive trend continue in Friday's semifinal action?

The area is guaranteed a state finalist in the 1A after Dunbar takes on Owings Mills at 3 p.m. Friday in a rematch of last year's title game. The winner will meet the winner of the Pocomoke-Williamsport 5 p.m. game with the championship set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

So the area is already guaranteed one state champion -- the Milford Mill-Centennial winner in the 3A; is guaranteed having representation in two other state championship games (4A and 1A); and could also find representation in the 2A with Digital Harbor taking on Gwynn Park in oner semfinal (Friday, 7 p.m.) and South Carroll meeting Easton (9 p.m.) in the other. The 2A state title game is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

Can area teams come away with four state championships?

Posted by Glenn Graham at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

Former Lake Clifton standout and current DePaul freshman Cleveland Melvin was named the Big East Rookie of the Year earlier this week.

The 6-foot-8, 210-pound Melvin averaged 14.3 points (17.4 in conference play). He was a unanimous selection by the league's 16 coaches.

As a senior at Lake Clifton in the 2008-09 season, Melvin averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks to earn first-team All-Metro honors and help the Lakers (29-0) capture a state title.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

For defending Class 3A state champion Milford Mill boys basketball team, last year's success "has become the elephant in the room -- a good elephant to have around," said coach Albert Holley.

With expectations at a noticeably higher level this season, Holley said it has been his team's hard work that has them back at the state tournament. That's where the positive senior influence of guard Isaiah McCray and forward Tevin Hanner come into play. The No. 3 Millers (23-2) will take on Friendly (23-3) in Thursday's state semifinals set for 3 p.m. at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center.

As for McCray and Hanner, they don't come with staggering numbers -- just consistent ones across the board. McCray averages 10.5 points, four rebounds, 2.5 assists, two steals and 1.5 blocks. Hanner also is at 10.5 points with 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocks. Holley is most impressed with the intangibles his two standouts bring to the court each time out.

"They bring winning," he said. "Everywhere they go they just win. They know how to win and have won everywhere they've played, so you put your trust in them when the game starts and take your chances."

Posted by Glenn Graham at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

The season resumes Thursday for No. 1 Archbishop Spalding and No. 4 Seton Keough as they head to Cumberland for the 17th Annual Bishop Walsh Girls Invitational Tournament.

The tournament -- the girls' answer to the boys' Alhambra Tournament -- features the top Catholic school teams from Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. This year all of the teams, other than the hosts, are from Baltimore or Washington.

The top two Catholic school finishers from the IAAM A Conference are invited. Spalding and Seton Keough reached the final on Feb. 20 with Spalding winning. Sometimes, the A Conference title contenders face each other again as happened last season when No. 1 St. Frances defeated No. 2 Spalding for the fourth time in one season to claim the Bishop Walsh title.

If the Cavaliers and the Gators meet again, it would be for the fourth time this season, with Spalding having swept all three so far. The Cavaliers won the A Conference title, 53-48, thanks to a big finish from senior guard Maggie Morrison, who hit the game-winning layup with 40 seconds left and then added three of four free throws. That came after the Gators erased a 15-point Cavaliers lead to tie at 48 with 40.7 seconds to go.

The last time the Cavaliers won the A Conference championship -- in 2002 -- they beat Seton Keough for the title and then met them again in the Bishop Walsh Tournament. But the Gators got their revenge, beating Spalding in the consolation final.

They could meet again, perhaps in the title game, because they are in separate brackets. To get to the title game, however, they first have to contend with some of Washington's finest.

The Cavaliers open with Elizabeth Seton at 7:45 p.m. Thursday night followed by Good Counsel vs. Georgetown Visitation at 8. In the other half of the bracket, the Gators face St. John's at 4:45 after Holy Cross plays Bishop Walsh at 3:15.

Spalding and Seton Keough have gone 1-3 against those Washington teams this year. Spalding lost to St. John's, 52-46, and defeated Holy Cross, 74-68, in an early-season tournament at Holy Cross. The Gators lost to Holy Cross, 55-48, and to Good Counsel, 50-48, in their first two games.

The semifinals will be held on Friday with the championship and consolation games Saturday. For complete bracket details click here for the official tournament site.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

No doubt the No. 1 Patterson boys basketball team would have liked to cut down the nets in its own home gym when capturing its first region title last week against Urbana.

But with the game being played at Morgan State University -- as part of a doubleheader with the Class 2A North region title game won by Digital Harbor -- the Clippers (24-1) got to experience yet another game played on a bigger college court.

In all this season, Patterson played eight of its games on college courts, something coach Harry Martin believes will be a big advantage when his team takes on Eleanor Roosevelt (17-8) in Thursday's Class 4A state semifinal set for 7 p.m. at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center.

The Clippers have an explosive team that averages 84 points per game led by sophomore point guard Aquille Carr. They love to run as much as they can and also run isolation plays in their halfcourt sets. Comcast will provide plenty of valuable space against the Raiders, who average 58 points, while yielding only 46.

"It's good for us to play on college court. With that big court, we're going to push. So for a team to beat us I think they're going to have to score in the 70s or 80s," Martin said.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

In my zeal to get every local wrestler a mention in yesterday’s blog, I evidently blinked and missed Chesapeake-AA’s Alex Rice, who won the 135-pound class in the 4A/3A competition. I want to thank reader Jeff Eveleth for pointing that out to me.

Rice, a junior, won with a pin in 5:34 and upset No. 1 seed Jordan Tolbert of Magruder.

A brief conversation with Rice after his victory said all that was necessary about how he felt about his victory.

"This is the greatest moment of my life," he said. "I worked so hard."

Rice finished second his freshman year and then had knee surgery. Saturday's night title was the payback for all his work to get back to the top.

He is also Chesapeake's first champ since 2002.

Rice wrapped up his season with a 36-5 record.

Posted by Sandra McKee at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

There was a lot of happiness at the Maryland State Wrestling Tournament on Saturday night, but while happiness was plentiful, no one was more surprised by the final team standings than Perry Hall coach Jake Roche and his team.

The Gators finished third in Class 4A-3A behind La Plata and Reservoir.

"Unbelievable," Roche said. "We expected our guys to persevere. But to finish third? We thought maybe top 20 or, at best, top 10."

It was quite a performance given Perry Hall put no one in the finals. The Gators' Zeke Salvo, a freshman who went 30-3 this season, was the team's top finisher, earning third in the 103-pound class.

"We had a young team this year," Roche said. "We only lose two seniors, and we'll have guys coming in from our county junior varsity championship team."

Perry Hall lost just three times in 13 matches, to Dulaney, Towson and No. 5 Owings Mills. Roche said he and his team are making big plans for the offseason -- and next year.

"We're starting a mat club here at Perry Hall to get these kids year-round experience," Roche said. "We're hoping to see good results from that."

Owings Mills, who finished second in the 2A-1A competition, has dominated the Baltimore County scene for decades. It will be fun next year to see whether Perry Hall can challenge the Eagles.

Owings Mills' Demetrius Johnson (130) and Taran Carr (145) brought individual championships home.

While Winters Mill won its first state title and broke a 26-year drought for Carroll County teams, several other county wrestlers joined Winters Mills' Justin Kozera (285) at the top of their weight classes.

Chris Wampler (125) won for South Carroll, and Dan Markosky (135) won for Liberty,

Harford County got a champion in Patterson Mill's Zach Cullison (119), the Huskies' first state titlist. And Aberdeen's Shayduan Velez (112) got his school's first individual title since 1999.

Howard County got two exceptional winners in Centennial's Nathan Kraisser (125) and Oakland Mills' Tony Farace (119), who each won for the third time as juniors and will pursue the rare opportunity to become a four-time titlist next season.

Reservoir's Mark Colabucci (171) went 37-1 this season and celebrated his second title, while Wilde Lake's Zathy Ndiang (189), a senior, rolled up a 29-1 record and earned his first state title. Glenelg's Charles Walls (160) got to celebrate as a senior as well.

Anne Arundel County got to celebrate three times with Tyler Goodwin (130), Salaman Riddell (140) and Ron Vaughters (145). Vaughters won his third crown.

And then there was Carver, the city school that put two wrestlers in the championship round -- a first for a city school. It got the ultimate prize when Tyler Hinton (140) became only the fourth wrestler in the history of city schools' participation to win a state title.

All in all, it was a wonderful night for all the wrestlers who put in the work and showed the strength of character be part of the state tournament.

Posted by Sandra McKee at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Wrestling
        

The John Carroll and St. Frances boys basketball teams still have some hoops to play, both receiving invitations to the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament set for March 17-19 at Frostburg State University in Cumberland.

The tournament's 51st edition will feature eight teams. In the tournament's opening round on March 17, No. 2 John Carroll (31-2) will go up against St. Benedict's (N.J.) Prep at 7:30 p.m. with No. 5 St. Frances (19-7) taking on D.C.'s Gonzaga at 9:15 p.m.

John Carroll swept the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League champinships -- defeating St. Frances in both title games.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

The UMBC women’s basketball team did not win its America East tournament semifinal Sunday afternoon, leaving RAC Arena available to the state girls basketball tournament as originally scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Here is the schedule:

Thursday
State semifinals
Class 4A
Wise vs. Urbana, 3
Gaithersburg vs. North Point, 5
Class 3A
Aberdeen vs. Largo, 7
Howard vs. Frederick, 9
Friday
State semifinals
Class 2A
Digital Harbor vs. Calvert, 3
Middletown vs. Elkton, 5
Class 1A
Dunbar vs. Joppatowne, 7
Northern of Garrett County vs. Mardela, 9

Saturday
State championships
Class 2A, 1 p.m.
Class 4A, 3 p.m.
Class 1A, 6 p.m.
Class 3A, 8 p.m.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

The girls basketball regional championships have been set for Saturday. Winners move on to next week's state semifinals at UMBC's RAC Arena. Here are the local matchups.

Class 4A North
Woodlawn at Urbana, 5

Class 4A East
South River at North Point, 6

Class 3A North
No. 2 Aberdeen at Hereford, 6

Class 3A East
Centennial at Howard, 2

Class 2A North
No. 15 Digital Harbor at Randallstown, noon

Class 2A South
Calvert at No. 7 Glenelg, 7

Class 2A West
Middletown at No. 9 Liberty, 1

Class 1A North
No. 3 Joppatowne at Harford Tech, noon

Class 1A South
Surrattsville at No. 13 Dunbar, 1

For the complete schedule go to mpssaa.org.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

Morgan State University will host two region titles games Friday with three area teams featured, including No. 1 Patterson.

At 5:30 p.m., No. 7 Edmondson, fresh off Wednesday's 48-45 win over two-time defending Class 2A state champ City, will take on Baltmore City rival Digital Harbor for the 2A North region title. The Red Storm came away with a 86-68 win at Digital Harbor in December.

In the nightcap, No. 1 Patterson meets Urbana, at 7:30 p.m. for the 4A North crown. Last year, the Clippers were eliminated by the Frederick County school in the region semifinal round.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

Thursday's girls regional basketball game between Patterson and Urbana has been moved to 6 p.m. Playing an hour earlier will help the Clippers can get home a bit earlier from Urbana, which is a 55-mile bus ride away in Ijamsville, Frederick County.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 4:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

The IAAM A Conference coaches have selected their 2010-2011 All-Star team:

Maggie Morrison, Archbishop Spalding
Achiri Ade, Seton Keough
Shaquilla Curtis, Archbishop Spalding
Daisy Alaeze, Roland Park
Sherae Swinson, Archbishop Spalding
Liz Brown, Seton Keough
Candice Hendricks, McDonogh
Amber Singletary, Seton Keough
Tyshell King, St. Frances
Taryn Durant, McDonogh
Brya Freeland, Archbishop Spalding

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

The IAAM B Conference coaches have selected their 2010-2011 All-Star team:

Melanie Mocniak, St. Mary's
Rachel Quinn, Notre Dame Prep
Hannah Schmidt, Mount de Sales
Maria Edwards, John Carroll
Mary Kate Conway, Notre Dame Prep
Miranda Ripken, John Carroll
Katie McKenna, Notre Dame Prep
Shaniya Rentie, Garrison Forest
Gabby Clarke, Mount de Sales
Jennifer Broussard, St. Mary's

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

The IAAM C Conference coaches have selected their 2010-2011 All-Star team:

Bealela Donnelly, Friends
Victoria Schuler, St. Timothy's
Marial Price, St. John's
Lindsay Torbeck, Catholic
Brittany Winborne, Catholic
Sam Domoracki, Annapolis Area Christian
Jacki Lebau, Beth Tfiloh
Emma Sissman, Friends
Christine Hagan, St. John's
Emily Maquina, Chapelgate

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

This year's regional playoffs have been tough on last year's state girls basketball champions, leaving Joppatowne as the only team with a chance to defend its title.

The Mariners, who won last year's Class 1A title, got 27 points from Shakara Head in rolling over Loch Raven, 70-47, in a North region quarterfinal Tuesday night . They host Western Tech In Thursday night's semifinal at 7 p.m.

Defending state Class 4A champ Arundel and Class 2A champ Fallston both fell in Tuesday night's quarterfinals. The Cougars, who had won two straight championships, got 29 points from Rachael Holehouse but could not get past Elkton, falling 55-48. Arundel lost to North Point, 54-46.

Seneca Valley, which rallied to beat Western for last year's Class 3A crown, lost in the opening round to Quince Orchard, 64-52.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

Times are set for the girls regional basketball semifinals Thursday night. Here is the schedule for the games involving local teams. The winners advance to the finals Saturday at the higher seed.

Class 4A North
Patterson at Urbana, 6
Dulaney at Woodlawn, 7

Class 4A East
Broadneck at North Point, 7
South River at Meade, 7

Class 3A North
Poly at Aberdeen, 7
Catonsville at Hereford, 7

Class 3A East
Centennial at River Hill, 7
Reservoir at Howard, 7

Class 2A North
Lansdowne at Randallstown, 7
City at Digital Harbor, 6

Class 2A South
Oakland Mills at Glenelg, 7

Class 2A East
Eklton at Bel Air, 6

Class 2A West
North Hagerstown at Liberty, 7

Class 1A North
Owings Mills at Harford Tech, 7
Western Tech at Joppatowne, 7

Class 1A South
Carver at Dunbar, 5

For the complete schedule, go to mpssaa.org.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Girls basketball
        

Morgan State University will host a high school boys basketball doubleheader Wednesday featuring region semifinal games in the Class 2A North and Class 4A North.

At 5:30 p.m., two-time defending Class 2A state champion and No. 6 City will take on No. 5 Edmondson in a rematch of last year's 2A North region title game. At 7:30, No. 1 Patterson will go up against Perry Hall for the right to play in Friday's 4A North region title game. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

Could four times finally be the charm for the St. Frances boys basketball team?

St. Frances coach Mark Karcher has played and coached basketball at an extremely high level all his life, and he can't recall losing to the same team three times in a season. Not when he was a standout at St. Frances, playing his college ball at Temple or now coaching his alma mater. Until this season.

Following the No. 5 Panthers' 60-53 win over Calvert Hall in Sunday's Baltimore Catholic League semifinals, it didn't take long for Karcher and his Panthers to think about the next task at hand -- beating No. 2 John Carroll. So far this season, it's been a frustrating mystery.

The Panthers (18-6) get another chance tonight when the they take on the Patriots (31-2) for the Baltimore Catholic League title. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Loyola University.

To say the Patriots have been a thorn in the Panthers' side is an understatement. On Jan. 7, John Carroll handed the Panthers their first loss, 63-54 in Bel Air, and knocked them out of the No. 1 ranking in the area. On Feb. 3, a regular-season game at St. Frances, the visitors again handled the Panthers, 88-74.

More recently, John Carrroll was the better team for the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship -- a 70-58 win for the program's first title -- at UMBC on Feb. 20. Could the storied history of the BCL -- celebrating its 40th postseason -- give St. Frances the needed boost?

The Panthers are well aware of the the league's rich tradition, making a good chunk of it with a league-high seven titles. John Carroll is a league rookie, but has made itself right at home, steamrolling through the regular season with just one late loss after already clinching first place.

On the court, both teams will lean on their experienced senior points guards: St. Frances' R.J. Williams and John Carroll's Malcolm McMillan. The two shared co-BCL Player of the Year honors.

John Carroll also features fellow senior guard Ronald Scott and versatile junior Jarred Jones, while the Panthers have to get a big game from senior center Greg Lewis, who was in foul trouble and scored just two points in the MIAA title game.

Posted by Glenn Graham at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Boys basketball
        

The high school football community will gather Wednesday night at Martin’s West to honor its top scholar-athletes as well as the top teams from the 2010 season at the 48th Annual Scholar Athlete Awards Dinner.

Presented by the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, the Scholar Athlete Awards honor 88 senior football players from Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Harford and Howard counties. Five regional winners will share in $20,000 of scholarship money.

One of last year’s regional winners, Max Coale of River Hill, went on to receive national honors. Coale, now a freshman at Princeton, was named one of five winners of the 2010 National High School Scholar Athlete Award.

In addition to the players, the dinner will honor the three local state champions – Dunbar, Wilde Lake and Urbana – with the Ben Eaton Sr. Championship Award, named for the late Poets’ football coach. Calvert Hall will receive the A. Paul Menton Award as the No. 1 team in the Baltimore area.

The event also honors at least one student-athlete with the Courage Award and this year two will be honored -- Santina Busch of Patapsco and Zach Lederer of Centennial. The award, sponsored by the National Football Players Former Players Chapter of the NFL Players Association, rewards athletes “who have demonstrated unparalleled resolve in overcoming an on- or off-the-field personal challenge during their young athletic careers.”

Following are the nominees for the scholar-athlete awards: Nicholas Allen, Archbishop Spalding; Michael Anderson, Severn; Baldwin Asala, Hammond; Brandon Bayer, North Harford; Devante Blount, Dunbar; Travonn Bond, Havre de Grace; Steven Boudouris, Loch Raven; Demond Brown Jr., Old Mill; Joseph Burke, Mount Hebron; Micah Bush, Patterson; Nicholas Cappadora, Manchester Valley; Joseph Carbone, St. Paul’s; Brock Carder, Marriotts Ridge; Brian Chase, Thomas Johnson; Alec Chaves, C. Milton Wright; Eric Conway, McDonogh; Gabriel Cox, Meade; Adam A’Amico, Atholton; Joshua Danko, Liberty; Eric DeLacruz, Perry Hall; Matthew Delapaz, Patapsco; Bryan Ek, Linganore; Tye Ellis, Southern; Neil Esterson, Franklin; Ryan Evans, Reservoir; Quentin Ezell, Walkersville; Mike Fafaul Jr., Loyola; Donae Fluitt, Overlea; William Gatewood; Urbana; Daniel Gibbs, River Hill; Kyle Gillum, Long Reach; John Gonos, St. Mary’s; Joshua Gorsky, Owings Mills; Keyon Haughton, WEB Du Bois; John Headley, Middletown; Jesse Holian, South River; Robert Hopp, Catonsville; Nicholas Hoyt, Glenelg; Ryan Humphrey, Frederick; Edward Hunt, Arundel; Brian Hunt, John Carroll; Justin Hupp, Parkville; Ryne Jenkins, Severna Park; Darius Jennings, Gilman; Jordan Jones, Southside; Garrett Kelly, Centennial; Grant Kelly, Fallston; Brendon Lee, Northeast; Joshua Leese, Kenwood, Richard Leister, Westminster; Darion Madison, Woodlawn; Jeffrey Matthews Jr., Mount St. Joseph; Dan McManus, Eastern Tech; Andrew Mills, Calvert Hall; Lamar Montgomery, City; Matthew Murphy, Sparrows Point; Brady Myers, Winters Mill; Anthony Nardo, South Carroll; Mark Nathanson, Pikesville; Cory Nettleton, Hereford; Kelvin Njoku, Milford Mill; Jonathan Noland, St. Vincent Pallotti; Michael Obineme, Towson; Nathan Oxendine, Chesapeake-AA; Nicholas Pelletier, Wilde Lake; Zachary Price, Howard; Sean Reaver, Catoctin; Brandon Sampson, Douglass; Alexander Schuster, North Carroll; Brian Short II, New Town; Mustafa Sidik, Joppatowne; Brandon Soderstrom, Century; Charles Spence, Brunswick; Andrew Stewart, Western Tech; Luke Stidham, Archbishop Curley; Michael Storey, Broadneck; Matthew Sweitzer, Bel Air; Elliott Taft, Boys’ Latin; Paul Taylor II, Poly; Edwin Thomason, Chesapeake-BC; Cameron Wann, Patterson Mill; TaJuan Watson, Annapolis; Adam Wienhold, Edgewood; Wayne Wilford, Dulaney; Mark Wills Jr., Dundalk; Keith Woodrow, Francis Scott Key; Deen Wright, Aberdeen; and Joseph Yarn, Oakland Mills.

Posted by Katherine Dunn at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Football