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Laurel Boys Triumph Hand Gwynn Park First Loss 57-50

Posted by Michael Glick at Feb 27, 2008 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

By Josh Barr and Dave Yanovitz

Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, February 28, 2008; Page E09

The fourth-ranked Laurel boys' basketball team finally might be shedding the label that it peaks too early in the season. Senior center Will Alston scored 19 points and snared eight rebounds last night as the Spartans sent fifth-ranked Gwynn Park to its first loss, 57-50, in the Prince George's County championship game before 3,500 at Wise High in Upper Marlboro.

In the preceding girls' county championship game, three-time defending Maryland 4A champion Eleanor Roosevelt earned its first county title. Junior center Olivia Applewhite finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the No. 7 Raiders to a 74-61 victory over No. 14 Largo, snapping the Lions' 15-game winning streak.

"It's good to win, but I really don't like to put an emphasis on this game," Roosevelt Coach Rod Hairston said. "I don't want to use up their energy to win this game and then go into the playoffs lackluster."

While Laurel Coach Keith Coutreyer also played down the significance of the victory, there was little questioning its importance for the Spartans (19-2). They have had several strong starts in recent years only to fade late and exit early from the playoffs. This season, Laurel led the Prince George's 4A from start to finish; Coutreyer was unsure if it was the Spartans' first championship of any kind since the 1980 team won the state title.

"In the past, we played off one player and if he was not doing good, we could fall," said senior guard Reggie Young, a four-year varsity player who was on one of three Laurel players in double figures last night, with 12 points. "This year, everybody can play."

And everybody can rebound. The 6-foot-6 Alston, who started his high school career at Montrose Christian and played at Spalding last year, led the way, but Young, Killian Azah and Marcus Hebron also contributed. "They killed us on the boards," said Gwynn Park Coach Mike Glick, whose team fell to 22-1.

In the girls' game, Eleanor Roosevelt (18-2) excelled at getting the ball inside to Applewhite and others. Forwards Ahjah Hall and Chantel Petty had 16 and 12 points, respectively, while guard Elashier Hall added 12 points. The Raiders scored nearly all of their points in the paint, attempting just two three-point shots.

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No. 2 Jackets Top Largo 75-63, But Fight Mars Ending

Posted by Michael Glick at Feb 19, 2008 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )
Prince George's Boys' Basketball

No. 2 Jackets Top Largo 75-63,

But Fight Mars Ending

By B.J. KoubaroulisSpecial to The Washington Post
Wednesday, February 20, 2008; Page E08

Second-ranked Gwynn Park's 75-63 win at No. 15 Largo last night came to a premature end with 35.8 seconds remaining after a hard foul, then escalated into a melee involving fans and players.

Gwynn Park was in command when Yellow Jackets junior Corey Anderson was fouled hard underneath the basket. Officials signaled a technical foul, and Anderson had to be restrained and removed from the gymnasium by two police officers and another person whom Gwynn Park Coach Mike Glick identified as a family member.

Anderson's reaction, coupled with the officials calling off the game, triggered a bench-clearing shoving match between the rival squads. Fans from both schools quickly became involved, with punches being thrown by fans and players.

Police officers, school officials and coaches from both schools helped restore order as the teams were sent to their locker rooms.

Police officers on the scene said there were no arrests and no serious injuries.

"In 15 years of coaching I have never been a part of anything like that," Glick said. "It's just an unfortunate ending, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it was a hard-fought game."

The game included three technical fouls and was physical from the outset. Largo's 6-foot-11 senior center, Maurice Sutton, was ejected with 2 minutes 59 seconds left in the first quarter following an altercation that left Gwynn Park senior Ronnell Leggett (16 points) with a cut over his right eye.

Largo Coach Lewis Howard said Sutton's ejection set the tone.

"There's two sides to every story," Howard said. "And the side of the story that I'm sitting on is that the kid hit him first."

By rule, Sutton -- who was in the locker room during the game-ending brawl -- will not be able to play in Largo's next game.

According to Prince George's County Athletic Director Earl Hawkins, any further suspensions will be issued by the schools' principals.

"The only thing I can say is that the code of conduct is always enforced," Hawkins said. "If they are at school and at a school activity, the code of conduct must be followed."

Led by 6-2 senior guard Harold Washington's 24 points, Gwynn Park (21-0, 17-0 Prince George's 3A/2A/1A) clinched the 2A South Region's top seed. The Yellow Jackets will also play in next Wednesday's Prince George's County title game against Laurel, to be played at Wise High School.

Gwynn Park has now accounted for half of Largo's losses this season. The Yellow Jackets won, 80-50, at home on Jan. 18. "They beat us at their place handily," Howard said. "Tonight was going to be a dogfight, and it was going to be that barring ejections and technical fouls or what have you because it's a competitive game in a competitive atmosphere."

Largo Forward Aaron Martin scored 23 points to lead the Lions (17-4, 14-3).

"It doesn't really matter how it ended," Howard said, "because hopefully they will bring home the 2A state crown and we will bring home the 3A state crown and all this was a glorified practice."

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Gwynn Park Jackets stay perfect at 19-0 in 78-53 route of Fairmont Heights

Posted by Michael Glick at Feb 13, 2008 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )
 Gwynn Park Jackets stay perfect

Gwynn Park buys into coach’s system and finds winning formula

The Fairmont Heights High School boys’ basketball team had just gone on an 8-0 run late in the fourth quarter on Monday night when Gwynn Park coach Mike Glick called a timeout and told his team, ‘‘You have to run the offense.”  It took virtually all of last season for the Yellow Jackets to somewhat master Glick’s system. But by the second quarter of Gwynn Park’s 78-53 victory on the road against the Hornets, Glick’s system appeared almost second nature to the Yellow Jackets. ‘‘It took about a year for us to get it down,” Gwynn Park senior forward Chibuike Achuko said after the game. ‘‘In his system, he stresses defense, rebounding and hustle. I think we’re real close to [perfecting] his system. We just have to stay playing together.” A big reason the Yellow Jackets remain undefeated (19-0 overall, 15-0 County 3A⁄2A⁄1A) is that the players appear to be on the same page on just about everything. ‘‘When I noticed that they had learned the system, you could see the improvement,” Glick said. ‘‘They started listening to what I was trying to teach them. It took us about three-fourths of last season to all start playing together.” And through three-fourths of the 2007-08 season, the Yellow Jackets have established themselves as the team to beat in the County 3A⁄2A⁄1A League. Aside from mastering the offense, Gwynn Park’s success also is rooted in its defense. Several weeks ago against second-place Largo, a team that frequently pushes the 100-point barrier, Gwynn Park stifled the Lions, holding them to only 53 points in a 30-point blowout win. ‘‘Basically, No. 1 in coach’s system is defense,” said senior guard Sean Thomas. ‘‘We all needed to take accountability for one another on the team. On offense, he just wants us to make sure we hustle up and down the floor and take good shots. At the end of last season, I knew that we were right there in terms of mastering coach’s system.” Gwynn Park led, 16-13, after a closely contested first quarter against Fairmont Heights, but the game quickly turned lopsided in the second quarter when the Yellow Jackets outscored Fairmont Heights, 19-10, to open up a 12-point halftime lead. When Gwynn Park turned up the defense, the pressure forced the Hornets into numerous turnovers. By the time the third quarter was over, Gwynn Park led by 22. Several Gwynn Park players had big days in the victory. Leading the way was Thomas, who scored 26 points to go along with six assists. Gwynn Park senior Harold Washington had a big night, scoring 14 points to go along with six rebounds and seven assists. Achuko had 14 points and nine rebounds. Fairmont Heights fell to 13-4, 11-4 in the County 3A⁄2A⁄1A League with the loss, coupled with Friday’s setback to Friendly.

E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazette.net.

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Gwynn Park boys pound Largo by 30 points!!!

Posted by Michael Glick at Jan 23, 2008 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Largo is beaten badly 80-50 at the hands of the Yellow Jackets  

Passing game helps lift team to 30-point victory, Yellow Jacket girls suffer first loss of season

by Kevin Hilgers | Staff Writer
Friday night, said coach Mike Glick, was that the Yellow Jackets were always sure to make the extra pass. Exemplifying that patience, which suddenly thrust Gwynn Park ahead of the high-scoring Lions atop the County 3A⁄2A⁄1A League, was the senior tandem of Harold Washington and Sean Thomas.
Thomas scored 30 points on 12-for-13 shooting in the victory, with many of those points coming thanks to the quick passing of Washington, who had nine assists, many of which were made possible by his five steals. Besides that, Washington added 14 points.

‘‘Even in practice we’re always together, working on our camaraderie,” Thomas said. ‘‘It really helps us and it showed on the court.”

The Yellow Jackets (13-0, 9-0 after defeating Friendly on Tuesday) trailed 19-15 after the first quarter, in which Largo’s Aaron Martin scored 11 of his 13 points and the Lions’ 6-foot-11 center, Maurice Sutton (12 points, four blocks), grabbed five of his seven rebounds.

But within the first minute of the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets jumped ahead with two Washington-to-Thomas transition layups. With four minutes before halftime, Thomas swiped a ball from Largo and fed Washington for a two-handed dunk to end a 6-0 run that put Gwynn Park ahead for good, 29-25.

Washington returned the favor to his teammate for his own jam, and the Yellow Jackets, who had been blown out in two of their last three meetings with Largo, had a 10-point lead. The difference grew to 30 when Tim Floyd hit a crowd-rousing 3-pointer at the final buzzer, giving Largo its first regular-season loss in the county in two seasons.

‘‘It was pretty shocking for us because the first half was back and forth and a real close game,” Washington said. ‘‘It was surprising when we were up by 20.”

Gwynn Park held Largo (11-2, 8-1 after defeating Forestville on Tuesday), which averaged 85 points entering the game, to a season low in scoring and limited the Lions to just two field goals in the fourth quarter, piling on to its 52-45 lead entering the period.

When they weren’t scoring in transition, the Yellow Jackets were cycling the ball around the perimeter, taking their time to make plays inside for easy baskets and dictating the pace.

‘‘That was the execution of the game plan to perfection for us, especially in the second half,” Glick said. ‘‘Our players were able to play with controlled discipline and handle the pressure.”

Chibuike Achuko scored 14 points for Gwynn Park and Corey Anderson chipped in 10. Klevin Pollard added 13 points for Largo, which will get a chance to get back at the Yellow Jackets when the Lions play host to the rematch on Feb. 19.

E-mail Kevin Hilgers at khilgers@gazette.net.

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Gwynn Park Patiently Takes It To Largo

Posted by Michael Glick at Jan 20, 2008 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ron Bailey, Publisher

 

 

January 20, 2008 – The assumed Prince George’s Count 3A/2A league’s game of the year to date didn’t quite live up to the hype, as Gwynn Park (Clinton, MD) used a 15-6 run in the third quarter to distance themselves from previously unbeaten Largo (Upper Marlboro, MD), only to run away with the game for a 80-50 win Friday night. The home standing victors were led by senior guard Sean Thomas’ 30 points, along with 16 from fellow fourth year backcourt man, Harold Washington.

Starting the game in an unusual box-and-one defensive alignment focusing on Largo’s Kevin Pollard (13 points), Gwynn Park more or less traded baskets with the Lion. After the game’s first basket, a shot by Washington, it wouldn’t be until Thomas’ back to back layups, the last of which tickled the twin with 7:20 to go in the second quarter, that Gwynn Park would again lead.

Gwynn Park's dynamic backcourt duo of Sean Thomas (l.) and Harold Washington.

Though the Yellow Jackets led 37-32 at intermission, the game’s pace more or less favored Largo, probably known as the Washington, D.C. area’s most consistently frenetic team on both sides of the court, given their pressure defense and relentless attack offensively.

To combat that, Gwynn Park’s coach, Mike Glick, came into the game knowing both handling Largo’s full court pressure and half court traps, in addition to controlling pace would be key.

“A lot credit goes to our J.V. team” said school’s coach on his team’s preparation for Largo’s defense. “We practiced against seven or eight of them. It really helped us handle their pressure”.

Given that “Largo is the leading scoring team in the area”, Glick shared “our goal was to keep the game’s (offensive) pace under control”, something Thomas seemed to do in earnest, starting in the third quarter: Sean directed his team to a 52-40 advantage, leading through defensive intensity, smart overall play, and by forcing his team to stick to its game plan of sharing the ball, thereby forcing Largo to play defense for extended periods of time. This included one possession that lasted close to two minutes.

“Coach told us to slow the ball down” revealed Thomas, before adding “When we slowed the ball down, held it for like 30 seconds, they broke down. Our game plan worked. They were very well scouted”.

Pic - “I know my team needed a boost in the second half”, so I knew me and Harold Washington had to pick the team up”.

Glick said of his leader “He’s the heart and soul of our team. I give him all the credit. He really stepped up when we lost our point guard (earlier this season”.

After a stretch where two double technical fouls were issued by the referees in an effort to calm emotions, Gwynn Park continued their pass-centric halfcourt offensive focus, as well as seeing Thomas et al create more turnovers. The team as a whole hit numerous foul shots down the stretch.

Glick responded “I’d say so”, when asked of this was his team’s biggest win of the year. “They are the only team we haven’t beat since I’ve been at Gwynn Park (two seasons). And they beat us in the playoffs last year”.

Chibuike Achuko (42) had 14 points while battling inside.

 

Washington, agreed, but added “It’s one of our biggest wins league wise, but I’d say Randallstown (a Baltimore County school that was defeated 73-60 in the Bay Ball Classic) was our biggest game, because we’ll probably meet them down the line, in the state semifinals”.

Such long term thinking is good, but the road to the Comcast Center for Gwynn Park (12-0, 8-0 in league play) will still likely go through Largo (10-2, 7-1), where a February 19th tilt looms.

Stay tuned, the 3A/2A is heating up.


Notes:

Thomas Time: When his team pulled away in the third quarter, Sean Thomas was all over the place, scoring and defending. One play, which occurred at the end of that run, exemplified his impact: Though he created a steal out of a 2-3 zone defense, Thomas was unable to corral the rock. Smartly, he softly tipped the ball ahead, which was gathered by a teammate, before getting off the deck, racing down the floor, and scoring on a layup.

A Swarm of ‘Jacks: In addition to Thomas and Washington, senior Chibuike Achuko also dropped 14 points, in addition to manning the boards. A standout in football, Achuko is being recruited by a number of Ivy League-caliber schools in that sport.