No. 9 Mustangs make free throws down stretch to remain undefeated in boys basketball

By Trevor Colgan
Published on: December 17, 2022 9:44 AM EST

Meade basketball coach Mike Glick talks strategy with his team during Friday evening’s Anne Arundel County boys contest with Arundel. The No. 9 Mustangs improved to 4-0 with a hard fought 84-78 victory in Gambrills.
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Meade High boys basketball coach Mike Glick challenged Shawn Jones this week to improve on his free throw shooting. In his team’s toughest challenge of the young season Friday, Jones came through with clutch makes from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter as No. 9 Meade defeated Arundel, 84-78, in an Anne Arundel County contest in Gambrills.

Jones paced Meade with 20 points Friday, including 4-of-7 from the stripe. He went 0-for-5 at the line in the Mustangs’ win over Severna Park earlier in the week.

“It was just the mental part of my game,” Jones said. “I just took my time, blocked out the noise and believed in my shot.”

Jones was joined at the free throw line by Xavion Roberson and Eric Brown in the final seconds as Meade remained perfect (4-0 overall and Anne Arundel) in the young season. The Mustangs made 19-of-33 free throws Friday.

It was far from perfect, but Glick saw his team do just enough to pick up a tough league win.

“For us, it’s a really good litmus test,” Glick said. “I think it wakes us up a little bit and makes us understand that every time you’re playing people are coming after you. And we have to get better.”

Meade, which reached the Class 4A state semifinals after winning the Anne Arundel regular season crown, started fast with a 10-point first quarter lead. The Mustangs upped it to 13 after a Zamar Jones 3-pointer, but Arundel, which won the Anne Arundel championship match over Meade last season, responded.

The Wildcats, behind three straight 3-pointers from Erick Beavers, cut Meade’s lead to three at 32-29. After Shawn Jones made a basket, Arundel’s Noah Frayer hit from deep to cut the Meade lead to 34-32. Kyree Scott ended the half with a three-point play to swing some momentum back to the Mustangs.

Coming out of the half, the Wildcats tied the game at 37 with a Samson Anjorin free throw and two Frayer layups. As fast as the junior captain — who scored 37 on Friday — heated up for Arundel, Roberson sparked a run of his own.

He responded with a floater to put the Mustangs back up, 39-37. With his team down, 41-40, Roberson scored the next six points after that to regrow the Mustangs lead to 46-41.

He finished with 28 points Friday.

“It makes your job a lot easier when you have a great point guard that not only can score, but facilitate,” Glick said.

Meade grew its lead to as many as 12 in the second half before the Wildcats clawed back. Frayer scored on back-to-back possessions to cut the Mustang lead to 75-72. Shawn Jones made both from the line to restore a five-point lead.

Xavion Roberson sparked Meade boys basketball to victory Friday evening with a game-high 28 points. The No. 9 Mustangs defeated Arundel in an Anne Arundel County contest. (Trevor Colgan)
Arundel (1-3, 1-1 Anne Arundel) has lost by a total of nine points in its three losses this season.

Wildcats coach Rodney Ramsey can see his team taking the next step soon.

“We’ve played great competition, and they’re young,” Ramsey said. “It’s good for us to get these bumps now.”

Though Meade answered its biggest challenge Friday, it realizes it’s only the beginning.

“I like it man, but I’m not satisfied,” Roberson said. “I want to win the county championship and the state championship this year.”

NO. 9 MEADE 84, ARUNDEL 78

Meade – Xavion Roberson 28, Shawn Jones 20, Kyree Scott 12, John Teague 4, Zamar Jones 12, Lucaya Baldridge 4, Eric Brown 2, Sylvan Amegashie 2. Totals 30 19-33 84.

Arundel – Noah Frayer 37, Samson Anjorin 8, Kofi Duro 3, Ryan Alston 7, Aqeel Sana 7, Kaled Omotosho 2, Erick Beavers 14. Totals 27 15-27 78.

Meade- 23 14 20 27 — 84

Arundel- 13 19 17 29 — 78