Baltimore Area Mid-Season Basketball Report

As we hit the midway point of the season (MPSSAA is 40 days into the season, with 40 days remaining in the regular season), the three-time defending 3A champion Poly and MIAA defending champion St Frances have established themselves as the cream of the crop amongst their respective jurisdictions.

The Engineers have rolled out to a 10-1 record, with their only loss coming to nationally ranked #19 St Johns DC (62-56) in the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, one that followed a 56-46 win over then #19 Harvard Westlake CA. St Frances stands at 16-2, with their only losses coming to a pair of national top 25 teams – #5 Sunrise Christian KS and #4 IMG FL, dropping the Panthers to just outside the top 25, after reaching as high as #21.

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The Engineers, who have allowed only 45.1 points per game through 11 games and have gone 59-3 versus MPSSAA competition since New Year’s Day of 2017, are led by their four returning starters of a year ago, 6’7 Marquette commit Justin Lewis, 5’11 senior guard ‘Ra Ra’ Ali, 6’4 senior Brandon Murray, and 6’6 senior Ian Wallace. The Panthers, meanwhile, are led by VCU commit ‘Ace’ Baldwin, 6’6  South Alabama commit Jamal West, 6’3 senior Jahmal Banks, and 6’9 junior Julian Reese, but lost 6’3 senior Jordan Toles, an early enrollee at LSU, who plans to play both football and basketball for the Tigers,

Here’s a look at the leagues in the region at the midway point of the season, with almost all up for grabs for top billing, and most boasting a handful or more vying for the top spot in their respective leagues.

MIAA A Red Division

While the Panthers headline the Red Division, five of the six others in the ‘Red’ are two games within each other in the division. Mt St Joe (14-4) is 4-1 in the division, winning four straight after an overtime loss to Boys Latin, topping John Carroll by 26, winning by 19 at Loyola, and 19 at Spalding. George Washington commit Tyler Brelsford led the Gaels with 24 points in the win over John Carroll, while 6’6 Fairfield commit Jason Edokpayi led St Joe in the wins over Loyola and Spalding, scoring 19 and 27 points, respectively.

John Carroll (14-4, 3-2), who has sole possession of third place in the division, hosts Pallotti on Wednesday, and travel to Loyola (13-6, 2-3). The Dons have won 8 of their last 10 games, and senior Matt Fischer eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark in the Dons win over Calvert Hall on Friday. Spalding (10-7, 3-3) lost at Glenelg Country by 1 last week, then scored 100 points in a 26 point win over John Carroll, before losing to Mt St Joe, 65-46, on Friday night. Mt Carmel (10-7, 2-3) has wins over Gilman, Loyola, and Mt St Joe.

MIAA A Black Division

Pallotti (10-7) is 5-0 in division play in the Black Division, but 0-4 versus those in the Red Division. Wade Jackson, a 6’3 senior, leads the Panthers, averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. The Panthers travel to John Carroll on Wednesday, and to Glenelg Country on Friday.

Boys Latin hasn’t lost to a MIAA team since December 6th, going 8-0 against league members over that span. The Lakers (8-6, 3-1) lost three games over the holidays in New Jersey, but has since won five straight games, including wins over Mt St Joe, Mervo, Pikesville, McDonogh, and Glenelg Country, 55-40, Monday night. The Dragons (10-5, 4-1) came into the contest with a 4-0 record in division play. Gilman (8-7, 3-2) stayed within two games of Pallotti with a 66-56 win over McDonogh (9-12, 1-4) on Monday night.

City League

While the Engineers are the three-time defending champs, their arch rival, City College (13-0), may be the Engineers most difficult out, just as they were last March, despite going into the post-season with a losing record. This year’s version, boasts a trio of players that all have led the Knights in scoring at least twice – senior Dominick Carrington, junior Ahmed Harrison, and junior Karrell Booker. In addition, the undefeated Black Knights have 6’9 junior Kevin Kalu and 6’7 junior Clarence Obiajulu in the middle.

Lake Clifton (8-4), who lost a pair of games in the Slam Dunk to the Beach mixer in Cape Henlopen over the winter break, split two games in the Mayors Academy, losing to Rock Creek Christian, 72-65, and edging Oxon Hill, 73-72. Zach Blackwell scores 18 points, and Michael Gray, 15, in the win over the Clippers. The Lakers upended up-and-coming New Era (8-3) on Tuesday, 76-51. New Era has beaten both Randallstown and Havre de Grace, among others, and held an 8 point, late third quarter lead over Dulaney at the Mayors Academy.

After a 19 point loss to City College to start the new year, Edmondson (11-2) split a pair of games in the Mayors Academy, getting routed by Rock Creek Christian, 70-44, and scraping by Woodlawn, 48-45. The Red Storm head to Poly next Tuesday, the 21st. Mervo (7-3), who began the year with a 5 point loss to City College and a one point win over Gilman, is 7-3, as is Ben Franklin, while 2A defending champion Patterson sits at 6-6.

Baltimore County

New Town (7-1), led by Delaware State commit Martaz Robinson and 6’4 senior Andrew Mills, has won seven straight games since a 3 point loss to Edmondson in the season opener, boasting wins over Randallstown, St Maria Goretti, Pikesville, and Wise, in the Mayors Academy. The Titans host rival Milford Mill (5-3) on Wednesday, and travel to Loch Raven on Friday, to face the 9-1 Raiders. The Millers lost a pair of games last week, losing at Dulaney (7-3), 74-59, then losing to City College, 62-55, in the Mayors Academy. Dulaney, projected to be a 4A state title favorite before the transfers of 6’6 Che Evans and 6’6 junior Isaiah Cornish, has won three straight games, including victories over Milford Mill and New Era.

Bobby Richardson’s Woodlawn Warriors (7-3) posted wins over Patterson and Dunbar since the new year, before suffering a 3 point defeat to Edmondson in the Mayors Academy, 48-45. The Warriors host Randallstown (5-3) on Wednesday night, with the Rams having won four straight games in the last 8 days, including wins over Dunbar and New Era last week, and a 60-59 victory over Atholton on Monday night. Parkville, coming off its best football season in school history, is on pace to post one of the best basketball seasons in school history, with the Knights at 9-1. Loch Raven also has sprinted out to a 9-1 record, including a win over Patterson over the holidays. All Baltimore County teams are just 1-3 games into their league play.

Howard County

Oakland Mills (10-2, 5-1) has won 9 straight games, including a 75-73 overtime victory over Glenelg, where DJ Hopkins poured in 36 points. Barry Evans, a 6’6 junior, leads the Scorpions in scoring (15.5) rebounds (8.1), and is second in assists (3.9). Centennial (9-2, 5-1) has won 7 straight games, including wins at Atholton and at Wilde Lake. Marriotts Ridge (9-3, 5-1) remains in a three-way tie in the league standings along with the Scorpions and Eagles and are led by the county’s leading scorer, John Miller.

Reservoir (7-3, 5-2) the pre-season county favorite, hosts Marriotts Ridge on Wednesday, and travels to Wilde Lake (7-3, 3-2) on Friday. Gators 6’4 Bobby Hill was named the county’s Player of the Week last week, averaging  13.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8 assists in two victories. Atholton (7-4, 3-2) and Howard (7-3, 4-2) also remain in contention for a county title.

Anne Arundel

Annapolis (9-2, 6-1) and North County (8-1, 6-1) sit atop the league standings with one loss, while four others remain within two games of the Panthers and Knights. The Panthers knocked off Northeast on Tuesday, 67-58, to keep pace with the Knights, who held off Arundel, 57-52. The Panthers were lead by Chris Pratt, who scored 18 points, while Malik Carroll added 14 points. Southern (11-2, 5-2) remained a game back with their 59-54 win over Meade, and have won 9 of their last 10 games.

Northeast (10-3, 5-3) fell to a game-and-a-half back with their loss to Annapolis, and have lost two of their last three, after starting 9-1. South River (7-5, 5-3) remains deadlocked with Northeast in fourth place, after the Seahawks 70-69 loss to Glen Burnie on Tuesday, and have lost three of their last four games. Broadneck (7-6, 4-3) meanwhile, started 2-5, but have since won five of their last six games, and host Southern on Friday.

UCBAC

The UCBAC Chesapeake Division holds the five best teams in the conference among the two divisions, with Havre de Grace (8-2, 4-0) undefeated in early league play. The Warriors handed Elkton (7-2, 3-1) their first league loss on Tuesday, edging the Elks, 69-66, on the road, coming back from an 8 point fourth quarter deficit. Edgewood (8-3, 4-2) is one game back of the Warriors, two in the loss column, after their 70-66 win over Joppatowne (7-2, 2-2). CM Wright (8-3, 3-2) and Aberdeen (7-3, 3-2) both trail Havre de Grace by 1 1/2 games in league play. C.M. Wright goes to Elkton on Friday night.

Carroll

Westminster (9-3, 5-0) remains unbeaten in league play, topping second place Century (8-3, 4-2), 52-46, last Wednesday, coming back from a 6 point deficit in the final quarter.