If last night's 80-14 romp over Chapelgate Christian Academy was any indication, Atholton's girls basketball team might finally win its own Central Maryland Tournament.
The Raiders (4-2) will meet Pallotti, a 61-58 overtime winner over Damascus, for the championship this afternoon at 4. Chapelgate (4-5) plays Damascus at noon in the consolation game.
After finishing second in all three past tournaments, the Raiders are determined to take the trophy this time.
"We're ready for Pallotti," said Raiders guard Aisha Walcott. "I think we can do it. It's our turn to win the tournament."
One of four Raiders to score in double figures last night, Walcott had 17 points. The junior guard also set a tournament single-game record for most steals with eight. That surpassed the old two-day mark of seven.
Atholton broke a handful of other team records, including most ++ points in a game, eclipsing the old mark of 69 set by the 1991 Raiders. The team also set marks for most field goals (37) and most rebounds (45) as well as best shooting percentage (51 percent).
Lea Nichols, in her first game back from a stress fracture in her lower leg, tied the record for most field goals in a game (nine) while leading the Raiders with 20 points. Sara Pierson added 15 points, and Dana Strickland had 14.
While those four players rolled up the big numbers mostly in transition, the Raiders also dominated inside with sophomore forwards Reagan Kimball (six points, six rebounds) and Katie Young (four points, seven rebounds).
Melanie Brouillard led Chapelgate with six points. Erin Collins had four.
The Flames, one of the area's better Christian school teams, just did not have the quickness nor the skill to stay with Atholton, which led 24-4 after one quarter.
"They're the best team we've played," said Chapelgate coach John Curran, whose Flames had never faced a public school team in the three-year history of their program.
"[Atholton] draws from 10 times the student body we do -- or any Christian school does, and it's a big difference.
"They have 10 players on their team, and statistically, one player from our team could make their team," said Curran, whose squad still is reeling from losing its starting point guard three weeks ago.
Curran accepted the invitation to the tournament, so the Flames could play better competition and eventually improve, a strategy Raiders coach Paul Eckert agrees with.
"It's a lot of what we go through when we play Hammond," said Eckert. "You have to look at that as a learning experience.
"You don't enjoy it while it's happening, but you try and get as much out of it as you can. Our kids are better for having played Hebron, Hammond, the better teams, and I think [Chapelgate] will be better for having played us."