Broadneck found itself again in a familiar position, with a berth in the finals at the Wes Unseld Holiday Tournament.
But it was an unfamiliar source who helped put it there.
Junior forward Jamaine Young came off the bench to score 27 points, leading the No. 11 Bruins (5-1) past Edmondson (5-3), 66-44,in a Green Bracket first-round game yesterday at Catonsville Community College.
Old Mill pulled the surprise of the day, stunning previously unbeaten and No. 8 Randallstown, 63-57, in a Red Bracket opening-round game.
The Patriots meet Catonsville, a 60-49 winner over Hammond, in the Red Bracket championship today at 6:15 p.m.
Broadneck will play No. 17 Loyola, a 86-68 winner over Woodlawn, for the Green Bracket championship tonight at 8. The Bruins' appearance in the finals will be its sixth in nine years.
This year's Wes Unseld Tournament has two four-team brackets. In the previous eight years, eight teams played over a three-day period.
Tournament director Brian Farrell explained that the MPSSAA had allowed the Baltimore County teams involved to use the tourney as a home game, but with the addition of the Baltimore City schools to the association that exemption was lifted making it a "standard Christmas tournament format," which has to be played in two days. Farrell said he hopes with newly voted open playoff system that the tournament can return to its previous format next season.
"Defense really turned it around for us," said Broadneck's Young. "We kept switching into different formation to keep them off balance."
The Bruins led 37-27 at halftime, but Edmondson scored the first eight of the second half to close to within, 37-35. Broadneck pulled away to a 46-39 lead after three quarters as Young scored four of the Bruins' final nine points of the third.
"He's a real dynamic player for us," said Broadneck coach Ken Kazmarek, whose team will be shooting for its fifth Unseld tourney title. "We're real fortunate to have him because he comes off the bench and gives us a spark each game."
Jason Smith added 19 points for Broadneck, which won its 16th game at the Unseld Tourney. Terrell Smith scored 22 to lead Edmondson.
Junior guard Joe Barnes scored 19 points and Jeff LeFevre contributed 11, leading Old Mill to its upset victory over Randallstown (6-1).
After leading 15-12 after the opening period, the Patriots outscored the Rams, 17-8, to open a 32-20 halftime margin, and Randallstown never recovered.
"We just came out flat and didn't play our game," said Randallstown first-year coach Kim Rivers, whose team was victimized by eight three-pointers by Old Mill. "It was an uphill battle, we kept getting close but we couldn't get over the hump."
Senior forward Mike O'Neill led five double-digit scorers for Loyola with 18 points. Matt Newmeyer added 17 and Ryan Burch contributed 14. Mark Bragg led Woodlawn (3-3) with 19 points and Keion Carpenter scored 17. Woodlawn will meet Edmondson in the Green Consolation at 4:45 p.m. today.
The Dons led 48-25 at halftime, but Woodlawn closed to within 67-59 with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter. Loyola responded by scoring the next nine, extending the margin to 17 with 3:13 to play.
"We got off to a very good start and got ahead early," said Loyola coach Jerry Savage, whose team lost to Woodlawn, 85-63, in last season's semifinals. "We were able to beat their press a little, get some easy shots at the end of it and we built up a big enough lead that we were able to withstood their run later.'
Lance Anderson led all scorers with 20 points for Randallstown, which will play Hammond in the Red Bracket consolation game today at 3 p.m. The Rams' loss was only its second in its past 20 games, dating back to last season.
For the second straight year, Catonsville defeated Hammond at the Unseld Tourney.
Senior guard Matt O'Connell scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Catonsville. Tremanyne Littlejohn added 14 and Dave Bortz added 10.
Trailing 35-34 late in the third quarter, Catonsville scored the final six points to take a 40-35 lead, and the Comets never relinquished it.