An aggressive offensive attack propelled Aberdeen past host Patterson Mill, 61-49, Monday night in an Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference girls basketball game that left both teams with 11-1 Chesapeake Division records.
"We just told them, we needed to be smart, because we were coming off some snow days and layups are the easiest baskets to make," Aberdeen coach Amber Milnes said. "They came out and we've got three seniors on the floor and all five of these girls have played in these games and they wanted it, they wanted to win and they played like that."
The Eagles (16-2) led at the start on a Kierra Palmer free throw, resulting from a pre-game technical foul against the Huskies bench.
The 1-0 lead didn't last long, but the one free throw was the difference through one full quarter that kept Aberdeen ahead, 17-16.
Scoring was light in the second quarter and Aberdeen led, 26-22, at the half. Aberdeen used a five-point spurt from Stephanie Jones to lead 26-18, but Patterson Mill (15-5) scored four unanswered in the final 2:00 to trim the lead.
The second half belonged to the Eagles and more specifically, junior center Endia Jones. Jones scored on a put back to open the third quarter and then with 3:01 left in the quarter, went to the line on Qalea Ismail's fourth foul.
Jones, who scored 10 of her 18 total points in third quarter, made both free throws and the next time down the floor, added a three-point play. The five points broke a 35-all tie.
"I had to find a body and I had to block out better and I was getting easier looks because Kierra was driving," Jones said. "We had to play our game, play smart and execute better than we did last game."
Aberdeen dropped the first meeting on its own floor, 58-54, in mid-December.
The Eagles ended the quarter with a bang and 10-point lead (47-37) when Najze Norton (20 points) banked in a long three-pointer at the buzzer.
The lead quickly jumped to 14, 51-37, to begin the fourth quarter on back-to-back baskets from Stephanie Jones and Endia Jones. With 5:22 left, Aberdeen led 55-40 and with 4:15 to play, led, 57-42. Both stoppages were Patterson Mill timeouts.
The Huskies put together a seven-point run following the second timeout to come within eight, 57-49, but Aberdeen worked the clock and added the game's final four points to close out the win.
Stephanie Jones added 13 points for the Eagles. Ismail, despite fouling out late, led the Huskies with 15 points. Chyna Latimer added 14 points and Sam Herman, back from a shoulder injury, scored 13 points.
"They did a great job penetrating the zone and I don't know how many points Endia had, but she was fantastic tonight," Huskies coach Holly Ismail said. "They have a size advantage and strength advantage as well over us down there."
Cobras top Cougars
Harford Tech(15-4) picked up a non-division win Monday night, defeating visiting Fallston, 42-34.
The Cougars (7-13) led at half, 19-13.
Jonna Maddoxled the Cobras with 17 points and six assists and Brianna McAllisteradded 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Other Monday scores
In two non-division games, North Harford (7-10) beat visiting Havre de Grace (10-10), 38-21, and C. Milton Wright (17-5) lost at Carver Vo-Tech, 48-45.
Cobras beat Tigers
The Harford Techgirls basketball team put itself into a position to share the UCBAC Susquehanna Division championship Thursday night, beating previously unbeaten Rising Sun, 55-36. The Cobras and Tigers (17-4) both stand at 13-1 with all division games played.
Tech led Thursday's game at the half, 30-16.
Jonna Maddox had the hot hand for Tech, scoring 23 points. She also had six steals and 10 assists. Brianna McAllister, whorecorded the double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, added six steals and six assists. Breyana McWhite contributed six points and 10 rebounds.
Mustangs beat Hawks
C. Milton Wright (7-4, 17-4) added another Chesapeake win Thursday, defeating visiting North Harford, 50-21. The Hawks dipped to 2-9, 6-10.
Three for CMW scored in double figures – Ayreka Browning had 13 points, Erin Triolo added 12 and Emma Hahner finished with 11 points.
North Harford was led by Claudia Deventi's nine points.
Warriors beat Panthers
Havre de Grace (7-6, 10-9) has been teetering with the .500 mark all season and Thursday the Warriors slipped back over it, beating visiting Perryville, 54-25, in Susquehanna play.
Addie Richardson led three Warriors in double figures scoring with 17. Samara White added 14 and Taylor Smith scored 12. Senior Geesha Martin contributed six points on Senior Night for Havre de Grace.
Other Thursday scores
In other Thursday games, Aberdeen (10-1, 15-2) rolled over host Edgewood (3-10, 3-12), 72-11, in Chesapeake play. Also in Chesapeake play, Bel Air (5-6, 6-13) beat visiting Fallston (0-10, 7-12), 45-25.