03/16 - Bayside All-Stars play for future
The top upperclassmen from the Bayside Conference will have one last time to shine Wednesday, as the North and South divisions clash in the 25th annual Cliff Mister Senior All-Star game at Wicomico High School. The girls will get the action started, tipping off at 6 p.m. before the boys take the floor at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5, with all proceeds going toward the Bayside Basketball Coaches Association scholarship, given to selected seniors basketball players who are college bound. "For you basketball junkies out there, this is it," said Butch Waller, Wi-Hi boys’ basketball head coach. "There is nothing else after this. This will be the last time fans will have the chance to see these kids as a group." The All-Star games will be broken into four 10 minute quarters, to more closely resemble the college game, and squads will not be allowed to play zone defense. The contest should feature an up-tempo, fast paced style of play, according to Waller, with scores inching toward triple digits. "It's an All-Star game, it's just like the NBA All-Star game," said Waller. "You’re going to see all kinds of stuff, this is the best of the best that we have around here. You'll see alley-oops and slam dunks and all kinds of stuff. It's not the kind of game I would coach or somebody else would coach, it's just a fun thing. It's fun for the players and it's fun for the fans." All the proceeds from the event will be directed back into the community, and every dollar collected at the gate will be added to the scholarship fund. "(Wi-Hi) donates the gym, the security is donated and the referees donate their time for free," said Waller. "So the entire gate receipt goes toward the scholarship fund. We pick a couple boys and a couple girls that are definitely going to college and try to give them a little bit of scholarship money, but it all depends on the gate. It's not much, but it's something." While the scholarship fund won't cover a student’s entire tuition, Waller knows every little bit helps and he expects the community to be out in full force Wednesday night. "This area is a basketball area. They eat and sleep basketball. They just love it," said Waller. "I've been coaching for 44 years and it's never wavered. Big games always have big crowds and the people are always knowledgeable. They know who's good and who's not good, who's rebuilding or whatever. They know this is it, after this it's over, and there will be no more basketball. So, I would be very surprised if the gym is not packed to the rafters."
WHAT: 25th annual Cliff Mister Senior All-Star Game
WHERE: Wicomico High School
WHEN: Wednesday – Girls game starts at 6 p.m., followed by boys game at 7:30 p.m.
COST: $5.00 General Admission -- delmarvanow.com
03/09 - Snow Hill claims player, coach of the year
The Snow Hill boys basketball team racked up a lot of honors this season as they marched to a MPSSAA 1A East regional title. Among them is conference player and coach of the year, according to Bayside Conference South coaches' recently released all-conference and senior all-star teams. The Eagles of Snow Hill continued to dominate their Bayside competition, as senior point guard Keith Jackson was named Player of the Year while Allen Miller was selected as Coach of the Year. "I think so," said Miller when asked if he thought Jackson was the best player in the Bayside this season. "I'm a little biased, but I guess the rest of the coaches thought so, too." On the team since his freshman year, Jackson was a big key in the Eagles' Bayside Championship and state playoff run. "He stayed healthy, he stayed composed. He's grown up a lot since he was a freshman," said Miller of Jackson. "If you look at the stats, he led us in rebounding, points, assists. He's an all-around athlete, he jumps out the building and is quick as a cat." Snow Hill's Ryan Waters also received considerable Player of the Year consideration, finishing third behind Jackson and Mardela sophomore Kody Jacoby. Along with Jackson, Jacoby and Waters, Cedrick Johnson of Stephen Decatur, Denzel Timmons of Pocomoke and Jason Talley of James M. Bennett were named to the first team All-Bayside South team. Jacoby who is a sophomore is the only player of the group not to be named to the senior All-Star South team. "(Jackson and Waters) have been a great one-two punch for us this year," said Miller. "It gave us two 20 point-a-game scorers. If one was off one night, the other one always seemed to be on and some nights they both were on. Ryan was second in everything behind Keith -- second in points, second in rebounds, second in steals, second in assist. There was nowhere we went that they didn't know who the two kids were." Miller who recorded his 300th win this season by defeating North Caroline in the Bayside Conference Championship game, says he appreciates the recognition as Bayside South's best coach. "It's always nice when your peers elect you to something," said Miller. "It's the little things that we do that come back and reward us. I'm very humbled and very pleased to receive that honor from my peers."
All Bayside South boys basketball team
1st team
Keith Jackson, Snow Hill
Cody Jacoby, Mardela
Cedrick Johnson, Stephen Decatur
Jason Talley, James M. Bennett
Denzel Timmons, Pocomoke
Ryan Waters, Snow Hill
2nd team
James Douglas, Pocomoke
Marquis Ewell, Wicomico
Derray Johnson, Mardela
Tyrone Sterling, Crisfield
Jeff Young, Pocomoke
Honorable mention
Deron Ames, Snow Hill
Montre Andrews, Stephen Decatur
Larry Cornish, Parkside
Kendalll Collins, Wicomico
Mark Engle, Stephen Decatur
Tre Foreman, Stephen Decatur
Tom Lubeski, Stephen Decatur
Avery Marshall, Crisfield
Trey Rainey, Washington
Devante Walker, Parkside
Trey White, Crisfield -- delmarvanow.com
03/01 - Indians tame Tigers Behind a stifling defense and junior Alex Behnke’s 37 points, North East rolled to a 70-50 boys’ basketball victory over host Rising Sun in the 2A East Region first round on Saturday. The Indians (12-9) used a suffocating man defense to take a 21-6 first-quarter lead. “Just being a playoff game, we knew that we had to be aggressive facing this team,” North East coach Dave Huff said. “When we had the ball in our half-court offense, we wanted to get the ball inside by either taking the ball to the hole or getting it to our big man Ian (McDonald).” However, Rising Sun (3-19) pulled to within 46-36 in the third quarter before the Indians regained control when the Tigers lost their composure. “We made a lot of mistakes,” Rising Sun coach Mike Miller said. “We just couldn’t get out of our own way, just turning the ball over and compounding mistakes. We would drive down the court and not get the rebound. It was just a tough loss.” Without Daniel Ray and Hayden Roberts due to foul trouble, the Tigers struggled to contain Behnke. Also for the Indians, Mark McEvoy added nine points, John Drone scored eight points, McDonald finished with six points and Shane MacInnes and Rob Nixon contributed three points apiece. Dylan Boyd and Chris Urban chipped in with two points. For the Tigers, Andrew Bialek led the way with 14 points, while Andre Moore added 11 points, Matt Miller and Greg Allen contributed nine points apiece, Dom Massimiano chipped in with three points and Ray and Nick Smith netted two points each. With the victory, North East advanced to face Fallston in Tuesday’s District VII Sectional semifinals at 7 p.m. “We hope to just bring the same intensity, same defense and try to get a win,” Huff said. -- cecilwhig.com
03/01- Elkton boys upset by previously winless Bel Air, 49-43
Elkton stumbled in its 2A East Region first-round match-up against Bel Air on Saturday, as the visiting Bobcats earned a 49-43 victory, their first of the season. The Golden Elks (6-14) dispatched Bel Air by double digits in each of the two previous meetings (52-40 on Feb. 20 and 71-57 on Jan. 15) but trailed for much of the contest, including a 12-point deficit late in the third quarter. “We might have just overlooked them,” Elkton coach Steven Wright said. “One of the hardest things to do is to beat a team three times (in one season), and we overlooked Bel Air.” The Elks were paced by senior Mike Proctor, who scored a game-high 17 points to go with four rebounds and three steals. Kevin Marshall added 11 points and six rebounds, while Zach Tuckmantel contributed eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Elkton shot 14-for-44 (31.8 percent) from the field, including 1-for-9 (11.1 percent) from 3-point range. The Bobcats (1-18) were paced by Calvin Murray (14 points, six rebounds), Dezmon Hall (12 points, two assists), Matt Adams (seven points, two steals) and Zach Nadolny (seven points, five rebounds). Bel Air shot 17-for-39 (43.6 percent) from the field and forced Elkton into 19 turnovers defensively. “I am very proud of Bel Air,” Wright said. “They never stopped playing hard, and I told their coaches at the end of the game that I was very impressed. They played tough, they never gave up and they were having fun with it too, which is the best part.” The Elks were outscored in every frame except the fourth, as they cut their deficit to three points twice (44-41 with 33.1 seconds remaining and 46-43 with 9.1 seconds remaining) with under a minute to play. “We started off slow,” Wright said. “My team is so young, and this is the first time that all of them have played in a playoff game. We just played the last five games so hard to get ready for the playoffs. It’s a shame it had to end this way.” Bel Air advances to the District VII Sectional semifinals against No. 2 Edgewood on Tuesday. -- cecilwhig.com
February 2010
02/26 - Elks look for sweep of Bobcats If the Elkton boys’ basketball team advances to the 2A East Region District VII Sectional semifinals, it will encounter an odd situation. The Golden Elks would travel to second-seeded Edgewood. Both teams play in the Chesapeake Division. However, due to snow storms, the two contests were postponed a total of four times, before eventually being canceled. That means the first time these division rivals play would be in the postseason. “I don’t see it as either (an advantage or disadvantage),” Elkton coach Steve Wright said. “I see it as an opportunity for two teams that do not know much about each other to do what they have done all year and play ball. And may the better team that night win.” Of course, to set up that odd match-up, the Elks must dispose of Bel Air at 7 tonight for the third time this season. Elkton defeated the Bobcats 71-57 on Jan. 15 and 52-40 on Saturday. “Don’t take Bel Air for granted,” Wright said. “We need to communicate on defense, play with patience and pass the ball around looking for the open man.” The Bobcats enter the game winless, while the Elks come in without a single Chesapeake Division win outside of those two Bel Air games. Still, both teams have improved throughout the season, with young players gaining more experience. Senior Mike Proctor scored 18 points in the regular-season finale against Joppatowne, but Wright warns that it’s not up to any one player to carry the squad. “What I preach is team ball, and each player has an integral role on our team,” Wright said. “If he plays his role for his team, then and only then will we win.”
A rivalry renewed
When healthy, North East was one of the top teams in the Susquehanna Division. Still, playing against last-place Rising Sun on Jan. 19 wasn’t easy. The Tigers lost 53-47, but of their 18 defeats, it was the only one by single digits. Snow cost Rising Sun its chance at redemption Feb. 12. However, the two teams drew each other in the region tournament, not only giving the Tigers another shot, but another match-up at home. “We have to protect the ball, limit turnovers, have better offensive possessions and get rebounds,” Rising Sun coach Mike Miller said. “We have to attack the rim and feed the big man.” If they do those things, Miller doesn’t see why the team can’t make a playoff push, despite the sub-par regular season. “We’d like to beat Fallston on their home court,” Miller said. “After that, anything can happen. We’ll see if we can get rolling. We’ll have a good home turnout for North East, then we go to Fallston. We played with them for two quarters. We have to put four quarters together, and I think we can beat them.” Of course, the Indians have their own ideas about Friday. “We can improve our shot selection,” North East coach David Huff said. “We were settling for jump shots instead of taking the ball to the hoop. We also need to come out with more intensity and keep up that intensity throughout the game. Rising Sun is a better team than their record indicates, and we will need to play a complete game in order to win. We need to continue to get Ian (McDonald) the ball down low and play great defense, also.” North East enters on a two-game skid, and Huff knows it must play better. “We need to play our game to win,” he said. “We need to take good shots by pushing the ball up the court and getting the ball to the rim. We also need to box out and play better defense than we have been lately.” Receiving reinforcements will help, as well. Starters Aaron Owens (personal), Gannon Irrgang (wrist) and McDonald (shin) and reserves Rashad Wilford and Lorenzo Deer all missed North East’s 63-44 loss to North Harford on Monday. However, McDonald and Owens may both return for tonight’s 6 p.m. contest. McDonald’s return may be most important, giving the team an inside presence against Rising Sun center Greg Allen. “Rising Sun is a good team,” Huff said. “They play hard every game and are well coached. To slow them down we need to try to contain Greg Allen. He is a big body with a soft touch. We also need to contest their shooters (Aaron Bilek and Andre Moore) and move with and without the ball on offense. “Alex Behnke, Mark McEvoy and Ian McDonald are an integral part of our team’s success. They are our leading scorers, rebounders and captains of our team. I need them to score the ball, play great defense and hit the boards extremely hard.” -- cecilwhig.com
02/25 - Snow Hill boys take Bayside title The Bayside Conference's best squared off Wednesday, with North Caroline facing Snow Hill in the boys basketball championship game. A 27-point performance by Keith Jackson helped Snow Hill erased a seven-point North Caroline lead at halftime and claimed a 52-41 victory at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. It was the 300th victory in Snow Hill coach Allen Miller's 16-year career. "There was no better place to get the win than tonight," Miller said. "It's been a long run." Both teams struggled at the beginning of the game, with Snow Hill (21-2, 15-1 Bayside) trailing 10-9 at the end of the first quarter. North Caroline (16-3, 15-1) saw its lead expand by as much as seven early in the quarter as the Bulldogs' big man, Ka-Ron Bell, scored eight of his 14 points. The Eagles cut the lead to 20-17 with 2:25 remaining before the half, but the Bulldogs responded with 4-0 run to go into the intermission up 24-17. After halftime, Snow Hill began to chip away at North Caroline's lead, with Jackson scoring nine points in the third quarter. But as soon as the Eagles tied the game at 26-all, the Bulldogs would remain on the offensive, with point guard Herbert Dennis scoring eight of his 14 points to help push the lead up to four. It was in the final quarter when Snow Hill was finally able to pass North Caroline for good on the hot hand of Ryan Waters, who scored 10 of his 16 points, including two 3-pointers that tied the game. Jackson said the key to the comeback was positive thinking. "In the first half, we missed a couple of shots," he said. "We came out in the second half and had the mindset of the shots going in." After playing four games in six days, the Eagles will be able to catch their breath thanks to a first-round bye in the MPSSAA 1A East playoffs. Snow Hill will play the winner of North Dorchester/Cambridge-South Dorchester on Tuesday. -- delmarvanow.com
02/24 - Elkton showing improvement Early in the season, the Elkton boys’ basketball team struggled against Cecil County opponents, missing free throws and turning the ball over at a very high rate. However, the young Golden Elks improved throughout the year, ending the regular season with competitive games against Havre de Grace, Aberdeen and Joppatowne. The finale, a 65-47 loss to the visiting Mariners on Tuesday, sent senior Mike Proctor off on a positive note. The guard recorded 18 points and eight rebounds on Senior Night, keeping Elkton in the contest until the final minutes. “I was just feeling it tonight,” Proctor said. “My shot was on, and my coach told me to be more aggressive. I guess that’s what I have to do for my team to win. I just came to play.” The Golden Elks (6-13 overall, 2-8 Chesapeake) led 18-15 after the first quarter, and despite never leading in the second half, they were as close as 49-43 in the fourth quarter. “We just played smart,” Proctor said. “Keep your head up when dribbling, and you can cut your turnovers in half. We’ve been working on what we struggled with to get ready for playoffs.” Elkton made 14-of-21 free throws and finished with just 15 turnovers, both improvements from December. However, Proctor said it was the other side of the ball that impressed him the most. “We’ve been worrying about our defense,” he said. “Every day in practice, coach is working on defense. Defense leads to offense.” Kevin Marshall added nine points, six rebounds and one block for the Elks, while Nate Parker (three rebounds, two assists and one steal) and Matt Armour (four rebounds) netted eight points apiece. Zack Tuckmantel finished with five points, two blocks and one steal and Mark Wesley contributed two points, two assists and one steal. Dimitrius Jelen recorded 14 points to lead Joppatowne (15-6, 8-4), while Shendell Chase added eight points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal, Bryan Corbin contributed seven points, seven rebounds and one block and Micah Baugh and Ryan Stokeling (two assists and one block) added six points and three rebounds apiece. Cameron Seward, Dominic Harper (five rebounds, three assists and two steals). Joel Scott (eight rebounds and four steals) chipped in with five points each, and Marez Jenifer and Jarrod Wrencher netted four points each. -- cecilwhig.com
02/24 - Perryville pulls away from Rising Sun
After seeing its 23-point first-half lead whittled down to four late in the third quarter, host Perryville responded in an 86-64 boys’ basketball victory over Rising Sun on Tuesday. “We were telling each other that we had to step it up and work harder,” Panthers senior James Hopkins said. “We finally found that mindset we had in the first quarter, and we stuck with it and excelled from there.” Perryville (9-12, 6-5 Susquehanna) ended the game on a 31-13 run, which included a 16-5 fourth-quarter spurt, that spanned the final 10 minutes. “We caught some breaks and got rebounds, and we got down the floor for some quick transition buckets,” Panthers coach Charlie Givens Jr. said. “That got them on their heels a little bit, and we able to get back to the level we played in the first quarter.” Perryville outscored the Tigers (3-18, 1-12 in the division) 15-2 in the first five minutes of the contest, and its lead swelled to 42-19 halfway through the second quarter. “We all played together and shared the ball,” Panthers senior Daijon Caulk said. “We got back on defense, as well. Everything went well. We had all the momentum and the crowd was behind us. We were handling our business.” Suddenly, the game turned, as Rising Sun went on a 32-13 run over the next 10 minutes to cut deficit to 55-51 with two minutes left in the third, setting up Perryville’s final spurt. The Panthers had five players score in double figures, led by Caulk’s 24 points. Jordan Lilly netted 17, Hopkins scored 16, Gabe Sherrod pitched in 14 and Alishawine Monk added 10. “We just shared the ball and not be selfish,” Caulk said. “Usually teams have someone shoot too much and overdoing it, but we share the ball and gave it to the hot hand. Tonight, we all had the touch.” Monk led the Panthers with 12 rebounds for a double-double, and Caulk also finished with a double-double with 10 rebounds. Lilly dished out a game-high six assists. Matt Miller, Aaron Bailek and Greg Allen scored 12 points each to lead the Tigers. -- cecilwhig.com
02/24 - BAYSIDE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES TO BE HELD AT CIVIC CENTER The boys and girls Bayside Championship games will be held at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Wednesday. The girls game, which features Mardela vs. North Caroline, will begin at 6 p.m., while the boys, which will feature Snow Hill and North Caroline, is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Admission is $5. -- delmarvanow.com
02/24 - STEPHEN DECATUR 83, WICOMICO 58 Cedrick Johnson led the Seahawks with 34 points, as Tom Lubeski pitched in with 16 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. For Wicomico, Kendall Collins led the Indians with 16 points, and Kevin Bratten added 15 points and 11 rebounds. -- delmarvanow.com
02/24 - MARDELA 69, JAMES M. BENNETT 57
Kody Jacoby led the Warriors with 25 points as Londale Anderson tallied 16 points. Derray Johnson chipped in with 13 points for Mardela. For Bennett, Davon Thomas led the Clippers with 16 points, and Jason Talley added 11 points. -- delmarvanow.com
02/24 - POCOMOKE 57, PARKSIDE 55
James Douglas led the Warriors with 21 points as Jeff Young pitched in with 16 points. For Parkside, Larry Cornish led the Rams with 17 points. -- delmarvanow.com
02/23 - No. 2 Aberdeen 48, Elkton 41 Garrae Williams scored 11 points to lead the Eagles (11-10 overall, 9-2 Chesapeake), who can clinch the Chesapeake Division with a victory tonight. Tavon Saddler and Lazarus Turner scored nine points apiece and Jamal Early added eight points. Mike Proctor finished with 10 rebounds, nine points, two assists and one steal for the Golden Elks (6-12, 2-7), while Kevin Marshall added 13 rebounds, 11 points and one block, Gaston Tillery contributed eight points, four steals and two assists and Matt Armour chipped in with four points, four rebounds and two steals. -- cecilwhig.com
02/23 - Harford Tech 64, Rising Sun 41
Isaiah Gills recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cobras (8-9 overall, 6-6 Susquehanna), while Dan Chamberlin added 10 points and seven rebounds and Zach Hinton contributed 11 points and five assists. Greg Allen finished with 23 points and seven rebounds to pace the Tigers (3-17, 1-11), while Andre Moore recorded eight points and four assists, Hayden Roberts contributed nine points, four rebounds and three steals, Dominic Massimiano netted five points, Nick Smith chipped in with seven rebounds, six assists, four points and two steals and Matt Miller added two points, two steals, two rebounds and two assists. Harford Tech led 37-21 at the half. -- cecilwhig.com
02/23 - North Harford 63, North East 44
Ryan Burghauser recorded a career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Hawks (13-8, 10-3), while Tyler Campbell added a career-high 17 points and 10 boards. Alex Behnke recorded 12 points, three rebounds, three blocks and three steals to lead the Indians (11-9, 7-6), who were without Ian McDonald (shin). Mark McEvoy finished with 12 points and one assist, John Drone contributed six points and six rebounds and Kendall Danglade chipped in with 10 points and three assists. North Harford led 31-17 at the half. -- cecilwhig.com
02/23 - UCBAC Boys’ Basketball Power Poll
10. North East (11-9, 8) – Still trying to regroup after the loss of point guard Gannon Irrgang for the season, the Indians should upend Rising Sun during Friday’s 2A East Region first round. However, their run ends against Fallston on Monday.
13. Elkton (6-12, 11) – Coming off a regular-season sweep of Bel Air, the Golden Elks drew the Bobcats in Friday’s 2A East Region first round. A victory puts them in Edgewood for their first meeting of the season. Both regular-season contests between the two schools were snowed out.
14. Rising Sun (3-17, 14) – The Tigers could scare North East, keeping their first contest close. However, the dream of a postseason victory ends on Friday. -- cecilwhig.com
02/23 - SNOW HILL 61, QUEEN ANNE'S 45 Keith Jackson led the Eagles with 25 points, while Greg Bozman pitched in with 16. Ryan Waters added 14 points for Snow Hill. -- delmarvanow.com
02/23 - POCOMOKE 65, JAMES M. BENNETT 59
James Douglas led the Warriors with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Jeff Young added 17 points, 11 assists and eight steals. James Johnson and Khalie Dickerson both pitched in with 10 points. Jason Talley scored 12 points for Bennett. -- delmarvanow.com
02/23 - NORTH CAROLINE 55, WICOMICO 50
Kendall Collins led the Indians with 17 points, while Ryan Reid pitched in with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. Marquis Ewell added 10 points for Wicomico in the losing effort. -- delmarvanow.com
02/23 - PARKSIDE 57, WASHINGTON 30
Jeremy Green led the Rams with 11 points. Aaron Corbin had eight points for the Jaguars. -- delmarvanow.com
02/22 - Elkton 52, Bel Air 40 Matt Armour recorded 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists to lift the Golden Elks (6-11 overall, 2-6 Chesapeake), while Zack Tuckmantel added 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, Gaston Tillery contributed 13 points and three assists, Mike Proctor chipped in with six points and six rebounds and Kevin Marshall finished with six rebounds and four blocks. Zach Nadolny scored 18 points and Dezman Hall netted 12 points for the Bobcats (0-18, 0-10), who remain in last place in the division. Elkton led 23-17 at the half. -- cecilwhig.com
02/22 - No. 1 Havre de Grace 51, Elkton 40
Travonn Bond scored 15 points to lead the Warriors (15-4 overall, 8-2 Chesapeake), while Monty Werts added six points. Mike Proctor recorded 12 rebounds and nine points to pace the Golden Elks, while Zach Tuckmantel added eight points and six rebounds, Matt Armour contributed six points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, Gaston Tillery chipped in four points and four assists, Mark Wesley finished with four points and three steals and Kevin Marshall tallied 13 rebounds and two assists. Elkton led 24-22 at the half. -- cecilwhig.com
02/22 - Fallston 80, Rising Sun 38
Mike Montgomery scored 18 points to lift the Cougars (11-9 overall, 10-2 Susquehanna), while Garrett Fender added 12 points and six rebounds, Ben Holehouse contributed eight points and eight assists and Tyler Smith and Jason Lawrence netted eight points apiece. The Tigers (3-16, 1-10) trailed 44-24 at the half. -- cecilwhig.com
02/22 - Harford Tech 59, North East 49
Devonte Bundley recorded 15 rebounds and 14 points to lift the Cobras (7-9 overall, 5-6 Susquehanna), while Zach Hinton added 12 points, seven rebounds, four steals and four assists. The Indians (11-8, 7-5) trailed 35-25 at the half. -- cecilwhig.com
02/21 - STEPHEN DECATUR 69, KENT COUNTY 54 Trey Foreman led the Seahawks with 15 points, Cedrick Johnson had 14 points, and Mark Engle added 13. -- delmarvanow.com
02/20 - Seahawks pull away from Lions Queen Anne's Kenon Alsop had a chance midway through the second quarter of Friday's boys basketball game to give his team the lead for the first time against the home-standing Stephen Decatur. Trailing 23-22, the guard took a missed free throw and charged down the court for the go-ahead layup, but as the ball slipped through the net, the referee blew his whistle and signaled a charge on Alsop. After that, the Seahawks went on a 14-2 run to finish out the half and never looked back, beating the Lions, 80-51. "I thought it was a good game for us," Decatur coach Travis Lloyd said. "We came out pretty well, got out to an 11-0 lead, and then we kind of got a little complacent. I think we were looking at the scoreboard, and Queen Anne's kept fighting back." After a hot start by the Seahawks (16-3, 15-2 Bayside), the Lions answered back, pulling to within 15-13 with less than a half a minute left in the first quarter. The Lions' biggest offensive weapon was their long-distance shooting; however, their touch from beyond the arc seemed to leave them in the second half, as they failed to register a 3-pointer in the final 16 minutes of the game. Alsop finished with 15 points, while teammate Dshawn Wilson contributed 16 points to pace Queen Anne's (6-11, 6-10). "They did a good job against us," Lloyd said. "They hung around early shooting 3s. They shot very well from the 3-point line, but they lived and died by it, and they just didn't hit enough." Senior guard Cedric Johnson made his last regular-season home game memorable, pacing the Decatur offense on senior night, scoring a game-high 26 points while knocking down seven 3-pointers. "Tonight (Johnson) showed his shot," Lloyd said. "He's had it all year, but he hasn't fired it up there." -- delmarvanow.com
02/19 - Lilly blooms in win Needing to win out to finish the regular season at .500, Perryville took a 16-point lead over visiting Bohemia Manor late in the third quarter on Thursday. However, the Eagles closed the frame on a seven-point run to pull to within nine. That’s when senior point guard Jordan Lilly put the game away, leading the Panthers to a 63-42 boys’ basketball victory. “I wanted to finish the game,” Lilly said. “We needed this game. We’ve been struggling. The team needed me to put some points up, and the buckets were falling.” Lilly opened the fourth quarter with a nifty pass in the lane to Alishawine Monk, one of six assists on the night. On the ensuing three possessions, Lilly drained a pair of 3-pointers and added a free throw for a 50-22 lead. Lilly, who finished with 25 points, five steals and five rebounds, credited the win to the play of Monk and Daijon Caulk in the low post, an area Perryville (7-10 overall, 4-4 Susquehanna) struggled in for most of the season. “I played pretty well,” Caulk said. “I hit the boards and just played my role. Moving down low worked out for me, and we pushed the ball up the court.” Caulk recorded 13 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and four assists, while Monk tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. The trio proved to be too much for Bo Manor (6-13, 1-10), which took the Panthers to double overtime on Jan. 19. In the teams’ first meeting, a 90-80 Perryville win, Marquis Bradley netted 40 points. Despite the guard’s absence Thursday, the Panthers prevailed without needing the extra sessions. “We played as a team (Thursday),” Caulk said. “There was no negative energy. Our defense was key to our win. Everybody was talking on defense. “The last time we were lackadaisical and not sharing the ball.” Brandon Wills added seven points and James Hopkins netted four points for Perryville. D.J. Dunlap scored 11 points for the Eagles, while Tom Foard added seven points, Mike Wisher netted six points and C.J. Felder finished with five points. Seth Grimes, who left the game with an ankle injury with 53.7 seconds left in the third quarter, recorded eight points. Both teams are back in action tonight, as the Panthers travel to North Harford and Bo Manor hosts Patterson Mill. Both the Hawks and Huskies are fighting with Fallston for first place in the Susquehanna Division. -- cecilwhig.com
02/19 - Boys' Basketball Notebook Already without starting guard Aaron Owens and reserve Rashad Wilford due to personal reasons, North East lost another player for the season when Gannon Irrgang sprained his wrist in practice. Shane MacInnes started in the Indians’ 56-51 victory over Perryville on Tuesday, and Kendall Danglade was brought up from JV to add depth. “Gannon started to do a much better job of bringing up the ball against some pressure and running the offense,” North East coach Dave Huff said. “Missing his ability to score will also hurt our team a bit. Shane and Kendall will have to step it up a little to fill his spot. I have a lot of confidence in both of them to help our team while Gannon is out.” Perryville guard Marquis Bradley averaged 22.0 points in 10 games this year, including a conference-high 40 against Bohemia Manor on Jan. 19. That total won’t change as he has left the team due to disciplinary reasons, coach Charlie Givens Jr. said. The Panthers are 3-4 in his absence this year, compared to 4-6 with him on the court. “Other guys have to step up,” Givens said. “That’s a lot of points we have to make up for. Guys have to fill in the void.” Senior point guard Jordan Lilly has done that, topping 20 points in three of those seven contests and reaching 16 five times. He never scored more than 16 points once with Bradley on the court. With just two days left for teams to play before Sunday’s boys’ basketball draw, Havre de Grace and Joppatowne remain in contention for Top 4 seeds in the 1A North Region. The Warriors can move into first with a win over Elkton tonight and a Pikesville loss, while the Mariners can clinch at least a third seed with a victory over Bel Air. Patterson Mill could sneak into fourth place with a win over Bohemia Manor and a loss by either Joppatowne or Owings Mill. In the 2A East Region’s North Sectional, the battle between North East, Fallston and Edgewood will go down to the final day. The Cougars can clinch the top seed with a victory over Rising Sun tonight, while the Rams need to upset both Aberdeen tonight and C.M. Wright on Saturday to earn the second seed. The Indians will claim second place with a win at Harford Tech tonight and one Edgewood or Fallston loss.
By the Numbers
0 - Number of active Cecil County players averaging 20 points per game.
6 - Number of teams still alive for the two berths in the UCBAC Championship, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.
11 - Number of UCBAC games lost due to inclement weather this year. -- cecilwhig.com
02/18 - Indians rout Eagles, earn season sweep The North East boys’ basketball team continued its dominance over Bohemia Manor on Wednesday night, earning a three-game sweep with a resounding 65-34 victory. Guard Alex Behnke led all scorers with 15 points and five assists, as the Indians put on a strong overall performance in front of a large home crowd on Senior Night. However, despite the lopsided outcome, North East (11-7 overall, 7-4 Susquehanna) didn’t expect an easy victory. “(Bohemia Manor) could have easily won both of the (previous two) games, so my guys knew it was going to be a really hard game coming in,” North East coach David Huff said. This one, though, was never close, as North East went on a 7-0 run with slightly less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter. “We were trying to push the ball all game long, get the rebound outlet and get up court as fast as we could to get easy baskets.” Huff said. In addition to their aggressive offensive attack, the Indians’ stifling defense stymied Bohemia Manor (6-12, 1-9), as it was held to just one field goal in the second quarter. After extending the lead to 43-21, North East surrendered a pair of quick baskets to begin the fourth. “(Our) defense sagged down for a second, but after talking to them, they realized they needed to pick it up in order for us to close out the game,” Huff said. That’s just what they did, finishing the contest on a 22-9 run. All nine Indians scored, including senior guard Mark McEvoy, who finished with 12 points and eight assists. “Bo Manor is a much harder team to play at home, but we just wanted to come out on Senior Night and get a big win for us and all of our seniors,” he said. “They’re a good team, but we played (well).” Senior guard Seth Grimes recorded nine points and four steals to lead the Eagles, while Mike Wisher added six points and five rebounds, Chuckie Dix contributed seven rebounds and five points and Tom Foard chipped in six points and four rebounds. -- cecilwhig.com
02/18 - Elkton pulls away
Trailing by four points in the third quarter, Elkton needed a spark. Rising Sun had scored nine of 10 points to grab its biggest lead of the game, and it appeared a sweep was starting to slip away from the Golden Elks. However, Mark Wesley fed Kevin Marshall, who completed an old-fashioned 3-point play to pull the hosts to within one. It also jumpstarted a game-sealing run, as Elkton earned a 62-41 boys’ basketball victory on Wednesday. “We’re getting better, way better,” Marshall said. “We’re starting to make our and-1s and hustle. We got our intensity back.” Trailing 31-27 before Marshall’s basket, the Golden Elks went on a 26-2 run that spanned eight minutes. Marshall, who finished with 15 points and five rebounds, punctuated the spurt with a fast-break dunk. During the run, Elkton (5-10) forced eight turnovers, four of which came via a steal, followed by a fast-break bucket. “At halftime, coach (Steve Wright) told us to take advantage of their turnovers,” said guard Gaston Tillery, who recorded a team-high four steals. “We let them bring the ball to us.” Overall, the Golden Elks forced 26 turnovers, including 15 steals (Mike Proctor, Nate Parker, Mark Gatewood and Rashad Johnson added two apiece). “We’ve been focusing on defense at practice,” said Tillery, who finished with 10 points. “We’re not doing much with our offense. We know we can score. We’re just doing lots of drills to work on our defense.” Proctor added 11 points and nine rebounds, while Matt Armour contributed 10 rebounds and three assists, Zack Tuckmantel finished with five points and five rebounds and Parker and Johnson scored five points each. Greg Allen recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Tigers (3-15), while Andre Moore added 11 points and two steals, Aaron Bialek contributed seven points, five assists and three steals and Nick Smith finished with three steals. The two teams could meet a third time this season if they draw each other in the 2A East Region’s North Sectional. Brackets will be released Sunday. -- cecilwhig.com
02/17 - MARDELA 59, PARKSIDE 54, OT Kody Jacoby led the Warriors with 25 points and 12 rebounds, Londale Anderson had 14 points, and Derray Johnson added 11. Devonta Walker led the Rams with 22 points and 11 rebounds. -- delmarvanow.com
02/17 - WICOMICO 70, JAMES M. BENNETT 64
Kendall Collins led the Indians with 23 points, Marquis Ewell had 20 points, and Travis Townsend added 12. The Clippers' Jason Talley had 15 points. -- delmarvanow.com
02/17 - Drone lifts N.E. Forward John Drone scored 19 points in a 56-51 victory, as North East held off a furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt by host Perryville in Tuesday’s boys’ basketball match-up. The Indians (10-7 overall, 6-4 Susquehanna) led 28-23 at halftime and built their lead to 11 points in the third period but watched the advantage slip away in the final stanza when the Panthers switched their defensive strategy. “They really pushed it on us (defensively) and made us speed up a little, but we did a good job slowing down at the end and getting into our half-court (offense),” Drone said. Perryville employed a box-and-one zone defense for the first three quarters to try and shut down North East standout Alex Behnke. Panthers point guard Jordan Lilly was saddled with the task of containing the All-County junior and held him to three first-half points. “There were a lot of open shots for me,” Drone said. “When they go box-and-one on Alex, it creates opportunities for others to step up.” Drone was successful finding the gaps in the Perryville zone early, scoring 12 points before the break. “(John) had the best night I’ve seen him play since I have been coaching here,” Indians coach David Huff said. “He was good inside. He was taking good shots. He was making sure to use the glass. He was just finding some open space and hitting his shots.” The Panthers (6-10, 3-6) switched to a man-to-man press in the fourth quarter, which propelled them on a 10-1 run to take their only lead of the second-half at 46-44. “We weren’t ready for (the press), and they surprised us with it a little bit so we didn’t get into our press-break,” Huff said. “Guys tried to take it on their own, and that leads to turnovers, which let them back into it.” North East tied the contest on the following possession and recaptured the lead for good with a Behnke free throw with just under four minutes remaining. Guard Mark McEvoy contributed 17 points for the Indians, while Behnke finished with 15. “We were kind of out of shape (after missing practices due to snow) but at (Monday’s) practice we did a lot of running to try to get us prepared, and we were able to get the win,” Drone said. “It’s always good to get a win against a county (opponent), but we need to stay focused and finish the season strong.” Perryville was paced by Lilly (16 points), Gabe Sherrod (13 points) and Daijaun Caulk (10 points). North East travels to face Harford Tech, while the Panthers have a road game against North Harford next. Both games are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. -- cecilwhig.com
02/16 - Warriors pull away a win After two weeks of school closures and no games due to snow, both the Pocomoke and Wicomico boys basketball teams were eager to return to the court Monday. The two squads showed off their rested legs, racing up and down the floor throughout the first quarter and trading the lead back-and-forth. But after the Warriors claimed a 12-10 lead late in the opening frame, they never trailed again, winning 66-49. The two teams looked surprisingly sharp considering the long layoff, and there were only a handful of turnovers throughout the contest. Pocomoke head coach Derrick Fooks credited a practice this past weekend for most of his teams success. "It's been too long (since we've been on the court)," said Fooks. "There was so much snow out there, nobody could get in the gym. Nobody was in school. I didn't know where the kids' focus was, so Saturday was a great day to get everybody's focus back, and everybody seemed to be on the same page and in rhythm." The Warriors (15-3, 10-3 Bayside) seemed to be in sync, and nearly everyone contributed on the scoresheet against the Indians (9-9, 5-9). Pocomoke did a great job of spreading the ball around, and nine different Warriors recorded a basket, headlined by James Douglas' 17. "Well, that's a good thing," Fooks said, referring to his depth of scoring. "If that is the face of what's to come in these next few games and these next few weeks, than that is what we want. "We want to be getting better at this time of year. We want to be playing our best basketball as we get ready to go into the playoffs, because we know the playoffs are going to be tough." It was a tough night for Wi-Hi, as the Indians started out shooting well only to see their scoring touch go by the wayside. Kendall Collins, who scored a team-high 16 points, and his teammates tried to man a comeback in the fourth quarter. But after falling behind by as many as 20 points, Wi-Hi simply ran out of time. "It was back-and-forth there at the beginning," said Fooks. "But then we pulled away on a couple of shots and I thought the game was pretty much over after that." -- delmarvanow.com
02/14 - Mardela's Jacoby has huge game vs. Wi-Hi Kody Jacoby had 44 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Mardela boys basketball team to a 79-74 victory over Wicomico. Jacoby scored 21 of his points in the fourth quarter. A.J. Henry added 20 points for the Warriors. The Indians' Kendall Collins had 36 points, and Kevin Bratten scored 12. -- delmarvanow.com
02/14 - JAMES M. BENNETT 71, WASHINGTON 60
Jason Talley led the Clippers with 19 points, Deonte Reid had 14 points, Lamar Turner added 12, and LaDarris Gibbs had 11 points. Trey Rainey led the Jaguars with 14 points, and Tyrone Taylor scored 13. -- delmarvanow.com
02/14 - CRISFIELD 55, PARKSIDE 52
Montez Cannon and Tyrone Sterling each had 15 points, Avery Marshall scored 11, and Josh Scarborough added 10 points. The Rams' Devonta Walker scored 14 points, and Paul Butler added 11. -- delmarvanow.com
02/09 - UCBAC Boys’ Basketball Power Poll
8. North East (9-7, 9) – The Indians jump Patterson Mill after Wednesday’s 61-48 victory over the Huskies.
11. Elkton (4-10, 11) – The Golden Elks haven’t played since Jan. 29.
14. Rising Sun (3-14, 13) – One win in the last 13 contests for the Tigers. -- cecilwhig.com
02/09 - Spotlight Players Boys’ Basketball: Hayden Roberts, Rising Sun
The senior scored 37 points in two losses last week. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals and one assist in a 72-56 defeat to Bohemia Manor on Tuesday, and added 20 points and six steals in a 55-41 loss to North Harford on Thursday. “He has that in him,” Tigers coach Mike Miller said after the defeat to the Hawks. “He can do that every night. He made some spectacular plays tonight.” -- cecilwhig.com
02/05 - SNOW HILL 51, PARKSIDE 41 The Eagles' Ryan Waters and Keith Jackson each had 11 points. The Rams' Devonta Walker had 18 points. -- delmarvanow.com
02/05 - Tigers improve Following a 49-point loss to North Harford on Jan. 15, Rising Sun was forced to take a hard look at what went wrong. After evaluating the situation, the Tigers decided the problem was more mental than physical. “We realized we can’t get down on ourselves,” Rising Sun senior Hayden Roberts said. “We need to play as a team and we can keep up with anybody.” The Tigers received a chance on Thursday to prove they’ve learned and improved since last month’s debacle. Mission complete. Sort of. Rising Sun didn’t earn its second division win but kept it close in a 55-41 boys’ basketball loss to the visiting Hawks. “It was a lot of practice and preparation,” said Roberts, who played a vital role in the turnaround. Roberts, who Tigers coach Mike Miller said has improved in recent weeks, flustered the North Harford guards with his pressure, leading to six steals. He also led the fast break and finished well near the basket, scoring a game-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. “He has that in him,” Miller said. “He can do that every night. He made some spectacular plays tonight.” With a patient attack and a confusing 1-1-3 zone defense, featuring Roberts at the top, Rising Sun dictated the tempo of the game. The Hawks (11-7 overall, 8-2 Susquehanna) tried to speed up the pace with a full-court press during the first half, but the Tigers (3-14, 1-9) never flinched. “We had a hard time getting into our offense,” North Harford coach Jeff Burrows said. “They pressured our ball handlers, and their 1-1-3 gave us trouble. Still, we got the win.” Tyler Campbell provided the Hawks with a lift off the bench, recording 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Ryan Burghauser added 17 points and five rebounds, Jon Seadler netted six points and Jake Duarte finished with five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Greg Allen contributed eight points and six rebounds for Rising Sun, while Aaron Bialek tallied four assists, four rebounds and three steals and Matt Miller hauled in six boards. -- cecilwhig.com
02/05 - Boys' Basketball Notebook -- Andre Moore has proven to be one of Rising Sun’s most prolific scorer this season, reaching double figures seven times. Playing in a tight ball game, with the Tigers struggling from beyond the arc, it appeared to be the perfect time to set the sophomore sharpshooter loose. However, the guard rarely saw the floor in a 55-41 loss to visiting North Harford on Thursday. “It was Senior Night and because Andre is only a sophomore and the seniors were playing good defense, we left them out there,” Rising Sun coach Mike Miller said. “I didn’t want to take a senior out of the game.” Moore eventually saw action in the fourth quarter and made two free throws. -- cecilwhig.com
02/04 - Indians upset Huskies North East scored 43 second-half points to pull away for a 61-48 boys’ basketball victory against Patterson Mill on Wednesday. Ian McDonald led the Indians (9-7 overall, 5-4 Susquehanna) with 11 rebounds, eight rebounds, two blocks and two assists, while Alex Behnke added 18 points, five steals, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks and Mark McEvoy contributed 21 points, five steals, three assists and two rebounds. John Drone chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and three steals, Gannon Irrgang tallied three points and two assists. -- cecilwhig.com
02/03 - Wisher lifts Eagles Mike Wisher recorded 25 points, eight rebounds and two assists to lift Bohemia Manor to a 72-56 boys’ basketball victory over visiting Rising Sun on Tuesday. Also for the Eagles (6-11 overall, 1-8 Susquehanna), Seth Grimes added 17 points, four assists and four steals, while Chuckie Dix (two steals) and Tom Foard (seven rebounds) netted 10 points apiece. Greg Allen (12 rebounds) made 8-of-9 free throws to score 22 points to lead the Tigers (3-13, 1-8), while Hayden Roberts added 17 points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals and one assist, Aaron Bialek contributed 11 points and six rebounds, Andrew Moore chipped in with five points, two steals and two assists and Daniel Ray finished with three points, three assists and two steals. Rising Sun, which trailed 37-23 at the half, tied the game with roughly three minutes left before Bo Manor pulled away. -- cecilwhig.com
02/03 - Elkton at Bel Air, ppd.
The game has been rescheduled for 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 16. -- cecilwhig.com
02/02 - UCBAC Boys’ Basketball Power Poll 9. North East (8-7, 9) – Only Patterson Mill has allowed fewer than the Indians’ 788 points. Of course, only Bel Air, Rising Sun, Bohemia Manor and Elkton have scored less than their 774 points.
11. Elkton (4-7, 11) – The Golden Elks are 2-5 against Cecil County foes.
13. Rising Sun (3-10, 13) – One win in its last 11 contests. -- cecilwhig.com
02/01 - Spotlight Players Boys’ Basketball: Alex Behnke, North East
The junior averaged 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game last week, leading the Indians to one of just three wins by Cecil County teams. He recorded 24 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, five assists and one steal in a 63-62 loss at Patterson Mill on Monday, 15 points, six rebounds and five steals in a 50-41 victory over Harford Tech on Tuesday and 13 points, nine rebounds and one steal in a 65-48 loss at Fallston on Friday. “He did everything again, as usual,” North East coach David Huff said. “He’s starting to take the ball to the basket more instead of settling for his jump shot. It’s helping him get to the line more, where he’s shooting 72 percent. Against Harford Tech, he shot the ball well. In the loss to Fallston, he was sick, but he still was able to score in the paint.” -- cecilwhig.com
02/01 - Games of the Week Boys’ Basketball: Rising Sun at Bohemia Manor
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
What Rising Sun needs to do to win: The Tigers need to shoot well from the outside. They were able to beat the Eagles’ 1-3-1 zone in their last meeting, scoring from 3-point range to build an early advantage. If they are able to do so again, the offense will open up for center Greg Allen.
What Bo Manor needs to do to win: Push the ball up the court. The Eagles, who were missing Mike Wisher, C.J. Felder and Brandon Hollingsworth in their 60-47 loss to Rising Sun on Jan. 20, were unable to score often enough in transition. A pressure defense should open things up.
What to expect: Look for Bo Manor to earn its first Susquehanna Division win. The two teams are a combined 1-15 in the lower division, leaving this as a critical contest to determine who finishes in last place. -- cecilwhig.com
02/01 - No. 3 C.M. Wright 68, Elkton 48 Josh Keys scored 19 points to lift the Mustangs (11-6 overall, 5-2 Chesapeake), while Derrick Vogel added 13 points and Chris Bays finished with 11 points. Zack Tuckmantel recorded 10 points and five rebounds to lead the Golden Elks (4-10, 1-5), while Mark Wesley added nine points, Nate Parker finished with seven points, Gaston Tillery contributed six points and Kevin Marshall (five rebounds) and Scott Mitchell netted five points each. Mike Proctor finished with eight rebounds, and Matt Armour chipped in with five rebounds, four assists and three steals. C.M. Wright led 37-17 at the half. -- cecilwhig.com
02/01 - Patterson Mill 68, Rising Sun 49 Reggie Daniels recorded 21 points and 17 rebounds to lift the Huskies (10-5 overall, 6-2 Susquehanna), who led 35-35 at the half. Garrett Burkhead netted 18 points, J.J. Butler added 13 points and eight assists, Adam LaFleur contributed 10 points and six rebounds and Jay Kuhn hauled in nine rebounds. Aaron Bialek recorded nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals to lead the Tigers (3-12, 1-7), while Hayden Roberts added 16 points and four rebounds, Greg Allen contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, Nick Smith chipped in with six points and four rebounds and Dominic Massimiano hauled in four rebounds. -- cecilwhig.com
02/01 - Fallston 65, North East 48
Garrett Fender recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Cougars (9-8 overall, 8-1 Susquehanna), while Tyler Smith added 14 points and nine rebounds, Mike Montgomery netted 15 points, Sean Murphy contributed 16 points and eight rebounds and Ben Holehouse finished with eight points and seven assists. Alex Behnke recorded 13 points, nine rebounds and one steal to lead the Indians (8-7, 4-4), while Ian McDonald added 17 points and eight rebounds, Gannon Irrgang contributed eight points and three assists, Aaron Owens hauled in six rebounds, Rashad Wilford chipped in four points and two blocks and Mark McEvoy (six assists, three steals) and John Drone netted three points apiece. Fallston, which led 36-20 at the half, used a 14-6 run to close out the game. -- cecilwhig.com
January 2010