Mt. Hebron girls basketball coach Anthony Bell told his team before Monday's showdown at Glenelg that if they played their best game they wouldn't have to practice Tuesday.
So when Bell told the girls practice would be at 2 p.m. on the day before Christmas Eve, his player's faces dropped. Only then did he announce he was joking and the sense of relief overcame the girl's faces again.
The Vikings dominated from start to finish and played their most complete game – offensively and defensively – in a 55-26 win to remain undefeated.
"I think that was for the day off," Bell said. "The energy, the effort, they really wanted to do their Christmas shopping."
Bell thought this game – the last before Christmas break – against the Gladiators would be a trap game. His players proved otherwise.
"I was just impressed with the heart and character these girls stepped out with," Bell said, "To come in here and win by 30-plus points, it's definitely a statement game. Every game these girls are showing me more and more that they're legit."
Mt. Hebron started out the game hot and had a game plan set to slow Glenelg's offense down – shut down standout freshman point guard Jessica Foster.
"Unfortunately when you have one player that you run everything through, you see what happens," Bell said. "You need to have a few more, so we knew if we could slow down (Foster) we would be in a good situation."
The Vikings were missing two starters and a key bench player because of an illness going around the team, but it didn't seem to matter.
Mt. Hebron led 15-7 after the first quarter and senior Megan Konig, who is also battling the illness going around, scored five points in the second quarter to extend the lead to 27-14 going into halftime.
Bell emphasized coming out of halftime and into the second half executing and firing on all cylinders. His team – especially Konig, sophomore guard Shane Devine and senior guard Meghan Doherty – responded.
Konig opened the half with a 3-pointer, but junior Chelsea Henggeler and sophomore Julia Wolfrey hit a jumper and 3-pointer for the Gladiators to cut the lead to 11.
Doherty answered with a 3-pointer, followed by a free throw by junior Peyton LeConte and Devine hit a long two and then a 3-pointer of her own to extend the to 39-19. Doherty nailed another 3-pointer to end the quarter and give the Vikings a 42-21 lead.
"Third quarter, we were ready to come out," Bell said.
Mt. Hebron cruised the rest of the way, and Bell was able to clear his bench in the fourth quarter.
Bell is excited about the potential of his team and thinks they are built for the long haul.
"We have a lot of seniors and a mix of young kids and they're focused," he said. "It doesn't take a lot for me to motivate these kids because they have a mission on their own. We all have the same goal. I couldn't be coaching a better group of young ladies."
Mt. Hebron 55, Glenelg 26
MH: Green 18, Doherty 11, Konig 11, Devine 10, Toth 4, LeConte 1.
G: Johnson 7, Foster 5, Wolfrey 5, Henggeler 4, Arrington 3, Butera 2.
Half: 27-14 MH.
Other scores:
Howard 52, Long Reach 46
Ho: Batterton 21, Scott 10, Furr 8, Talley 8, Lewis 3, Kinsey 2.
LR: Matta 18, Williams 9, Green 8, Ezimaro 5, Malone 3.
Half: 28-15 Ho.
Oakland Mills 52, Marriotts Ridge 32
OM: Lockwood 15, Jones-Carter 11, Diggs 10, Jackson 7, Weiss 4, Mallory 4, Pacheco 1.
MR: S. Blalock 9, Sullivan 8, Hockensmith 4, Nelson 4, Stepke 3, C. Blalock 2.
Half: 27-22 OM.
River Hill 58, Hammond 37
Atholton 42, Reservoir 26