Westminster captures Carroll County title
The Falcons adjusted by putting a box-and-one and double-teaming Harris in the second half, but by then the game was out of reach. It also didn’t stop Harris from making an impact on the defensive end as well, as she had six blocks and three steals. Westminster dominated inside in the first half, making it difficult for Winters Mill to score around the rim while taking advantage of second-chance opportunities.
The Owls defense allowed them to blow open the game in the second quarter. The Falcons were sped up by Westminster’s press, which forced six turnovers. It didn’t get much easier in the half court, as they missed nine straight shots to open the second quarter. The Owls capitalized, going on a 21-0 run that turned a five-point game into a 26-point blowout.
“We try to make that our identity,” Harris said of her team’s defense. “Tonight that really came out.”
Heading into Friday night’s game against Winters Mill, host Westminster’s girls basketball team knew it had a second chance at winning the Carroll County Athletic League title outright.
The Owls narrowly lost to Liberty on Feb. 7, putting the teams in a tie for first place heading into the final week of league play. But the Lions lost to Manchester Valley three days later, and the Owls’ win over South Carroll a day later put them back atop the CCAL standings.
Against the Falcons, Westminster made sure it would be the only county champion, building a 24-point halftime lead in a 46-30 win.
“Our coaches told us that second chances don’t come often,” Owls senior forward senior night. Lillian Harris said. “When we saw [Liberty] Seniors Sophi Wrisk and Kolby Weedon lost it all gave us that mindset of we can do combined for 10 steals as Catonsville forced this and we can come together as a team and 30 turnovers. play that much better on defense and No. 12 Severna Park 43, Southern 26: Jess Franklin was led by junior Kelly Ceroll offense.” Albert posted 18 points while shooting (13 points) and sophomore Jasmin Spruill
Harris has been the catalyst 7-for-10 from the field and Lena McLaughthe Owls (14-7 10-2 Carroll County 10).— all League), year for (
lin added 13 points and 19 rebounds as the but has found another gear over the past pair used their size and athleticism to Glen Burnie 47, Chesapeake-AA 43: The week. She scored 19 points against the thwart the Bulldogs (4-14, 4-11 Anne Arunvisiting Gophers (11-8) opened with a 19-9 Cavaliers, then had a game-high 20 against del) after a slow start. The host Falcons run and held off the Cougars (8-13) to win. Winters Mill. improved to 16-5, 11-4. Amourie Porter scored 21 points for Glen
After battling foul trouble in the team’s “We didn’t get off to the best start and it Burnie and Chesapeake-s Morgan Gray had first matchup, Harris scored at will early kind of lingered. We scratched and clawed a game-high 25 points. and often. She asserted herself after a few and did what we had to do to come out with Arundel 70, Broadneck 44: Ayannah slow possessions for Westminster early, a win,” Severna Park coach Kristofer Dean Matthews scored a game-high 23 points to scoring the team’s first seven points. In the said. “It was a big night for the girls. They lead the host Wildcats (16-5) over the Bruins second quarter, she hit all four of her shots, were really excited, especially the seniors.” (6-13). bringing her total to 15. That was more than Neither Albert or McLaughlin was setWinters Mill (5-14, 4-8) scored in the entire ting the net on fire in the first half, as Albert first half. had six points and McLaughlin only had
“Lilly is one of those girls who just has three. The teams were tied at 6-6 after a the sense of, ‘ OK I need to take over,’” sluggish first quarter and the halftime score Westminster coach Dave Urban said. “She was 15-10. For the half, the Falcons shot just had a couple of those moments today. 26 percent (7-for-27), while the Bulldogs Things were a little slow in the first quarter were limited to 16 percent (3-for-19). and she made the right rolls, the right cuts Catonsville 45, Franklin 33: Senior Maddi and fortunately our girls on the outside McLean scored 12 points and classmate were finding her on the outside leading her Rianna Saunders added 10 to lead the host to the basket.” Comets (13-6) over the Indians (9-9) on
Boys
No. 5 Lake Clifton 74, Cesar Chavez (D.C.) 47: Zaccheus Blackwell scored 26 points to lead the host Lakers (15-4) over the Titans.
Lake Clifton led 32-16 at halftime.
No. 11 Archbishop Spalding 66, St. Maria Goretti 47: CamWhitmore scored18 points and C.J. Scott had 14 points to lead the host Cavaliers (17-10) past the Gaels (10-10).
Spalding, travels to Gilman on Tuesday in the MIAA A Conference quarterfinals. Gilman 71, Annapolis Area Christian 52: The host Greyhounds (17-9, 14-5 MIAA A Conference Black Division) finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak.
The Eagles fell to 7-19, 3-26.
Boys’ Latin 60, Gerstell 54: Lorenzo Donadio scored a game-high 22 points to lead the visiting Lakers (14-12, 11-8 MIAA A Conference Black Division) over the Falcons (7-23, 0-19). Boys’ Latin broke a 16-16 tie with a 16-9 run in the second quarter. Severn 42, Indian Creek 38: The host Admirals (10-15, 7-7 MIAA B Conference) beat the Eagles (8-14, 4-10) and will travel to Chapelgate Christian on Tuesday in a conference quarterfinal. Severn led 27-19 to start the fourth quarter.
Franklin 95, Catonsville 55: Kam Howard scored a game-high 34 points to lead the host Indians (16-3) past the Comets (2-20).
Franklin led 33-28 in the first half.
C. Milton Wright 53, Havre de Grace 48: Jordan Stiemke scored 14 points and brother Bryan Stiemke had four points, four assists and three steals to lead the host Mustangs (14-6) over the Warriors (17-3).
Havre de Grace led 24-22 in the first half.
Craig Clary