It's playoff time, and Hammond is hot again.
The Bears (8-6-1), who stunned everyone to earn a Class 2A regional championship last season before losing in the state semifinals, won their West region semifinal yesterday against another upstart, Atholton, 4-1.
With highly vocal cheering sections urging on both squads, the host Bears nursed a 1-0 lead into halftime before exploding early in the second half.
Last season's Player of the Year, Kwaku Boateng, always triple-teamed, is coming to life and scored the fourth goal yesterday, his 14th of the season and sixth of the playoffs.
Sophomore center midfielder Steve Basso continues to step up for Hammond, scoring two goals against Atholton (3-10). He's filled a key role replacing second-team All-Metro midfielder Gordon Murray.
"If Gordy had come back, Steve probably would not be playing such a big role," said Bears coach Trevin London.
Sweeper Dan Slaughter chested out what would have been a goal late in the first half, preventing a momentum-shifting Atholton score and has solidified the defense all season.
Another key contributor has been 6-foot-5 junior goalkeeper Kyle Weber, who became a starter after the Bears lost four of their first six games.
"He just doesn't lose," said London.
London also said he's borrowed a couple of pages from the coaching style of Oakland Mills' Don Shea.
"He's always told me to save a little for the playoffs," said London, who shook hands with and thanked Shea after Friday's upset win over Centennial. "I also took a little from him on set plays."
Hammond scored twice on set plays against the Raiders, who upset then-No. 2 Glenelg Friday.
Basso scored the first goal in the 15th minute on an assist by Doug Rainey, who chipped the ball into the box. Basso then chipped it over the goalkeeper.
Two minutes into the second half, Basso made it 2-0 when Justin Griffith's throw-in was mis-kicked by a defender and rolled out to Basso, who kicked it in left-footed from the 18.
Dan Lally made it 3-0 in the 55th minute when he tried to flick a Griffith throw-in to the back post and it found the corner of the net.
Jerome DeFrances scored on a 40-yard direct kick for Atholton.
Boateng scored on a put-back.
"I thought we were ready," said Atholton coach Roch DeFrances. "But Hammond played well and was focused. We never recovered from being so emotionally overwhelmed after Friday's win."
Class 3A East
No. 15 Mt. Hebron 2, Northeast-AA 1: Sophomore Robbie Carper fed senior Joe Damiano for the tying goal in the first half, then assisted junior Sevi Sinanian's game-winner with 20 minutes left, lifting the host Vikings (11-6) over the Eagles and into the regional final against Howard County rival River Hill.
No. 2 River Hill 5, No. 14 Wilde Lake 0: Senior Mo Hamzeh scored two first-half goals and Justin Hughes scored another as the host Hawks (13-2-1) parlayed a quick start into a convincing victory over the Wildecats (9-4).
Class 3A West
Liberty 3, Seneca Valley 2: Junior Trevor Havey scored two goals and junior Pete Welty added another as the host Lions (8-7) edged the Eagles (8-2).
Welty put Liberty on the board on a free kick midway through the first half. Havey scored about midway through the second half to make it 2-0, before adding an insurance tally that Liberty would need with about eight minutes to go.
Class 1A South
No. 11 Oakland Mills 1, Brunswick 0: The Scorpions improved to 11-4 and advanced to the regional finals thanks to junior Kyle Marcon's goal in the 50th minute, which sunk Brunswick (5-8).