It seemed fitting for the Mount Hebron girls basketball team that forward Megan Schaaf put in the game-winning basket, an easy layup, with 22 seconds left, lifting the No. 4 Vikings past visiting and No. 12 Atholton, 47-44, in last night's Howard County championship game.
Just 20 seconds earlier, Schaaf had a similar open look that would have put the Vikings ahead, but her hurried shot missed. During a timeout between possessions, senior forward Deanna Dydynski and junior guard Brittany Bowen took turns encouraging their teammate in the huddle.
The next time the Vikings got the ball, trailing 44-43, Dydynski drew the attention of three defenders at the top of the key before finding Schaaf.
"I'm always one of those people that whenever I miss a shot, I get down on myself, so to have a family like we have - everyone is always bringing each other up - really helps," said Schaaf, who finished with nine points.
In improving to 23-0 this season, the Vikings again found a way to win a close one in the end, with Dydynski scoring 15 points and Bowen adding 13.
After losing to Mount Hebron, 48-28, on Jan. 11, Atholton (18-5) was able to match the Vikings' intensity on defense and also take better care of the ball to take the game to the wire.
The Raiders, last year's county champions and also defending state champs, missed two free throws and had two chances in the final 35 seconds before Bowen hit two foul shots with less than a second left to clinch the win for the Vikings.
Senior guards Elie Snyder and Julianne Conroy led Atholton with 14 and 12 points, respectively, with Taylor Chapman adding eight.glenn.graham@baltsun.com