Old Mill's 53-51 loss in overtime at Meade Friday in the Class 4A, East Region final was more than a basketball defeat to coach Paul Bunting.

Bunting was disappointed for his players after they came so close to upsetting No. 5-ranked Meade (24-2), which set a county public school record for wins in a season, but he was more sad about saying goodbye to what he considered to be the best group of seniors and parents he's had in his 14 seasons in Millersville.

"I'm really appreciative of many things, " said Bunting, who has a career record of 177-141.

"This has been a headache-free season with 13 great kids, nine of them honor-roll students. No problems with them, not even with the kids who didn't play much. And I got fantastic support from the parents."

The team grade-point average is 3.45.

Last season, internal problems nearly tore the team apart, but Old Mill managed to regroup and finish strong winning, nine of its last 10 games and posting a 14-9 record.

"All season [this year], there was no griping, not like last year, " said Bunting.

"The other night when we played Glen Burnie [52-46 Old Mill win], the mother of one of the kids who rarely plays, was the first one out of the stands to give me a high-five. That makes it all worthwhile."

Bunting's six seniors -- Tim Smith, Craig Hall, Keith Rogers, James Wilson, Noel Cruz and Reggie Madden -- made it more than worthwhile. That nucleus led the No. 9-ranked Patriots to their best season at 21-4.

"If I could have them back and they were even half as good as they were this year, I would take them every year, " said Bunting.

"I'm going to really miss all six of them, not only as basketball players, but they are really nice kids."

Region leftovers

Meade's three overtime region victories -- 59-56 over Annapolis, 53-52 at Westminster and 53-51 over Old Mill -- last week are unprecedented in the county.

"I can't ever remember anybody winning three straight overtime games, period, " said Mustang coach Butch Young, who has been around the county for 35 years.

Meade's 6-foot-4 senior Jeff Charles, Anne Arundel's premier shot-blocker, takes a school and county career record 164 blocked shots into Thursday's 4A state semifinals at Cole Field House. Charles, who had 79 blocks as a junior, has 85 this season.

The Meade single-season record for blocks is 119 by Matt Cohen (1982-83). Cohen also held the Meade career record (146) before Charles. Charles, who drew Navy coach Don DeVoe to Monday's game with Annapolis, also passed 6-8 Dennard Montgomery (1986-88), who had 129, and Brian Parker (1989-91) who had 132.

Montgomery later led Delaware to the NCAA tournament and Parker played at the University of Hawaii.

Next season, Annapolis junior Marcus Johnson should threaten the Panthers' career record for three-pointers (130) set by Ryan Dacey (1994-96). Dacey also holds the single-season mark of 83 in 1995-96.

Johnson had 68 three-pointers this season and has 113 in two years, followed by 16-year old sophomore Marcus Neal (60 this year, 82 overall) and junior Thomas Hawkins (32, 77).

The 6-foot-5 Johnson will play in Europe this summer to get ready for his senior season.

This season marked the fifth time Annapolis under coach John Brady has won 23 games. Brady has won at least 20 games in a season a county-record 18 times. Young's Mustangs have done it three times, including this season.

No. 18 Glen Burnie (15-9) had a first by bringing its lively pep band and Gopher mascot to Old Mill Wednesday to create a home-game atmosphere in its opponent's gym.

Sideliners

Broadneck assistant boys soccer coach Sean Tettemer says the Bruins' All-County midfielder Jon Parisi, a four-year starter, has received a scholarship with Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C.

The Second Annual Friends of Joe Cannon 5K Run is set for Saturday at 8.30 a.m. at Cannon Stadium in Harmans. All proceeds go to the group's Baseball Scholar Banquet scholarship fund. For more information, call Don Brooks at 410-222-6652.

A free baseball clinic for little leaguers through high school is set for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. at Long Reach High in Columbia. Sponsored by the Oriole Advocates, the clinic features Arundel baseball coach Bernie Walter, who holds one-man clinics around the nation. For information call Dan March at 410-796-1879.

Have a note or question for Sidelines? Call Pat O'Malley's 24-hour Sportsline at 410-647-2499.

Pub Date: 3/07/99