City boys slip past Mervo in overtime
Harrison’s 24 points help Knights win season opener
The Mervo and City boys basketball teams enter the 2019-20 season with similar goals, both looking to establish themselves as strong contenders in Baltimore City league play.
In an evenly played season opener — both teams having their positive stretches — it was City that had the first say, playing a little bigger in the biggest moments at Mervo.
The No. 15 Knights got a game-high 24 points from junior guard Ahmad Harrison to help get into overtime and then they took immediate charge at both ends in the extra time for a 71-66 win over the No. 11 Mustangs on Thursday.
Harrison, a Gerstell transfer, scored 14 in the fourth quarter. From there, he got plenty of help early in overtime with Clarence Obiajulu converting a threepoint play; Kevin Kulu following a miss with a monstrous dunk and Chandler Cuthrell (15 points) finishing a reverse layup. The Knights closed by making 5 of 6 free throws.
Season openers often come with unsettled play — as was the case for the Knights. But coach Omarr Smith liked what he saw in the closing stretch.
“We made some big plays — particularly down the stretch. Ugly game, dogfight like I expected,” he said. “We were up and down some today but, collectively, it’s there. It was good to see them come together and make big plays for us in important moments.”
Boys basketball
Franklin 79, No. 7 McDonogh 64: Ben Murphy scored 23 points and the host Indians (0-1) upset the Eagles (3-3). Some of the Franklin starters got in early foul trouble in the second quarter, but the Indians maintained a 12-point lead. Franklin coach Dave Iampieri singled out Murphy in the win.
No. 8 Edmondson 81, Douglass 30: Brian Rice scored 14 points to lead the host Red Storm (1-0) over the Ducks (0-1). Edmondson faces Coolidge (D.C.) Friday at Forest Park.
No. 9 Dulaney 73, St. Paul’s 45: Dulaney senior Cam Byers had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Ryan Conway had 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Lions (1-0) to a 73-45 win over St. Paul’s (2-3). Anthony Smaldore (20 points) led the Crusaders.
C. Milton Wright 63, Bohemia Manor 35: Corey Patterson scored 15 points to lead the host Mustangs (1-0) past the Eagles (0-1). C.M. Wright led 20-17 in the first half.
Joppatowne 49, Oakland Mills 46: Alan Brown scored 15 points to lead the visiting Mariners (1-0) over the Scorpions (0-1). Joppatowne outscored Oakland Mills, 17-11, in the third quarter to pull away.
Harford Tech 57, Bel Air 47: The visiting Cobras used an 17-2 second quarter run to turn around an 18-9 deficit. The Cobras also opened the second half on a 12-0 run to slip ahead, 40-24. The Bobcats scored the next seven points to stay within nine, 40-31, at the end of three.
Ben Franklin 71, Academy for College and Career Exploration 45: Emanuel Henriques scored 21 points and Malik Lewis had 16 points to lead the host Bayhawks (1-0) over the Eagles (0-1). Ben Franklin’s defense held ACCE to 15 points in the second half.
Girls basketball
Oakland Mills 46, Joppatowne 34: Heading into the season, Oakland Mills girls basketball coach Walt Hagins said the Scorpions would have to rely on senior Jazmine Washington.
In Oakland Mills’ first game of the season Thursday, Washington answered her coach’s call. The senior point guard scored a career-high 30 points to lead a young Scorpions team to a win over visiting Joppatowne.
New Hope 86, Archbishop Spalding 43: The host Tigers (3-2) took a 30-7 lead in the first quarter and beat the Cavaliers (1-1).
Wrestling
Edgewood 41, North East 39: The Rams got pins from Jon Booker, Matt Oliver, Curtis Smith, Trae Hughes and Tyreak Carey. Kyle Brown had a technical fall for Edgewood.
Reservoir 69, Wilde Lake 12: The host Gators won 12 of 14 matches, including six forfeits, four pins by Jack Goldscher (120), Ben Coler (152), Dylan Wiegert (182) and Dylan Altman (285), a decision and a disqualification.