Lauren Martin knew this game was different. She could feel it in her stomach.
"In the beginning of the Brunswick game, I started getting butterflies in my stomach, and I really never have gotten those before," said the Glenelg senior guard. "It was nervousness."
Martin has many individual honors-- she became the county's all-time leading scorer last month. But she's been to the state tournament only as spectator. A win over Brunswick in the Class 1A South region final would change that.
"When the last seconds were ticking down, I looked at my teammates and said, 'We're going to UMBC, we're going to UMBC,' and then it really started to hit me," said Martin, who scored 26 points in the 68-46 win over Brunswick. "I definitely think when I walk into the [UMBC] gym and look around, it will hit me that we have chance to be state champions."
And what a way to go out.
"Any senior wants to go out winning the state championship," Martin said. "It definitely would be a great ending."
No one is surprised that the eighth-ranked Gladiators (24-1) are two games from a state championship. That cannot be said of their opponent in tomorrow's 7 p.m. semifinal game, Cambridge-South Dorchester.
The Vikings (12-12), from Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore, lost four of their last five regular-season games but got hot when it counted.
"We've finally been able to put some things together, and right now, we're playing really well," said Vikings coach William Horsey.
Cambridge-South Dorchester defeated Washington, 69-56, in the East region semifinals, a team it had lost to by six points in the regular-season finale. The Vikings surprised Mardela, 70-46, for the regional championship.
"We have not had much success against Washington or Mardela in the past," Horsey said. "I would definitely consider those upsets."
Horsey added: "I knew we had the ability, but to actually do it I think they found out something about themselves."
Cambridge-South Dorchester began the season 5-1 but right before the holiday break had to forfeit its victories because of an academically ineligible player.
"It's been a battle for us," said Horsey. "If there's one word to describe our team, it's perseverance."
The Vikings start four seniors who have played together three seasons.
"Experience is a big factor for us," Horsey said. "They play well together and have a feel for where each other is going to be on the court."
Guard Donielle Gaines is the Vikings' top shooter and averages 18 points a game. But the Vikings like to move the ball inside, where they have height -- 6-footer ShaRay Washington (8.4 points, 9.2 rebounds) and Shalonda Reid (11.2, 10.8) and Ruth Wilson (9.3, 8.1), both 5-foot-10.
Gaines had a career-high 31 points against Washington in the region semifinals and 19 against Mardela. Reid came up big in the region championship with 21 points and 18 rebounds against Mardela.
Glenelg coach Ciaran Lesikar said Cambridge-South Dorchester is a "very unorthodox looking" in many ways.
"They don't ball fake, and they really don't box out," Lesikar said. "But they're big, they have long arms and they're strong."
Lesikar said his team's press should create turnovers and chances for easy baskets. He added that the Gladiators need to "box out and keep them off the boards and to keep pressure on the ball at all times."
Glenelg senior center Krista Brust is shooting 61 percent from the field and is the team's leading scorer (19.0) and rebounder (13.7). Martin, who has a county-record 72 three-pointers this season, is averaging 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.2 steals per game. And while Brust and Martin lead the team, the Gladiators have received significant contributions from the other three starters -- Stephanie Howell, Heather Young and Jennifer Kurdziel.
"We're playing very well," Lesikar said. "Staying relaxed and being confident in what we can do is the biggest thing this weekend.
Girls basketball playoffs
At UMBC Fieldhouse
State semifinals
Today's games
Class 4A
Meade vs. Suitland, 3 p.m.
Western vs. Frederick, 5 p.m.
Class 3A
Northern-Calvert vs. DuVal, 7 p.m.
Milford Mill vs. Wheaton, 9 p.m.
Tomorrow's games
Class 2A
Parkside vs. Central, 3 p.m.
North East vs. Urbana, 5 p.m.
Class 1A
Cambridge-South Dorchester vs. Glenelg, 7 p.m.
Hereford vs. Allegany, 9 p.m.
State finals
Saturday's games
Class 2A, 1 p.m.
Class 4A, 3 p.m.
Class 1A, 6 p.m.
Class 3A, 8 p.m.
Pub Date: 3/11/99