In yesterday's "Prophet Pat" column, some high school scores and tournament seedings were incorrect.
Meade and Severna Park met twice this season in boys basketball, and the Mustangs won both games.
Old Mill's boys basketball team is seeded fifth in Class 4A Region IV.
At this time of the year, you've got to be at your best whether you are running in a primary for Congress or president or competing in the high school hoop playoffs.
The Prophet was 5-1 in the important final games of the regular season.
It would have been a perfect slate going into the playoffs for the Prophet had it not been for Old Mill's total collapse at Chesapeake (9-13) last Friday. Old Mill's boys (14-9) went in a four-point Prophet favorite, but lost, 73-51.
The Prophet was dead center on his other five picks, running his overall record to 129-65 (.665 percentage). Annapolis was a two-point pick to bounce back from its 61-57 loss last Tuesday to Meade by defeating Severna Park. The Panthers (20-2) outlasted the 16-7 Falcons, 86-83.
Meade (15-7) was a three-point pick to win at Glen Burnie (12-11) and seal the No. 2 seed behind Annapolis in the 4A Region IV playoffs. It beat the Gophers, 71-44.
Broadneck (14-9) needed a victory at home Friday over Arundel (9-13) to guarantee home-court advantage as No. 4 seed in the opening round of the 4As. The Bruins routed the Wildcats, 82-64.
The Prophet also hit on South River's boys and Southern's girls. South River was predicted to blow out Queen Anne's and clinch the top seed in 3A Region IV. the Seahawks (19-3) rolled, 74-52, over the Lions (9-13).
Southern (13-9) was tabbed to defeat injury-devastated Northeast by at least two points. The Dawgs routed the 12-11 Eagles, 64-37.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Class 4A Region IVsemifinals, both games at 7 p.m. today:
Old Mill (14-9) at Annapolis (20-2): The visiting, third-seeded Patriots were feeling rather bold after upsetting Broadneck, 58-56, Monday night in Cape St. Claireto advance to this semifinal.
It was a big win, but can the Pats do it again and advance to the Region IV final Saturday night as a team of destiny?
The Prophet doesn't think they can, but admits theyare very capable and match up pretty well with the Panthers. This one should go right down to the final possession, as the last one did.
After downing the Pats, 64-52, on their home court on Jan. 17, thePanthers squeaked out a 76-74 decision in the Cap City on Feb. 18. Senior sharpshooter Rob Wooster was the difference going down the stretch, and his ability and the home court give Annapolis the edge.
And consider this: In his first 14 years at Annapolis, Coach John Brady has gotten his Panthers to the Region IV final every year. After turning in what most county coaches believe is one of his finest efforts, who could doubt that Brady will be there once again Saturday nightfor the final at College Park.
Also, Old Mill never has won a game at Annapolis. The Pats have beaten Annapolis only once since the school opened.
With Erik Sheppard back in the line-up following an academic probation, the Pats are an excellent team, and Paul Bunting can coach. Sheppard returned Monday and hit 19 points against the Bruins.
His presence offensively and defensively means a lot to Old Mill and will keep them in the game, but in the end whether it takes a foul shot, a jump shot, lay-up, steal, block or rebound, Wooster willbe there.
Wooster is the Larry Bird of county hoops and will get it done for the Panthers tonight. It will be a special night for him and his mates as they return to the Region IV final to defend their crown. Annapolis by 1 over Old Mill.
*
Severna Park (14-7) at Meade (15-7): What a great match-up this one is.
The two teams met only once this season, and Severna Park won, 73-66. Most importantly, that game was played in mid-February at Severna Park.
Since that game, Coach Butch Young's Mustangs have gotten hot, and their big guy,6-foot-8 senior Brian Parker, has been awesome. It's always been tough for opponents to play at Meade.
Last week Meade knocked off Annapolis, 61-57, becoming the first county team in 26 games (dating back to last year) to defeat the Panthers, and pulverized Glen Burnie by27 points in the regular-season final.
In the two games, Parker buried 45 points, grabbed 46 rebounds and submarined six enemy shots. His intimidating play has the Stangs on a roll, a couple of Meade players out on academic probation were expected back this week.
WhileMeade is playing its best basketball at precisely the right time, you can't be sure which Severna Park will show up tonight.
After nearly upsetting Annapolis last Friday, the Falcons opened in the playoffs at home against Glen Burnie, a club that had just been humiliated by Meade, 71-44, and found themselves 18 points behind at halftime.
Severna Park managed to come back and win, 86-75, but that was GlenBurnie, a 12-11 team. Let the Falcons get down by 18 at Meade, and they might as well not play the second half.
The Prophet is going with the team in sync, with a coach who knows how to play defense and the home-court advantage, not to mention that giant in the middle. Meade by 2 over Severna Park.
*
Class 4A Region IV championship, 7 p.m. Saturday at Annapolis: If the Prophet is right with his semifinal picks, this will be Meade at Annapolis for the right to go on to Cole Field House.
Now if the Prophet missed on his semis, this will count as one for the "L" column as well, but the sage is certain it's going to be the Stangs and Panthers.
Finding a way to frustrateParker is what Annapolis will have to do for a return trip to College Park, but if Marvin Brown plays this time, the Panthers should do whatever it takes.
This is a great rivalry, with Annapolis leading the series 27-10, but most of the games have been wars, and this one should be no different. Take the Panthers in a squeaker only because of the home-court advantage. Annapolis by 2 over Meade.
*
Class3A Region IV semis, Potomac (20-3) at South River (19-3), 7 p.m. today: South River is fortunate to be home for this game against one of the top teams in the Washington metro area. The Braves are ranked No.12 in this week's Washington Post Top 20.
They opened as the No. 4 seed at home against No. 5 Lackey of Charles County Tuesday night and routed Lackey, 69-45.
Potomac has a 6-foot-4 senior named Shannon Mason who shoots nothing but nylon from the three-point range. TheSeahawks will have to make sure he doesn't get too many opportunities, at least no more than their own Al Lee and Edmund Hicks.
Lee and Hicks will light it up and the Hawks will take a thriller to move within one of their first trip ever to College Park. South River by 1 over Potomac.
*
Class 3A Region IV championship, 7 p.m. Saturday: According to the sage's crystal ball, this game will be played in Edgewater Saturday and will be a rubber match for Cole Field House. Look for No. 3 seed Leonardtown (20-3) to win its game tonight at No. 2 Calvert High (18-3) in Calvert County and advance to the region final.
Leonardtown and South River split during the season, with the Seahawks losing the first one at the buzzer down in St. Mary's County.
The Hawks will be home Saturday, and it's their year. South River by 2 over Leonardtown.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class 4A Region IV championship, 7 p.m. Friday: Since the girls played semifinals last night,the Prophet could not pick those games, but he expected No. 1 seed Old Mill (21-1) to rip No. 4 Arundel (15-8) and No. 2 Broadneck (19-3)to eliminate No. 3 Annapolis (14-9).
What that means is tomorrow night's final should find Broadneck at defending state and region 4A champion Old Mill. The Prophet has a hunch, just a hunch, that the Bruins are going to pull off the "Upset of the Season" and knock off the Patriots.
Broadneck gave the Pats all they could handle on Jan. 31 before bowing, 51-47. The Bruins played great defense that night and will play just a little bit better this time to pull it off. Senior Jen Chapman will have her biggest night of the year on the boards and the Bruins will be going to Catonsville Community College for the first time since 1990. Broadneck by 1 over Old Mill.
The Prophet to date
Right .. Wrong .. Pct.
129.. .. 65 .. .. .665