Maryland high school basketball news and notes (3/12/2024)
A month ago, there were whispers about DeMatha Catholic around the DMV basketball scene. The Stags were in midst of a rare losing stretch, leaving some wondering if the Hyattsville, Maryland program’s aura was fading.
Well, DeMatha is still DeMatha, evident by its double overtime victory over Bullis in the Maryland Private Schools State Tournament final Friday.
“We faced a lot of adversity during the season, but the boys stayed true,” said Stags’ second-year coach Mike G. Jones.
The Stags (24-12 overall) grinded back from a four-point deficit in the second four-minute overtime session against Bullis (27-3), widely considered Maryland’s top boys’ squad and the tourney’s No. 1 seed.
DeMatha head coach Michael G. Jones hoists the 2024 Maryland Private Schools State Tournament championship trophy as his team's celebrates its title after its championship game victory over top-seeded Bullis.
DeMatha, the standard in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland suburbs outside of D.C. and Northern Virginia) region for more than a half-century, was seeded sixth.
“We felt that was very disrespectful and we had to show them,” said Jones. “The proof is in the pudding…the separation is in the preparation.”
After concluding the season with a record 27th Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament title last March, DeMatha started 15-3 in the 2023-24 campaign with a 6-0 mark in the daunting Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC).
Then, injuries came and the losses. The Stags dropped six straight and eight of nine, unheard of for a program that has won six mythical national championships.
DeMatha guard Ashton Meeks said it was breakdown-breakthrough.
“It was terrible, but there was a lesson in every single loss,” said Meeks, who was the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player. “We just took all those lessons and fixed things, that’s what got us to where we are now.”
The MPSST title could be a major launch point for DeMatha entering next season. The Stags started all underclassmen in the MPSST final and 12 letterwinners are scheduled to return.
“The best is yet to come,” said Jones.
McNamara girls close strong with MPSST title
Bishop McNamara made history, winning the first MPSST girls championship, defeating Bullis, 70-65, in the final. Mustangs junior forward Zhen Craft was the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player.
It was redemption for McNamara (26-5), which lost to St. John’s (D.C.) in the WCAC tourney finals the week before.
“We felt like it was unfinished business,” said Mustangs coach Ron James. “It was a great WCAC run for us and didn’t finish the way we wanted to.”
The Forestville, Maryland school, ranked 10th in the most recent SBLive/Sports Illustrated Top 25, won the WCAC regular season crown, including a victory over St. John’s.
St. John’s got payback in the tourney final at American University, costing McNamara its first tournament crown since 2020. The Mustangs didn’t have the services of McDonald’s All-American Madisen McDaniel in the final weeks.
McDaniel, a senior point guard bound to South Carolina in the fall, tore the MCL in her knee. James said McDaniel started rehab earlier in the week with the hopes of playing in the McDonald’s All-American game, April 2 in Houston.
James thought the Mustangs played well without their star.
“Madisen is a very special player…what it did do was give our younger kids the opportunity to step up and fill some bigger roles,” said Smith. “They were ready for it at times, and, other times, they had to learn from the experience.”
The Mustangs should be again among the nation’s elite next season as they only lose McDaniel and LaNae’ Corbett to graduation.
“Just having that chemistry is really going to put us in a good spot,” said Craft, one of the country’s top prospects in the Class of 2025. “We’re excited.”
Previewing this week's MPSSAA state basketball semifinals and finals
The 2023-24 Maryland high school basketball season concludes this weekend with the girls and boys public finals at the University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center. The semifinals take place Tuesday and Wednesday at high school sites.
Here’s a brief preview of the semifinals
CLASS 4A
Girls semifinals (Tuesday): Clarksburg vs. Charles H. Flowers (at Henry A. Wise); North Point vs. Bethesda-Chevy Chase (at North Point)
Overview: Bethesda-Chevy Chase (25-2), the overall No. 1 seed, looks to capture its first state championship. The Montgomery County champs are riding an 11-game winning streak. North Point (22-5) won the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference title and collected road wins at Bowie, Broadneck and Western to reach its first since 2018.
After winning the Montgomery County girls league title, Bethesda-Chevy Chase will try to claim its first state championship. The Barons play North Point in the Class 4A state semifinals Tuesday. (Photo - BCC Athletics
Clarksburg (22-3), which lost in the 2022 state final, hasn’t lost (17-0) in the current calendar year, including a victory over Bethesda-Chevy Chase. Flowers (21-2), which won the 4A prize in 2019, has only lost to three-time reigning 1A champ Pikesville and 2A semifinalist Gwynn Park this season.
Boys semifinals (Wednesday): Richard Montgomery vs. Walt Whitman (at Montgomery Blair); Frederick vs. Wise (at Henry A. Wise)
Overview: Montgomery County rivals Richard Montgomery and Whitman will meet for a state final spot. Whitman (21-5) won, 74-71, during the regular season.
After dropping five of six, Richard Montgomery (16-10) has rebounded with five straight victories including three on the road. Montgomery County last won a 4A title in 2012 (Magruder).
Wise (21-3), the top overall seed in 4A, gets to play on its home court in the semifinals. The Pumas (last won 4A crown in 2014) won their first three postseason matches by an average of 20 points.
Frederick (22-4), which lost in the 3A state semifinal round last year, beat last year’s 4A runner-up Meade in the quarterfinals over the weekend and played then-defending 3A champ City, DMV private school stronghold St. John’s (D.C.), Virginia Class 4A state semifinalist Varina and West Virginia Class 4A semifinalist Jefferson during the regular season.
CLASS 3A
Girls semifinals (Tuesday): Oxon Hill vs. Oakdale (at Montgomery Blair); River Hill vs. Poly (at Henry A. Wise)
Overview: Poly (25-1), the overall top seed, is the favorite after ending Howard’s title reign in the quarterfinals over the weekend. The Baltimore City power’s lone loss this season came against three-time IAAM A champ McDonogh School.
River Hill (21-2) has won 11 straight since losing to undefeated and 2A state semifinalist Hammond in Howard County league play. The Hawks last won the state 3A crown in 2019.
Oxon Hill (22-4) hasn’t lost (14-0) in the current year. The Prince George’s County school lost to Poly in last year’s 3A semifinals.
Oakdale (21-5) has won 13 straight (17 of 18 overall) to reach its first state final four since 2015. The last Frederick County school to win a state title was Frederick in 2019, completing a three-peat in 3A.
Boys semifinals (Wednesday): St. Charles vs. Stephen Decatur (at Henry A. Wise); Northeast vs. Long Reach (at North Point)
Overview: Northeast (21-5) and St. Charles (20-5) get the opportunity to play in the state final four after its 2020 appearance was canceled because of COVID-19.
Stephen Decatur (24-2) led by several members of its 2A state football championship team, seeks its first state hoops crown since 1970.
Long Reach (23-2) avenged its only regular season losses to River Hill in the East Region II final last week en route to its first state final four since 2008.
Senior forward RJ Barnes (5), a Frostburg State University commit, has Long Reach in its first state semifinals since 2008. The Lightning play Northeast in a Class 3A state semifinal contest Wednesday.
Photo by John Bowers
CLASS 2A
Girls semifinals (Wednesday): Francis Scott Key vs. Wicomico (at Montgomery Blair); Gwynn Park vs. Hammond (at North Point)
Overview: Hammond (25-0), the only undefeated team (boys or girls) in Maryland, looks to complete perfection. The Howard County champs have victories over state semifinalists North Point (4A), Oxon Hill (3A) and River Hill (3A).
Nia Green hopes to keep her Hammond Bears as the state's only undefeated team, boys or girls, as they strive for the MPSSAA Class 2A girls basketball state crown.
Gwynn Park (22-5), in the state semifinals for the second time in three seasons, won the Prince George’s County crown (defeated 4A semifinalist Charles H. Flowers). The Yellow Jackets haven’t lost since an early February loss to 1A state semifinalist Forest Park in a non-league match.
Francis Scott Key (18-8), the first Carroll County girls squad to reach a state final four since 2012 (Century), has won its first three postseason matches by an average of 28 points. Bayside Conference champ Wicomico (25-1) has won 19 straight to reach its first state semifinals since 2008. The Indians’ only defeat was to Delaware state quarterfinalist Dover.
Boys semifinals (Tuesday): Carver Vo-Tech vs. Middletown (at Thomas Johnson); C. Milton Wright vs. Largo (at North Point)
Overview: After losing in last year’s state final, Largo (23-2) is in position for its first title since 2008. The Prince George’s County school avenged its lone loss in public play (other loss was to D.C. private school St. John’s) with a win over rival Gwynn Park in the South Region II final last week.
C. Milton Wright (21-4), which won the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference crown, defeated Dunbar in the state quarterfinals over the weekend. The Harford County defeated perennial Baltimore City power Lake Clifton and had a double-digit second half lead against reigning 1A state champ Edmondson before fading.
Cam Ward, one of the nation's top juniors, has Largo two wins away from the Maryland Class 2A boys basketball state championship. The Lions take on C. Milton Wright in the semifinals Tuesday. (photo - Ron Bailey/DMV Elite)
In its first state final four, Carver (20-5) will have only five players available for its matchup with Middletown after its bench was suspended for leaving the bench area during an altercation early in the second half of its quarterfinal win over Queen Anne’s. The Bears defeated then-defending 3A champ City during the regular season and ended New Town’s state title reign in the region final last week.
Middletown (24-2) has its first state final four berth since 2016 (lost in 2A final). The Knights have won nine of 10 (only loss to 4A state semifinalist Frederick).
CLASS 1A
Girls semifinals (Wednesday at Thomas Johnson): Southern-Garrett vs. Catoctin; Forest Park vs. Pikesville
Overview: Pikesville (22-3) is the favorite to win a fourth consecutive 1A championship. The Baltimore County champs defeated 4A state semifinalist Charles H. Flowers and perennial Baltimore City power Western during the regular season.
Pikesville is eyeing a fourth consecutive Class 1A girls basketball state championship this week.
Forest Park (23-2) is hoping to breakthrough after semifinal losses in 2023 and 2022. The Foresters, who’ve outscored the opposition by 159 points in the postseason, lost to 3A state semifinalist and Baltimore City champ Poly and Western by a combined nine points.
After COVID-19 cost them from playing in the 1A final four in 2020, Southern-Garrett (22-3) gets another opportunity. The Western Maryland school is the last team to win 1A crown (2019) prior to Pikesville’s run.
Catoctin (23-3) won the Central Maryland Conference Small School title. The Cougars’ only loss came against Mountain Ridge, which beat Southern-Garrett during the regular season.
Boys semifinals (Tuesday): Smithsburg vs. Edmondson (at Thomas Johnson); Fort Hill vs. Cambridge-South Dorchester (at Montgomery Blair)
Overview: Edmondson (24-2), which has won its first three postseason games by nearly 40 points, looks to go back-to-back as 1A champs. The Baltimore City champs defeated then-defending 3A state champ City twice and 3A semifinalist C. Milton Wright during the regular season.
Edmondson, with DJ Dantzler (left) and his father and coach Darnell, won the Class 1A state title last March. The Red Storm continues its repeat bid Tuesday against Smithsburg in the state semifinals.
Riding an eight-game winning streak, Smithsburg (22-4) is in its first state semifinals since 2012. The Leopards’ last loss came against 2A state semifinalist Middletown in early February.
Fort Hill (20-4) overcame a 19-point first half deficit to knock off Baltimore City power Lake Clifton in last weekend’s state quarterfinals. The Western Maryland school lost to Edmondon in last year’s state semifinal round.
Cambridge-South Dorchester (24-2) won the Bayside Conference crown, beating 3A state semifinalist Stephen Decatur. The Vikings last won a state championship in 1996 (1A).
