Maryland high school basketball news and notes (2/8/2024)

At 15-2, Severna Park is one of the best on the Maryland public schools girls basketball scene this season. But, even more promising, is the Falcons are possibly hitting their stride.

A good portion of Severna Park’s roster doesn’t play basketball year-round, making December and most of January a refresher course for the Anne Arundel County school’s coaches.

"These are the top athletes that you can get, right?" Falcons coach Kristofer Dean said to the Washington Post. "But they're mechanical because [basketball is] not their number one thing. They're not working on this. They're not playing this sport for 365 days a year."

Four players - juniors Erin Hussey and Abby Cover, sophomore guard Maria Bragg and senior Ryn Feemster - played soccer in the fall. The Falcons went 17-0 and won the Class 3A state championship, the program’s first since 2003.

Feemster, Bragg, Hussey and junior Peyton Jeffers were part of Severna Park’s 3A state championship squad last spring.

Their winning DNA has helped compensate for whatever basketball shortcomings they have on the court. Feemster, who will play lacrosse at Virginia Commonwealth University next year, is the only Severna Park averaging in double figures scoring (13.2 ppg).

The Falcons rely on defense.

"Our program really has to because we don't have the basketball players,” said Dean. “And so offensively, we're limited."

Nonetheless, Severna Park is in the mix for the Anne Arundel County regular season championship. The Falcons’ only setbacks came against league rival Broadneck, which along with South River are vying with Severna Park for the Anne Arundel championship final in a few weeks.

Last season, the Falcons reached the Class 4A state semifinals, losing to league rival and eventual champ Glen Burnie. Seniors Kiley Curran, Maddy Sullivan and Gabby Rosati, junior Charley Coward and Bragg are returning letterwinners..

Feemster is hoping the Falcons can add another state championship banner next month.

"It's a lot smaller of a team [than soccer or lacrosse]. It's so together. ... Even if we have practice two hours a day for six days a week, I still want to hang out with these girls outside of practice," Feemster said.

Atholton boys hoops streaking

Sitting at 1-4 during the Christmas holiday, Atholton boys basketball was at the proverbial crossroads. More than a month later, the Raiders have turned things around.

The Howard County school has won 11 of its last 12, including a 75-70 victory over River Hill last Friday. It was the first loss in Howard County play for River Hill, and the seventh win in a row for resurgent Atholton (12-5 overall).

“The key was not keeping our heads down,” senior Camden Thibeault said to the Baltimore Sun. “We came to practice harder each day, started competing more in practice. The competition in practice raised, so game time we came out ready.”

After blowing a late fourth quarter lead in a loss to Meade, last season’s Class 4A state finalist, Atholton coach Jared Albert rounded up captains Thibeault and Amir Shaheed. The turnaround started with a 70-67 home victory over reigning 4A state champ Parkville.

Playing at River Hill which won six of its first seven home decisions by double-digits, the Raiders weren’t intimidated. Shaheed, a senior, gave Atholton the lead for good with a 3-pointer with less than a minute left in regulation.

Though outside looking in the league championship picture with a little over a week left, Atholton (8-4 Howard County) will have a major part, playing at co-league leading Long Reach in the regular season finale Feb. 14.

Albert feels good about his team heading into the 3A state postseason.

“I think those early losses, we’ve come back and learned from those. I don’t think we were defeated by them; we’re slowly but surely starting to play pretty good basketball against a really good River Hill team,” said Albert to The Sun. “I’m just impressed with the resiliency and fight that we had.”