With two long winning streaks and a Baltimore County championship game berth on the line, the intensity was high when Catonsville hosted Western Tech on Friday night.
With the Comets leading 19-18 midway through the second quarter, the game looked like it might go down to the wire.
But the Comets blitzed the Wolverines with a smothering defense that sparked a 16-0 run and 35-18 lead.
Catonsville extended its lead in the second half and cruised to its 10th straight victory, 56-32.
With one game remaining in divisional play (at Woodlawn on Feb. 23) the Comets (17-4) improved to 10-0 while the second-place Wolverines (12-8) dropped to 9-2 in league play.
"We knew that we had to win this game to get to counties and all of us were really intense downstairs before the game," said senior Renee Gast, who scored a game-high 21 points. "We knew what we had to do."
Gast scored 16 points in the first half, including six during the 16-0 run.
Freshmen Jasmine Dickey (16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists) and Jemelia Barrett (6 points, 5 rebounds) combined for 10 points in the second quarter.
"I thought changing that defense midway through and picking up the tempo a little bit and being able to get some turnovers and extend out the lead and that was critical," Catonsville coach Mike Mohler said.
Andrea McTaggart gave the team a spark late in the first quarter when she had a basket, steal and two assists off the bench.
She finished with a team-high four assists and six points in her new role.
"I give Andrea credit," Mohler said. "She has started every game except when she was sick since her freshman year. I said 'Bottom line, I think we are better as a team with you coming off the bench.' She is such a smart player and we call her coach for a reason. She'll be a great coach. She's a smart player and she knows what we want."
Lauren McDonald and Tiarra Horne also knows what the coach wants — defense — and they delivered with seven steals each.
The Comets finished with 23 steals and Western Tech committed 30 turnovers and attempted just 38 field goals, while the Comets were 24-for-62 from the field.
"We knew before the game we needed to keep the intensity up the entire game," said Gast, who added two steals and seven rebounds.
Catonsville's defense held the Wolverines to just four field goals in the second half, all by freshman Kayla Spruill.
Spruill led the Wolverines with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
"She is tough," Mohler said. "She's a very good player." Deja Dennis added eight points for the Wolverines, but four other Wolverines combined for just eight points.
Scoring has been a strength for the Wolverines who came into the game on an eight-game winning streak, but the Comets kept up the pressure all over the court and also outrebounded the Wolverines 40-24.
"They are a great basketball team and they've been good for quite some time two decades plus," said Western Tech coach Alan Lagon whose squad had won eight consecutive games. "Their depth really showed tonight and our inexperience. We have a young team and Catonsville was a daunting task."
Despite the win, Catonsville coach Mohler was concerned about his squad's 19 turnovers, including 10 in the first quarter when Spruill (4 steals), Dennis (3 steals) and Ashley Gourdine (2 steals) spearheaded a tenacious Wolverine defense.
"My line to the kids any time is 'I strive for perfection.'
It's an old Vince Lombardi line: 'If you strive for perfection, you might just get excellence.' There are things that I cringe at," Mohler said.
Not playing a game in a week and only practicing twice may be a reason for the rustiness.
"We are not sharp," Mohler said. "The effort was fine, but we are not sharp doing the little things that a team like Milford is going to take advantage of."
Note: The Catonsville boys varsity defeated Western Tech, 46-37 and will host Woodlawn on Monday, Feb. 23 at 5:30. The winner of that game will play against Hereford in the Baltimore County championship game on Feb. 24 at Towson University.
Scoring
Catonsville 56
Renee Gast 21, Jasmine Dickey 16, Jemelia Barrett 6, Andrea McTaggart 6, Maja Wichhart 5, Destiny Bennett 2.
Western Tech 32
Kayla Spruill 16, Deja Dennis 8, Madison Leggette 3, Ashley Gourdine 2, Jasmine Drayton 2, Kayla Moore 1.