Arundel didn't need to go into overtime to defeat Old Mill yesterday. The only requirement was rapid improvement over the first 16, often miserable, minutes.
The seventh-ranked Wildcats overcame sloppiness and poor shooting in the opening half to stay unbeaten with a 48-40 victory over No. 12 Old Mill in Gambrills.
Chavonne Hammond and Jen Mottar each scored 15 points, enabling the Wildcats (21-0, 13-0) to sweep the Patriots (15-6, 9-4). They won in overtime, 47-45, Jan. 27.
Hammond also had 13 rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks. Mottar contributed 15 rebounds, five steals and two assists. Erin Wilmer scored seven points, and Shannon Noon had six points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
A victory Friday over Severna Park (19-2, 12-1) would give Arundel the No. 1 seeding in next week's Class 4A East Region playoffs and its first county championship since 1959. It is guaranteed at least a share of the title.
The Wildcats had to overcome their largest deficit this season, 15-4. They made two of 14 shots and committed 11 turnovers in the first quarter, when they fell behind 9-4, and were 7-of-33 with 17 turnovers by halftime.
Still, they had a 16-15 lead on two baskets by Hammond in the last 47 seconds. She scored their last six points, but picked up her third foul.
"I was thinking of taking her out," said Arundel coach Lee Rogers, "but we talked to her about it and she's played enough basketball and has played with foul trouble. Knowing how important it was, she wanted to stay in the game."
Hammond wasn't the only player racking up fouls. Mottar and Old Mill's Tinnell Slade had three by halftime. Slade and teammate Dana Dawson fouled out in the last 46 seconds.
The Patriots didn't look much better in the first half. Though they shot with more accuracy (6-of-20), they also made 18 turnovers.
The level of play picked up noticeably in the last two quarters. There were six lead changes and one tie, and Arundel went ahead for good, 26-24, on a follow by Mottar with 1:58 left in the third quarter.
It was 34-25 early in the fourth when Old Mill's Mary Chicorelli made a three-pointer and Dawson scored on a put-back. The lead shrank to 36-34 on a three-pointer by Slade with 2:32 remaining, and 40-38 on two free throws by Sarah Meehan with 1:55 left.
Wilmer, a freshman, then made the biggest shot of the game, nailing a three-pointer. Noon and Mottar each made a free throw to extend the lead to 45-38 with 46 seconds left.
"We kept our heads and I'm very proud of that," Rogers said. "When we got down in the first half, we fought back and that's the sign of a real good team. We could have panicked easily and given in."
Old Mill has lost three of its last four games. It was beaten twice by Severna Park.