For Howard and Long Reach, the storylines were similar. In opening-round action of the annual MoCo-HoCo Challenge at Paint Brach High School, the Lions and Lightning each watched close games get away from them in the second half en route to losses by double digits on Monday.
Howard was down by just two points early in the third quarter before fading to a 65-46 loss to Richard Montgomery. Long Reach, meanwhile, was within five points in the fourth quarter before falling 18 points short against host Paint Branch, 65-47.
The Lions (2-4 county, 2-5 overall) were actually ahead, 15-13, early in the second quarter following a jumper by Jordan Hawkins and trailed by just four at halftime, 29-25.
James Bartnik, who had a team-high 12 points, and Michael Alexander (11 points) were both keys to Howard keeping things tight through those first two quarters.
But after scoring the first basket out of the break, a lay-up by Duke Bartnik, Howard went cold and Richard Montgomery heated up.
The Rockets put together a 22-4 run to open up a 20-point lead, with the duo of Justin Senou (17 points) and Jamal Maddox (13) leading the way.
"Things got going for them and we really weren't doing anything to stop it," Howard coach Matt Jens said. "Our court awareness and our man-to-man defense wasn't at the level it needed to be and it cost us."
The Richard Montgomery lead never slipped below 15 points during the fourth quarter.
Long Reach was also ahead in the early stages of its game, holding a 15-12 advantage over Paint Branch two minutes into quarter No. 2. But the Lightning hit just one field goal over the final six minutes before halftime and watched the Panthers seize control, 29-21.
Things stayed relatively close in the third quarter and beginning of the fourth, thanks in part to the efforts of Long Reach forwards Daquan Hargrove (9 points and 12 rebounds) and Avery Allmond (12 points, 8 rebounds). Following an Allmond put-back with 5:11 left in regulation, the Lightning trailed by just five, 48-43.
That was as close as things got, however, with Paint Branch closing the game on a 17-4 run to create the final margin.
"When it was a five or six point game, we came down and forced the issue a little too much," Long Reach coach Al Moraz Jr. said. "We didn't really work the ball and make them play defense, or work for a high percentage shot. Our shot selection hasn't been the best lately in those pressure situations."
Christian Roberts led Paint Branch with 22 points in the win.
The loss was the fourth straight for Long Reach (2-4, 3-5), which hasn't won a game since starting point guard Jalen Brown went down with a leg injury. Without him or guard Kevin Betters on Monday, the Lightning were forced to shift several things around.
"We're struggling right now. Missing a couple guys because of being injured or sick is definitely not helping," Moraz said.
Both Howard and Long Reach will be back in action on Tuesday in the same tournament. The Lightning will square off with Richard Montgomery at 6 p.m. and Howard will face Paint Branch at 7:45 p.m.
Four other county teams, Wilde Lake, Centennial, Hammond and Reservoir, will be in Holiday Tournament action as well on Tuesday.
Box scores:
Richard Montgomery 65, Howard 46
RM: Senou 17, Maddox 13, Robertson 10, Hakimi 8, Gaynor 7, Sharps 7, Broaddus 2.
Ho (2-4, 2-5): James Bartnik 12, Alexander 11, Jordan Hawkins 7, Crisco 6, Dyer 4, Duke Bartnik 4, Mills 2.
Half: 29-25 RM.
Paint Branch 65, Long Reach 47
PB: Roberts 22, Hackley 9, Handy 6, Tolliver 5, Galloway 5, Onukaogu 4, Harris 3, Scott 3, Willis 2, Gray 2, Hart 2, Radway 2.
LR (2-4, 3-5): Allmond 12, Hargrove 9, Nowlin 6, Nwankwo 6, Stewart 4, Fisk 4, Ross 4, Leconte 2.
Half: 29-21 PB.