After sitting most of the second period with foul trouble, Ronnie Johnson returned to score 21 of his team-high 27 points in the second half last night and lead No. 10 Annapolis (2-0) to a 67-66 victory over No. 19 Glen Burnie (0-2).
Johnson's scored 13 third-period points and eight in the final three minutes to enable the Panthers to overcome game-high totals of 28 points and 18 rebounds by Glen Burnie junior Desmond Dailey.
Annapolis had a 57-52 lead with 3:59 left, but the Gophers cut it to 57-56 with 3:10 left on two put-backs by Rocky Newton (six points).
The first of Johnson's four field goals down the stretch gave the Panthers a 59-56 lead before Dailey's first of back-to-back three-pointers tied it at 59 with 2:32 left.
Johnson hit two more, including a left-handed turnaround jumper in the paint to make it 63-59, but Chris Witherspoon answered for the Gophers to cut it to 63-61 with 1:40 left.
An Annapolis turnover and Dailey's three-pointer with 55 seconds on the clock put the Gophers on top by 64-63 only to have Johnson drive one more time for a short jumper and 65-64 lead with 35 seconds left.
Down the other end, Dailey missed a three, and Newton fouled Teshawn Cooper (six points, seven assists, two steals).
Cooper hit both ends with 18 seconds showing and Annapolis coach John Brady called a timeout to warn his team against committing fouls.
Dailey put up two from three-point range, but both were off the mark and Quincy Caldwell put back the second one as time ran out.
"It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it," said Brady. "They shot bad the other night [Glen Burnie lost at Broadneck, 72-46, Wednesday], but sure didn't tonight.
"They're quick and we're fortunate to get out of here with a win. Ronnie saved it."
Glen Burnie coach Terry Bogle was elated over his team's turnaround from its first game and said he was "really proud of the way we played."
With 6:23 left in the second period, Johnson, who scored six points in the first period, was called for his third foul and went to the bench for the remainder of the half.
Dailey, who had five three-pointers on the night, scored 18 and pulled down 12 rebounds in the first half to leave the two teams tied at 29 at the break. The Gophers out-rebounded the Panthers 22-18 in the first half and held a 13-6 edge in offensive boards.
"They killed us on the boards [40-31 for the game, 21-12 offensive rebounds] and not getting second shots hurt us all night," said Brady.
Glen Burnie took a quick 33-29 lead on baskets by Terry Gaither (eight points, four assists and seven steals) and Damon Flamer (11 points, five boards). Johnson then hit his first shot of the second half, a three-pointer to cut it to 33-32 with 6:30 left in the third.
With Johnson scoring 10 more and Ryan Dacey (eight points) tossing in a three and Cooper adding a field goal and two free throws, the Panthers took a 49-48 lead into the final period.
"They just got to us at the end, and we couldn't stop Johnson and those turnaround jumpers," said Bogle. "Gaither and Newton were both sick in school today, but still played and hung in there.
"The effort was really there and playing this way should get us going."