Engaged in a tight contest late in the fourth quarter against Frederick's St. John's-Prospect Hall in the Holly and Hoops Tournament at Essex Community College last night, Severna Park coach Kevin McGrath told his team that it had two options.
"I told them if you can't pull it out, we can come early [for today's consolation game], or if you win the ballgame, we can play in the prime-time game [tonight]," he said. Welcome to prime time, Severna Park.
Despite a 28-point performance by Prospect Hall sophomore Nicole Teasley, the eighth-ranked Falcons emerged with a 61-58 overtime victory in the Holly Division.
Severna Park (6-0) will meet No. 4 Hammond (4-2), a 56-51 winner over No. 2 St. Frances (7-2), in tonight's championship game at 8.
Angela DeSalvo scored 16 points to lead the Falcons. Jennifer Holmes (12 points), Alli Adams (11) and Sandy Jenkin (10) also scored in double figures for the winners.
The Falcons had led by as many as 14 points early in the third quarter before the Vikings rallied to take a brief lead before settling for a 54-54 tie at the end of regulation.
"We've had other clubs, where once they fall behind, it's quitting time," McGrath said. "I'm proud of the girls."
Prospect Hall (7-6) had taken its first lead at 50-48 on Angela Kennedy's three-pointer with 3:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Severna Park then went on a 5-2 run to reclaim the lead, and extended its advantage to 54-52 when Lauryn McAlister made the front end of a one-and-one with :11 left.
Zeke Lindsay grabbed the rebound off McAlister's missed second attempt and passed the ball to Teasley, who sliced through the Falcons' defense for the game-tying basket with :02 remaining.
Severna Park seized a 57-54 lead in the first four seconds of overtime when DeSalvo completed a three-point play.
Teasley then scored the next two baskets to give the Vikings a 58-57 edge with 2:28 left.
But Adams answered with a short jumper with 1:25 remaining to put the Falcons back on top, 59-58. The Vikings did not score again.
On the down side for the Falcons, Jenkin missed nearly half the game with an injury to her left hand and her status for tonight's game is uncertain, McGrath said.
In the other Holly Division game, Hammond went on a 15-2 run in the final 2:39 to turn an eight-point deficit into a five-point victory.
The game was marred by a bench-clearing scuffle late in the second quarter that resulted in the ejection of two All-Metro players -- Hammond's Tiki Nicholson and St. Frances' Melba Chambers.
In the Hoops Division yesterday, No. 20 Loch Raven (4-1) upset No. 14 Mount Hebron (4-3), 47-37, and No. 10 Seton Keough (7-1) routed C. Milton Wright (3-3), 65-32.
Loch Raven and Seton Keough will play for the championship tonight at 6. Mount Hebron will face C. Milton Wright in the consolation game at 2.
Kelley Powell and Nicole Froman scored 13 points apiece to lead Loch Raven.
In the other Hoops Division game, Melanie Morris scored 12 to pace Seton Keough.