Not many teams score 39 points in one quarter. Even fewer score 39 and lose. But Wilde Lake did just that yesterday at Atholton.
For three quarters No. 11 Atholton (16-1 overall, 8-1 league) outplayed Wilde Lake in every way imaginable.
Atholton's defense played especially well, limiting the Wildecats to 24 points during those three periods.
But what everyone in attendance will remember was Wilde Lake's fourth-quarter comeback -- even though it was achieved mainly against Atholton's second team.
The Wildecats (8-8, 5-4) entered the fourth quarter trailing 48-24, but sank eight three-point shots and outscored Atholton 39-22. The final score of 70-63 left Atholton players and fans somewhat disappointed and shaken.
"I was getting a little worried," said starting Atholton point guard Tyrone Allmond. "It made me think that they should have been doing that [shooting three-point shots] the whole game."
Wilde Lake took few three-pointers in the first half. Instead, the Wildecats concentrated on trying to go inside to 6-foot-8 1/2 center Carl Jackson. That strategy proved bankrupt against a quick, tall and talented Atholton front court of D.J. Chiles (18 points), Varian Harvey and Nat Watkins. Jackson scored two points and had two rebounds.
"Jackson is a player who is capable of dominating a game, and we had to try to go to him," Wilde Lake coach Paul Ellis said. "It's easy to shoot well when you're 25 points behind. Our three-point-shooting percentage for the season is not very good."
Wilde Lake experienced major problems against Atholton's press and turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter and five times in the second quarter.
"We got tentative, and once you get tentative you can't play against the press," Ellis said."
Still, Wilde Lake hung close through the second quarter, trailing 20-16.
That's when Brian Benden (13 points) and Allmond (12 points) sank back-to-back three-point baskets that triggered a 25-0 run by Atholton, which held its biggest lead -- 29 points -- at 45-16 in the third.
Wilde Lake's Jeff Johnson (14 points), who sank four three-pointers, hit two at the end of the third quarter. And Brian Sterling (18 points) and Aaron Peterson (15 points) each made three three-points shots in the fourth quarter and Johnson hit two more.
Overall, Wilde Lake sank 14 of 25 shots in the fourth period after making just 10 of 38 in three quarters.
"My kids played an incredible fourth quarter," said Ellis, a coaching veteran of 25 years. "I've never had a team of mine score 39 points in one quarter."
* Lake Clifton 64, Southern-B 63: Shawnta Rogers scored 25 points and Reggie Frazier added 11 as top-ranked Lake Clifton (14-1), ranked No. 14 nationally by USA Today, held off visiting and No. 4 Southern-B (8-7).