Maryland high school basketball news and notes (1/16/204)
Hammond High girls basketball has been mostly an afterthought the last two decades. Not anymore.
The Bears are off to a perfect 12-0 start. Last week, Hammond gained its biggest triumph in years in a 57-29 pounding of reigning Class 3A state champ Howard.
“Howard has always been — no matter who graduates — a great team in our county. To be able to compete with them and put on the show that we did, I think that shows a lot of people that had doubts about who we were as a program what we have,” said Bears coach Ayanna Jones to the Baltimore Sun.
The Howard County program had just two winning seasons (2009-10 and 2018-19) between the 2006-07 and 2021-22 campaigns. Jones (nee Randolph), who played at Furman University after starring at Arundel High (Maryland), went 17-6 in her inaugural season in 2022-23.
With a renewed energy as well as six returning letter-winners in seniors Nia Green (forward), guards Hailey Freeman and Kayley Washington and forward Delani Thomas, junior Sara Yarnell and sophomore Alexis Wright, the Bears’ ascension has continued this winter. Hammond is 8-0 in Howard County league play, highlighted with last week’s statement over Howard, which had won 64 straight in league play.
Hammond girls basketball coach Ayanna Jones (center) and her Bears have made a statement in Howard County and across the region with their 12-0 start this season.
Last season, Hammond lost twice to Howard by a combined 60 points. The Bears have another major litmus test at River Hill Jan. 24.
Howard coach Scott Robinson, whose team’s previous Howard County league setback was in 2019, told the Sun Hammond has “the whole package.”
“They’re really athletic, very long, great in transition and they’re well-coached…They have all of the ingredients of a winning team,” Robinson said.
Public-Private Challenge goes this weekend at McDonogh
The Public vs. Private Challenge, arguably the biggest event on the Maryland girls basketball regular season calendar, will take place Saturday at McDonogh School.
Perennial Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference powers St. Frances and two-time reigning champ McDonogh will be in action along with defending state public champs Pikesville (1A) and Howard as well as last season’s IAAM B champ St. Mary’s, which is in its first season in the A league.
Here’s the schedule:
Court 1
New Town vs. Rosedale Christian Academy, 9 a.m.
River Hill vs. Mount de Sales, 10:30 a.m.
Howard vs. John Carroll, 12 p.m.
Pikesville vs. St. Mary’s, 1:30 p.m.
Poly vs. Gerstell Academy, 3 p.m.
Oakland Mills vs. McDonogh, 4:30 p.m.
Frederick vs. St. Vincent Pallotti, 6 p.m.
Forest Park vs. St. Frances, 7:30 p.m.
Court 2
City vs. St. Timothy’s, 9 a.m.
Western vs. Mercy, 10:30 a.m.
Washington vs. Roland Park Country, 12 p.m.
Reservoir vs. Notre Dame Prep, 1:30 p.m.
North Point vs. St. Maria Goretti, 3 p.m.
Friendship Collegiate Academy (D.C.) vs. St. Mary’s Ryken, 4:30 p.m.
Loch Raven vs. Archbishop Spalding, 6 p.m.
Francis Scott Key vs. Glenelg Country School, 7:30 p.m.
Court 3
Old Mill vs. St. John’s Catholic, 2:30 p.m.
Court 4
Chesapeake-Baltimore County vs. Friends, 9 a.m.
Fallston vs. Maryvale Prep, 10:30 a.m.
Southern-Garrett vs. Concordia Prep, 12 p.m.
Eastern Tech vs. Southern Maryland Christian Academy, 1:30 p.m.
Edmondson vs. St. Andrews Episcopal, 3 p.m.
Henry A. Wise vs. Springdale Prep, 4:30 p.m.
Catonsville vs. Indian Creek, 6 p.m.
Meade vs. Bryn Mawr, 7:30 p.m.
