Howard County, MD — Despite returning three players from last season, Reservoir boys basketball didn’t panic facing a 40-32 fourth-quarter deficit at Atholton on Friday night.
Several players contributed to the comeback, but the one commonality was stellar free throw shooting.
In regaining the leading and securing a 54-50 win, the Gators (3-0 county, 4-1 overall) shot 10-for-12 from the foul line in the final frame, Junior guard Kaden Toler (10 points) — one of three Gators in double figures — made all six of his attempts from the charity strike.
Atholton (2-1, 3-3) built its lead entering the fourth quarter thanks to a solid start after intermission. Parkins scored half of the team’s 16 points during the third period, and the Raiders held their opponent to nine points in the stanza. It appeared they’d remain undefeated in county play entering their Christmas tournament.
Instead, Reservoir rattled off 22 points in the final frame to keep its league record unblemished.
River Hill remains undefeated
While Jaden Martin returned to form after scoring four points River Hill’s win over Old Mill earlier this week, fellow senior guard Jacob Krause again carried the Hawks in their 61-58 win at Marriotts Ridge on Friday night.
Krause, who is averaging 16.2 points per game, scored a game-high 20 points as River Hill (3-0, 6-0) pulled out the victory despite trailing with about two minutes to go. Krause has now scored double-digit points in all six games.
Junior forward Brandon Held (19 points) seemingly did all he could for Marriotts Ridge, who are still looking for their first conference win six games into the season. The Mustangs were up, 58-55, in the final minutes before the Hawks six unanswered points to end the game.
The Mustangs’ three county losses have come by a combined 12 points.
Box scores:
Reservoir (3-0 county, 4-1 overall) — 54, Atholton (2-1, 3-3) — 50
Re — Moore 11, Soto 10, Toler 10, Odunowo 8, Okolo 6, Barrett 5, Bradford 2, McCallum 2.
A — Murray 15, Oates 14, Parkins 12, Robinson 7, Marsh 2.
Half: 24-23, A
River Hill (3-0, 6-0) — 61, Marriotts Ridge (0-3, 1-5) — 58
Howard County Times: Top stories
RH — Krause 20, Martin 19, Champion 12, McKenna 6 Daniels 4.
MR — Held 19, Lee 12, Brennan 9, Demirel 9, Cole Brown 6, Ingersoll 3.
Half: 30-29, RH
Fairmont Heights Christmas Tournament
Chapelgate (6-6) — 71, Eastern — 62
CH — Hatcher 21, Dickerson 20, Wise- 15, Morant 5, Heard 5, Wesley 5.
Half: 39-33, CH