No. 15 Mustangs close strong after blowing fourth quarter lead to remain undefeated in Anne Arundel County boys basketball

Kyree Scott answered the call for Meade boys basketball Friday evening. The senior scored 18 points, including two 3-point plays in the final quarter as the 15th-ranked Mustangs remained undefeated in Anne Arundel County league play with a 67-60 home victory over Northeast. (Trevor Colgan)

Kyree Scott smiled as he walked to the free throw line late in the waning seconds of Friday’s Meade/Northeast boys basketball game.

The Meade guard converted a basket and was fouled. He completed the 3-point play with the free throw which was enough for the 15th-ranked and host Mustangs to outlast Northeast, 67-60, in Anne Arundel County.

“It’s a big win,” Scott said. “That’s what we needed. We’ve been playing up and down, this is the first good game we’ve had for all 32 minutes. That’s what we needed for the next level.”

The victory keeps the Mustangs (10-1 overall, 8-0 Anne Arundel), the defending Anne Arundel regular season champs, tied atop the standings with South River (7-0 Anne Arundel).

The big individual matchup was Meade’s Xavion Roberson against Northeast’s Cameron Albury. The dynamic guards didn’t disappoint, with Roberson scoring 18, and Albury finishing with 16.

But there were other showstoppers Friday evening. Shawn Jones led all scorers with 21 for the Mustangs with Scott pitching in 18. The Eagles got 20 points from Shamar Johnson and Jaydss Fifer added 14.

Meade’s senior experience proved valuable Friday, especially Scott’s.

Mustangs coach Mike Glick called him the “MVP” of Friday’s game.

“He’s been really really playing well,” Glick said. “He just gives us that third scoring option, that third punch. That really gives us another level.”

Meade led 15-13 after the opening quarter before extending its lead to 37-30 at halftime. Roberson scored eight points in the second quarter, while Jones scored six.

The Mustangs led 57-47 in the fourth quarter after a Jones layup, but Northeast went on a 10-0 run, featuring six points from Johnson, to pull even.

Meade responded as Roberson hit from three, and Scott converted a 3-point play for a 63-57 lead. Fifer’s 3-pointer brought the Eagles to 63-60 before another 3-point play by Jones helped put the Mustangs over the top.

“It’s just a really good high school game,” Glick said. “I was really proud of our kids. It’s a typical game where you can never get out in front, they kept coming back. I was really proud of how resilient our guys were.”

Northeast coach Roger O’Dea was proud of his team’s tenacity, battling back from 10 points down in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles (10-3, 5-2 Anne Arundel), however, weren’t able to close the deal.

“Just off on a couple things,” O’Dea said. “Just lost a little focus here and there.”

Which was what Meade had in the end.

“We got experience,” Scott said. “We don’t panic.”

NO. 15 MEADE 67, NORTHEAST 60

Meade – Xavion Roberson 18, Shawn Jones 21, Kyree Scott 18, John Teague 4, Lucaya Baldridge 6. Totals 26 11-18 67.

Northeast – Cameron Albury 16, Jadyss Fifer 14, Tim Saval 2, Shamar Johnson 20, Johnnie Hutton 2, Anthony Sheehan 2, Chase Buttry 4. Totals 25 7-8 60.

Meade 15 22 16 14 — 67

Northeast 13 17 17 13 — 60