I have to let you know of my disappointment in regard to the important girls basketball game played Monday night at Patterson Mill. The game was a rescheduled UCBAC Chesapeake Division game against Aberdeen.
You ask, what is there to be disappointed about? Immediately, I'd say attendance.
These are the two best girls basketball teams in Harford or Cecil counties, which make up the UCBAC, and have been for the past couple of years.
Now, if that's not enough, it's a match of teams who put a committed Division I player on the court. If you missed it, that's Patterson Mill senior Qalea Ismail to Princeton and Aberdeen junior Stephanie Jones to Maryland.
The most current rankings show Princeton (25-0) as the country's only undefeated team, but a top 25 ranking of 14th. Maryland (24-2) is ranked fifth and former Aberdeen Eagle, sophomore Brionna Jones, Stephanie Jones' sister, is a major contributor.
I guess it's all about the competition as those rankings go.
Speaking of competition, there was no lack of that in Monday's game.
With much anticipation, the question of whether Huskies senior point guard Sam Herman could play loomed in my mind. Look, without her, Patterson Mill is a different team.
A quick look inside the gym my answer was revealed. Herman was actively working out in pre-game, and learning she had been cleared by her doctor, I knew it was game on.
Herman had not played since Feb. 9, but having watched her for four years, I expected nothing but her normal full energy effort.
Aberdeen has its own go-getters as well in seniors Nazje Norton and Kierra Palmer. Talk about getting the ball up the court and then getting back to play solid defense.
While the pre-named players did what they do game in and game out, the one who really stood out and proved to be the difference in the game was Aberdeen junior Endia Jones.
Jones, who's not related to Stephanie or Brionna, scored two baskets in a first quarter that was as back and forth early as an tennis match. She was shut out in quarter two, but somehow the Eagles managed to still lead at half.
Jones took over in third quarter, scoring 10 points, including making four of five free throws. While she could have scored more, Jones' ability to keep the ball alive on the offensive end was key.
Norton's buzzer-beating, three-point bank shot at the end of quarter three didn't hurt the Eagles chances either.
I have to add, in a game that seemed very physical and called less so, it was surprising to see Ismail foul out.
These two teams will head in different directions, but with the same goal in mind: win a state championship. Aberdeen is a year removed from back-to-back 3A titles, while Patterson Mill is defending 2A champ.