COLLEGE PARK - For Gwynn Park, Friday served as a little bit of redemption.

The Yellow Jackets were knocked out in the 2008 2A boys basketball state semifinal on a buzzer-beater by Winters Mill's Devon Lesniak.

Gwynn Park didn't let things come down to the buzzer this time, beating North Carroll 69-36 in Friday's 2A state semifinal at the Comcast Center.

The Yellow Jackets, who are making their 20th Final Four appearance, will face City in today's 2A state final.

"I thought our players really executed the game plan," Gwynn Park head coach Mike Glick said. "We were fortunate we got off to a good start and I think that was the key to the game."

Meanwhile, Friday marked the end of a historic run for the Panthers.

North Carroll had won 18 of its last 20 games and was fresh off last Saturday's emotional win over Walkersville in the 2A West final. The regional title was the Panthers' first since 1985.

However, the Yellow Jackets' athleticism was too much for North Carroll to handle. The Panthers got behind 11-2 just over two minutes into the game and trailed by 17 at halftime.

"We didn't prepare enough for their athleticism," NC senior forward Danny Hoffman said. "We didn't box out, they got offensive rebounds and second chances, and that's how they won the game."

Gwynn Park outrebounded North Carroll 47-25 and held the Panthers to just 28 percent shooting from the field. The Yellow Jackets had 22 offensive rebounds.

Hoffman (18.6), Brian Kron (10.4) and Charlie Clark (10.2), who all came into the game averaging double-digit points, were held to just 23 points combined.

"We've been doing it all year with Charlie and Danny, trying to get it inside," NC coach Chris Vaughn said. "Brian's been able to hit the outside shot when it's open.

"That was our game plan and it didn't really work out. They matched us height for height and their athleticism really took care of business."

Even though the season didn't end exactly how the Panthers had planned, Vaughn was able to reflect on North Carroll's special run after the game.

"I let the kids know ... you never look at the end result, you have to look at the whole journey," Vaughn said. "These kids did something that no team has done at our school for 25 years. They've got a lot to hang their hats on ... and we accomplished a lot this season."

Gwynn Park (69): Mike Hemsley 16, Brandon Ford 15, Tion Barnes 12, Chris Hardy 6, Brian Hall 6, Brian Blue 5, Eric Batts 4, Daniel Henry 3, Kevin Miles 2.

North Carroll (37): Danny Hoffman 10, Charlie Clark 8, Brian Kron 5, Steven Bosley 4, Trevor Walzl 3, Cody Mewhirter 2, Tyler Janowitz 2, Kyle Blackiston 2.

Halftime: Gwynn Park, 36-19.

Reach staff writer Matt Zenitz at 410-857-7896 or sports@carrollcountytimes.com.

 A Carroll County team ruined Gwynn Park's last experience in the state high school basketball tournament.

On Friday, the Gwynn Park boys - and the Gwynn Park girls, too - have a shot at some revenge.

Gwynn Park takes on Liberty in the girls Class 2A state semifinals at 3 p.m. at UMBC. Four hours later, Gwynn Park faces North Carroll in the boys Class 2A state semis at the University of Maryland.

"It's awesome, it's great for the school, it's great for the community, it's great for us," said Yellow Jackets boys coach Mike Glick.

Glick's last trip to College Park wasn't so great for his players.

They blew an 8-point, fourth-quarter lead and lost to Winters Mill, 58-56, in the 2008 state semifinals on Devon Lesniak's buzzer-beater. Only one current Yellow Jacket was on the varsity that year, and Glick said on Tuesday he would be re-living what he referred to as "an epic game" with his team this week.

"We're watching that tape to show our players the margin of victory. How every possessions matters," he said. "The little things [like] free throws. ... Just to get an idea of what our kids went through and how painful that loss was."

While North Carroll is in the state tournament for the first time in 25 years in search of its first championship, Gwynn Park is a traditional Maryland powerhouse with 10 state titles. Glick is 75-23 in four years at Gwynn Park,, which is making its eighth trip to the state tournament in the past 16 years but is seeking its first championship since 1988.

Gwynn Park has three players who average in double-figures for scoring, including 6-foot-3 junior point guard Brandon Ford (19.8 points, 3.0 assists per game), whom Glick said is being recruited by schools from the Ivy and Patriot leagues. They also have size, with 6-4 and 6-5 starters and a 6-8 sixth man.

North Carroll is big, too, with forwards Danny Hoffman (6-5) - Carroll County's third-leading scorer and top rebounds - and Charlie Clark (6-4), but Glick says the similarities end there.

"The game presents two totally different styles and matchups - they play a style of ball that we're not used to seeing and we play a style that they're not used to seeing," he said. "We're up and down the court, offensively, scoring about 71 points per game. They're more of a deliberate team, a lot more screening and sharing the ball."

Friday's girls game involving Gwynn Park also presents some contrasts.

While Liberty is far from senior-laden, the Lions (19-6) do have quite a bit of experience with senior post player Shelby Nemecek and junior guards Maggie McCormick and Beka Coughlin. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets (20-3) boast five freshman.

Second-year Gwynn Park coach Michael Strother admits his team made it to states a little ahead of schedule.

"My overall plan was a three-year program, but they really surprised me," he said. "They put in a lot of offseason work and conditioning and a lot of them played on AAU teams. We were just fortunate to get everybody together and do what we did this year."

The Yellow Jacket freshmen include their top scorer and rebounder in 6-2 forward Caira Washington (14 points, 12 boards per game) and point guard Genesis Lucas (10 points, four assists per game). Strother called Washington's future "unlimited." He said the freshmen have blended beautifully with their one senior and junior leaders Jasmine Simms and Channell Mackey.

"They've been really amazing. The kids really came together," Strother said. "I knew we were going to be talented, I just didn't know that they'd be able to turn things around as fast as they did."

Reach staff writer Bob Blubaugh at 410-857-7895 or bob.blubaugh@carrollcountytimes.com