For the Meade Mustangs, conquering the Class 4A East region title was all about overcoming an obstacle, county rival Arundel.
Once that was accomplished with a sturdy 77-69 win in the semifinal round, the No. 6-ranked Mustangs snipped away the nets and then went back to work with an after-the-fact 84-31 win over Chesapeake in Saturday's final.
Which brings us to today's 3 p.m. state semifinal today at UMBC, where the Mustangs make their first state tournament appearance since 1979. They take on defending state champ Suitland, from Prince George's County.
Frederick takes on Baltimore's Western in the other semifinal at 5, with the two winners meeting at 3 p.m. Saturday for the Class 4A state championship.
To get there, the Mustangs must first find a way to make up the 16 points that separated them and Suitland (22-1) in the opening round of the Holly-N-Hoops Tournament in Charles County the day after Christmas.
"That was a painful game to watch," said Meade coach Phil Popielski, of his team's 79-63 setback. "We were doing some things right, but every time we made a run, we went to the free-throw line and missed."
The Mustangs, who made only 17 of 41 free throws, also watched Suitland junior guard Ki Ki Wimbush score 27 of her 32 points in the first half. And Meade was without starting point guard Brandy Fowler, a defensive standout.
Senior center Katie Netherton, a dominating presence down low in region playoffs, also didn't have one of her better efforts against Suitland.
"We're going to have to have solid performances from our top eight, even nine players, just like regionals," said Popielski.
Suitland made the most of its first state playoff appearance last season, winning the Class 4A crown by beating Arundel, 66-61.
The Rams' senior backcourt of Sharron Francis and LaShay Makal combined for 37 points, eight steals and nine assists, and they had strong inside play from Candice Phelps (17 points) and Christina Strothers (10 rebounds).
Phelps (10 points, eight rebounds) and Strother (nine points, seven rebounds) are seniors now and have a new backcourt to work with, led by Wimbush, who averaged 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Inside, Meade counters with Neatherton (11 points, 12 rebounds), sophomore Nicole Dailey (15 points, nine rebounds) and LaTanya Eldridge (11 points, seven rebounds). Senior guard Angie Creek (18.5 points, six assists) and Fowler will beed to offset Wimbush.
"Suitland does a very good job of going in and out offensively, and they mix up their defenses," said Popielski. Up front, [Suitland has] three big kids, and we have three big kids. They were a little more physical, but we didn't back down."
The Rams' only loss this season came against Largo, in the second of three meetings between the two teams.
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