Expectations are high for No. 8 Arundel this season with the addition of Brandon Belt, a transfer from Southern.
With Belt in the lineup, the Wildcats have an explosive forward who can drive to the basket and also beat teams with his perimeter shooting. In Friday night's crucial Anne Arundel matchup against No. 10 Annapolis, Belt scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the first half and the visiting Wildcats held on for a 78-71 victory, ending the Panthers' eight-game winning streak to start the season.
"He fits into our system and what we are trying to do," said Arundel coach Jeff Starr. "He came in as a guy who was taking 20 shots a game and the most he has gotten this year is 12 or 13 per game. He just wants to be part of the team and wants to win. He's done great so far."
Terrell Tullis controlled the backcourt for Arundel (10-1, 5-0 league) and finished with 17 points. Tyler Washington had 14, R.J. Harris added 12 and Sharahd Conley had 12. Delmore Howard led Annapolis with 16 points. Terrence Wright and Warren Holliday each had 11 and Delonte Joyce and Troy Reid finished with 10 apiece.
Belt scored seven consecutive points in just over a minute to help Arundel open a 13-3 lead with 2:50 left in the first quarter. Annapolis (8-1, 4-1) continued to chip away in the second quarter and a layup by Wright capped a 12-4 run and tied the game at 19 with 5:05 left in the half.
"We needed this one," Belt said. "We played great defense. I just took what they were giving me. I had wide-open shots most of the game."
However, Arundel took control again and a 3-pointer and jumper by Belt gave the Wildcats a 27-19 lead. The Wildcats then made five of seven free throws in the closing minutes and led 39-26 at the half.
Holliday scored five consecutive points to start the second half to cut the margin to 10 with 5:53 left in the third quarter. Annapolis then went to the press and it paid off as a dunk by Howard with one minute remaining in the third quarter made the score 51-47.
Annapolis pulled within two on a 3-pointer by Joyce with 5:30 left in the game. However, the Wildcats maintained their composure and made seven of 10 free throws down the stretch to pull out the victory in front of an overflow crowd.
"This was a very big win for us. This is a rivalry," Tullis said. "We just had to step up and we came to play."
Ar.-Belt 18, Conley 12, Tullis 17, Harris 13, Lester 1, Nicholson 3, Washington 14 Totals: 25 24-32 78
An.-Howard 16, Joyce 10, Wright 11, Reid 10, Holliday 11, Watson 6, James 2, Varn 1, Jones 2. Totals: 26 14-20 71