In his first year as Meade coach, all Phil Popielski wanted for Christmas for his girls basketball team was a tournament.
Because the Mustangs hadn't had one in years and weren't certain of being invited to one coming off a 2-18 season, Popielski took matters into his own hands.
He staged a tournament himself.
The Mustangs routed Oakland Mills, 51-36, yesterday in the tournament's first round, and Linganore coasted past Northern-Calvert, 63-35.
Meade (3-3) will play Linganore (6-1) for the championship today after Oakland Mills (2-4) and Northern (2-4) meet in the consolation at 1:30.
Oakland Mills played without three starters -- Ginny Dye, Terri Hayman and Ny Ford -- who are in a soccer tournament in Miami.
Also missing was a key reserve, Sommers Richards, who had the flu.
"We'll do the best we can," coach Teresa Waters said before the game. "We'll have fun. I'm reminding the girls this tournament doesn't affect the county standings."
Going into the game, Meade's Popielski was looking to reduce turnovers. Sophomore point guard Amy Cronin and freshman guard Dena Eldridge are running the offense.
Cronin, for one, didn't make many yesterday. She had 12 points by halftime and 14 for the game. Eldridge contributed seven.
L The Mustangs led by 22 in the second quarter, yet won by 15.
"I'm disappointed in that," Popielski said. "We couldn't put them away.
"Yet here we are, a young team with a 3-3 record and a chance to win our own tournament. We will have played three ranked teams in our first seven games -- Old Mill, Arundel and Linganore. I believe in Denny Crum's philosophy at Louisville -- play tough games early because it makes you better when it counts later."
Under the circumstances, Oakland Mills played respectably. Lauren McHargue led with 19 points.
"I'm not disappointed," Waters said. "The team was real, real tense and got off to a slow start."
In breezing past Northern, Linganore was led by Cara Consuegra (23 points) and Melissa Kelly (12). Linganore raced to a 23-7 first-quarter advantage and was never threatened.
"It's been awhile since we played a game -- 10 days," coach Brian Matthews said. "We were rusty and it showed in our shooting. This was our seventh game, but it seemed like our first."