Last night was payback time for Oakland Mills.
The No. 13-ranked Scorpions defeated Brunswick (20-4) in the Class 1A South region semifinals, 68-51.
Oakland Mills' 13th straight win soothed the bitter memory of last season's one-point loss to Brunswick in the region semifinals.
The Scorpions (21-3) will play at Forestville, in Prince George's County, tomorrow night for the region title. Forestville defeated Montgomery County's Poolesville, 63-58, last night.
Oakland Mills won in vintage Scorpions style -- with pressure defense that created numerous transition points, and with the offensive pyrotechnics of 6-foot-5 skyrockets Anthony Breland and Murray Graves.
Breland, who didn't play last season, scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, had six assists and five steals. Graves scored 24 points, had 10 rebounds, four blocked shots and four dunks.
Oakland Mills came out playing at a high intensity level. That and an 11-point first quarter by Graves produced a 20-7 lead for the Scorpions. At halftime, it was 28-18.
Some hot three-point shooting by Brunswick pulled the Railroaders within four points early in the third quarter, 28-24. But the Scorpions went on a 9-2 run, with all nine points coming from Breland and Graves, and Brunswick never seriously threatened after that despite five three-point baskets by Bernie Lipscomb.
"Their pressure defense took us out of our offense," Brunswick coach Jim Sklencar said. "We couldn't get the ball where we wanted it But it was their transition game, speed and quickness that beat us."
Oakland Mills caused 27 Brunswick turnovers, with Breland and Davon Smith accounting for five steals apiece and Julian Barfield four.
Smith also scored seven points and added three assists in another strong effort. Guard Tom Browne scored five points and had six rebounds.
Brunswick's game plan was to try to take away Breland and Graves offensively by packing its defense back into a 2-3 zone and forcing the Oakland Mills guards to score.
"But we made too many turnovers," Brunswick point guard Ryan Main said. "They were quick and athletic, and the fans were tough."
Oakland Mills coach Dave Appleby didn't think his team's transition game was as effective as it can be but praised his team's intensity.
"They [Brunswick] just couldn't handle our pressure," he said.
Pub Date: 3/04/99