by Brandon Hopp
Junior guard Keirah Hicks scored a game-high 12 points as Western defeated Dulaney 37-17. The first game of the 12th annual Basketball Academy at Morgan State University was filled with turnovers, missed shots and maybe nerves.
Both schools entered the contests as one of the top teams in their respective counties, Western from Baltimore City and Dulaney from Baltimore County.
The first quarter ended with in a 2-2 tie after the Dove’s Akeema Richards and the Lion’s Danielle Parker each scored a basket to provide all the scoring in the first eight minutes.
Then Western (9-2) went on a 15-0 run to start the second quarter. Ashle Craig scored four, Achiri Ade added three points and Hicks made two threes on the run. The Doves scored outscored the Lions 22-3 in the second and took a 24-5 lead into the half.
Dulaney (7-1) never really got it going in the game. Star player, senior guard Danielle Parker scored a team-high eight points and junior center Emily Gladstone contributed six.
No. 4 Western 37, No. 13 Dulaney 17
Dulaney 2 3 7 5 — 17
Western 2 22 11 2 — 37
D—Parker 8, Gladstone 6, Sheshi 2, Malstrom 1. Totals 7 3-16 17.
W—Hicks 12, Ade 8, Richards 4, Craig 4, Forman 4, Stevenson 3, McKnight 2. Totals 12 11-21 37.
Half—Western 24, Dulaney 5.
In the second game, Catonsville dropped a decision to City 61-51.
These two teams are familiar with each other despite City hailing from Baltimore and Catonsville of Baltimore County. Last season, the Knights beat the Comets 67-58 to advance to the 3A North Regional. Catonsville were eager to get back on the court with City for a bit of revenge.
The Comens (8-2) got off to a fast start and held a 13-8 lead after the first quarter. Junior guard Shamika Williams (15 points) scored six points and Shelby Polk scored five in the quarter.
Catonsville continued their strong play and had a 22-15 lead with 3:24 left to play in the half before the Knights (10-0) made their move.
City scored the next nine points to take its first lead of the game with 1:20 left in the second quarter at 24-22. The Knights held on for a 27-26 advantage going into the half.
Senior forward Jessica Nonn picked up her third foul in the first quarter and was forced to sit for the entire second quarter. With Nonn, one of the team’s top scorers, on the bench, Catonsville relied heavily on Williams.
“I thought we were fortunate to be up by one at halftime because we were playing really sloppy and they were playing fairly well,” Petrides said. “I thought our third quarter made the difference.”
The Knights went on a 17-2 run during the pivotal third quarter to separate from the Comets and maintained a 46-32 lead with 1:40 left in the quarter. During the run, Taft hit two three-pointers and her backcourt mate Breaira Barksdale hit another.
Nonn, who finished with 13 points, made her presence felt in the third as she scored eight points but Catonsville trailed 48-37 going into the final quarter.
The Comets went on a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to six points with just over five minutes left to play.
But Taft and City would not be denied the program’s first victory at the prestigious mixer held at Morgan State.
No. 5 City 61, No. 17 Catonsville 51
Catonsville 13 13 11 14 — 51
City 8 19 21 13 — 61
Ca—Williams 15, Nonn 13, Whittingham 8, Polk 8, Torrian 1, Anderson 4, Higgins-Rogers 2. Totals 18 10-23 51.
Ci—Taft 17, Williams 14, Barksdale 7, Sewell 8, Mitchell 12, Lynn 2, Dilliard 2. Totals 23 9-17 61.
Half—City 27, Catonsville 26.
Note: Catonsville faces Western at 10:30 a.m. and Dulaney squares off against St. Frances at noon on Saturday.
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