Maryland high school basketball news and notes (2/1/2024)
Everytime Tony Pope III walks on the basketball court, he doesn’t take the opportunity for granted.
“Just give it your all, just compete every time you step onto the court,” a 5-foot-11 point guard for Gwynn Park High (Maryland).
It’s the final ride for the senior at the Prince George’s County school. The Yellow Jackets are a contender for the Maryland Class 2A state championship after beating last season’s 2A state runner-up Largo last week.
Tony Pope III is averaging 15 points and seven assists per game this season for undefeated Gwynn Park, which has its sights set on a Maryland Class 2A boys basketball state championship.
Gwynn Park is 11-0.
The Yellow Jackets last won a state title in 1988.
Gwynn Park’s hopes of a first state title since Ronald Reagan was President rests with Pope, whose 3-pointer in the waning seconds lifted his squad to a thrilling 59-57 home triumph over Largo.
A force on both ends, Pope got his tenacious style from his father, Tony Jr. Tony Pope Jr. died of multiple myeloma in September 2018 at age 38.
The younger Pope is averaging 15 points and seven assists. He recently garnered a scholarship offer from Division 3 Frostburg State University.
“I do everything for my pops,” said Pope to the Washington Post. “Every time I get on the court, I just play like it’s my last and just play through him.”
Melo Time: Carmelo Anthony's 2nd annual classic set for Saturday at Towson
Some of the nation’s best in boys hoops will be in action Saturday at the 2nd annual A Very Melo Classic at Towson University’s SECU Arena.
Paul VI (Virginia), No. 3 in the latest SBLive/Sports Illustrated Top 25 and coming off a pair of impressive double-digit victories against Washington Catholic Athletic Conference foes Bishop O’Connell (Virginia) and No. 16 Gonzaga (D.C.) last week, will play St. Frances Academy. The Panthers, the defending Maryland Interscholastic Association A Conference champ, are ranked No. 1 in the Baltimore Metro area by the Baltimore Sun).
O’Connell, which fell out of the newest SB Live/Sports Illustrated Top 25 (was 23rd last week) takes on Our Lady of Mount Carmel while two-time reigning Baltimore Catholic League champ Mount St. Joseph matches up with Sidwell Friends (D.C.). In the showcase match, Gonzaga plays No. 6 Long Island Lutheran (New York), which features 6-foot-5 shooting guard Kiyan Anthony, son of former NBA superstar and future Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo (Melo) Anthony.
Kiyan Anthony, who previously played for New York's Christ the King and is the son of retired NBA great Carmel Anthony, will be in action for Long Island Lutheran (New York) in the "A Very Melo Classic," this weekend at Towson University.
Photo by Nick Koza
Anthony, who helped start the event with his Baltimore-based Team Melo AAU organization, starred at now-defunct Towson Catholic (Maryland) before prepping at Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) in his senior year. He grew up in nearby Baltimore City.
Last year’s inaugural A Very Melo Classic featured three contests. Sidwell Friends edged Mount Carmel, 49-47, Gonzaga topped St. Frances, 76-67, and Imhotep (Pa.) outlasted Oak Hill, 66-61.
Public Schools earn bragging rights at the girls' Public vs. Private Challenge
The Public vs. Private Challenge, arguably the premier event on the Maryland girls basketball regular season calendar, took place last weekend at St. Vincent Pallotti and Catonsville high schools.
The public schools earned bragging rights, winning five of the nine matches. The best contest saw St. Mary’s, which won the IAAM B Conference title last year (playing in IAAM A this season), hold off a late push from three-time defending Class 1A state champ Pikesville for a 55-54 decision.
Twenty-four games were originally scheduled Jan. 21 at McDonogh School, but were canceled due to snow.
