In a game coach Deon Wingfield called "extremely important" to his team's long-term goals, Wilde Lake wasted little time taking control Wednesday against Reservoir.
The Wildecats raced out of the gates with a 19-2 run and never looked back on the way to a 61-49 home victory. It was the team's third straight win and improved it to 4-2 on the season, while dropping Reservoir to 3-3.
"We emphasized with the guys before the game that we needed this one to stay within reach of Centennial (6-0), who is in first place right now," Wingfield said. "If we want to be a top team, these are the games we have to win."
Reservoir struggled with Wilde Lake's pressure in the opening minutes, turning the ball over before even reaching midcourt on several occasions. By the end of the first quarter the Gators were trailing 21-4.
"It's hard to simulate the kind of pressure they brought at the beginning and it definitely took us a few minutes to adjust," Reservoir coach Ryan Carson said. "But at the same time, I thought part of it was us not being ready to play. They came out and blitzed us and for whatever reason we didn't respond until it was too late."
Wilde Lake kept things going in the second quarter to extend the lead to 20, 41-21, by halftime. It was that cushion that allowed the Wildecats to maintain a double-digit lead the entire second half, even as Reservoir put together a couple mini runs.
"All the guys tonight were committed to playing defense, which is our main focal point," Wingfield said. "When we can get those turnovers, that's when we are at our best and you saw that in the first quarter."
Dante Garner led the way with 14 points for a Wilde Lake offense that had seven players score four or more points. Keyon Booth was Reservoir's top scorer with 19.
Wilde Lake 61, Reservoir 49
WL (4-2, 4-2): Dante Garner 14, Handy 10, Devaughn Garner 8, Barnes 7, Calloway 6, Miller 6, Mynatt 5, Parris 3, McNeel 2.
Re (3-3, 3-3): Booth 19, Usher 10, Epps 8, Williams 4, Toler 4, Brooks 2, Matt S. 2.
Half: 41-21 WL.
Other scores:
Centennial 75, River Hill 41
Using its defensive pressure, the Eagles went on a 22-7 spurt in the third quarter to break things open. "Coming out after that second quarter being pretty even, 13-12, I was pleased with the way we put the game away in the third," Centennial coach Chad Hollwedel said. "I thought we did a much better job of running our stuff and sharing the ball."
Keonte Potts (20 pooints), who had been held to 6 points in the first half, helped key the decisive run. Omari Ringgold (14 points) and Joe Eads (12), who threw down three dunks in the game, also chipped in with big nights for the Eagles.
"I thought we put a lot together tonight," Hollwedel said. "Finishing 6-0 now heading into the break is outstanding and I'm proud of the kids."
Evan Richardson led River Hill in the loss with 17 points, while Charlie Thomas had 13.
C (6-0, 6-0): Potts 20, Ringgold 14, Eads 12, Tinuoye 10, Klima 6, Goldsmith 5, Benson 4, Adams 2, Olmstead 2.
RH (0-6, 0-6): Richardson 17, Thomas 13, Qui 3, Check 2, Moody 2, Ruben 2, Sandler 2.
Half: 34-24 C.
Oakland Mills 59, Mt. Hebron 52
MH (4-2, 5-2): Gilmore 16, Jenkins 10, Dohner 10, Mohilchock 9, Moses 7, Shade 2.
OM (2-4, 2-5): Manns 23, Tapscott 16, N. Zayatz 8, Madden-Stricker 5, Dent 2, Russell 2, Zayatz 2, Huewe 1.
Half: 24-20 OM.
Atholton 54, Long Reach 44
A (4-2, 5-2): Fitzpatrick 19, Stephenson 15, McMahon 6, Martin 4, Courtney 3, Bernetti 3, Shapiro 2, Ayerko 2.
LR (2-4, 3-4): Nowlin 12, Taylor 9, Leconte 8, Hargrove 6, Allmond 4, Stewart 3, Fisk 2.
Half: 33-16 A.
Marriotts Ridge 66, Glenelg 62
Robert Davis had 17 points, five assists, five rebounds and four steals to lead the way for a Mustangs team that came back from a one-point halftime deficit to improve to 5-1 on the season.
MR (5-1, 5-1): Davis 17, Patel 14, Menker 8, Tucker 7, Brown 7, Delaney 5, Miller 3, Kratochwill 3, Harrison 2.
G (1-5, 1-6): Spurrier 20, Randle 13, Hammert 10, Tolbert 8, Chahine 4, Livak 3, Oates 2, Mirano 2.
Half: 32-31 G.
Hammond 54, Howard 49
Ha (3-3, 3-4): Turner 20, Green 18, Echols 6, Lashley 5, Blackwell 2.
Ho (2-4, 2-4): J. Bartnik 13, Wendt 12, Alexander 9, Dyer 8, Hawkins 6, D. Bartnik 2.
Half: 20-18 Ho.
Mt. Saint. Joseph 57, Glenelg Country 41 (Tuesday)
MSJ: Booth 19, Doran 11, Adams 10, Williams 8, Long 5, Jones 2, Lawrence 2.
GC (1-2, 5-3): Powers 15, Jove-Vives 8, Boyd 7, Barnard 4, Jones 3, Davis 2, Moune 2.
Half: 21-21.
Chapelgate 60, Coppin Academy 52 (Tuesday)
Ch (3-2, 7-4): Frierson 19, Harris-Winn 17, Bryant 9, Obi 8, Grandy 7.
CA: Robinson 18, Moody 16, Madden 5, Richardson 5, Washington 4, Mayo 3, Mosby 1.
Half: 27-24 Ch.