Numbers can lie, really lie.
Old Mill was outshot 43 percent to 26 percent by Glen Burnie last night, out-rebounded 30-24, trailed by nine at the half and 11 to start the third period. And the Patriots' big man, Craig Hall, did not score a single point.
But the No. 9-ranked Patriots won, 52-46, slipping past No. 18 Glen Burnie (15-9) in the Class 4A East semifinal played in Millersville. Old Mill (21-3) will visit No. 5 Meade, an overtime winner again last night to tie the county public-schools record for wins in a season, to play for the region title at 7 p.m. Friday.
The 6-foot-5 Hall came into the game averaging 11.5 points and 10 rebounds but was held scoreless with two boards. His Glen Burnie counterpart, 6-4 George Schneider, had a monster game with 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots.
Old Mill gets another shot at the Mustangs, because the Patriots sank 17 of 30 free throw attempts. The Gophers made only nine trips to the line, making four. And the Patriots hit five three-pointers among their 15 field goals.
"We have not played our best basketball our last four games," said Old Mill coach Paul Bunting, who knew his team was fortunate to come away with its third win over Glen Burnie.
"At beginning of the season, we were moving the ball as well as any high school team I've seen, putting on that extra pass, setting that extra screen and getting the open shot. Now it appears to me that everyone just calls for the ball, and that's not going to get it done."
Senior guard Tim Smith, who had a game-high 19 points, junior Jason Galloway, and senior forwards James Wilson and Keith Rogers got it done for the Patriots.
A 12-0 run in the third quarter resulted in an 18-7 advantage for the period as Old Mill took a 36-34 lead into the final eight minutes.
Galloway, who had 13 points and would be a member of an All-County sixth-man team, if there was such a thing, hit his third three-pointer of the game in the crucial run.
Smith fired in his second and the team's fifth and final three-pointer to boost their lead to 36-34.
Back-to-back baskets by Rogers (eight points, eight rebounds) gave Old Mill the lead for good at 43-40 with 4: 30 remaining and his put-back at 1: 51 pushed the lead to 47-42.
The loss was bitter for Glen Burnie coach Mike Rudd. Seven of the Gophers' nine losses were to the county's three top 10 teams: No. 2 Annapolis (twice), No. 5 Meade (twice) and Old Mill (three times).
Pub Date: 3/04/99