Archbishop Spalding's rise to No. 1 has been achieved in large part because of the team's consistency. That's something that No. 2 Roland Park struggles with.
The Cavaliers won their 13th straight game Wednesday with a solid all-around performance against a good Roland Park defense. Sherae Swinson led the visiting Cavaliers with 18 points in a 48-26 Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference win that was never in doubt after the second quarter.
Maggie Morrison, whose 10 points included back-to-back 3-pointers in a 19-1 first-half run that drove the victory, said the Cavaliers (13-1, 5-0 conference) try to play as if they are ranked lower to take the pressure off being No. 1.
"With No. 1, we know we have a target on our back, so it makes us play that much harder stepping on the floor," Morrison said. "But in pre-game talks, we talk about not being No. 1, so we're playing just as hard to keep that spot. We act like we're at the bottom, so we play with that high intensity to keep it going."
On Wednesday, the young Reds, who started 9-0 and flew up the rankings after beating then-No. 5 St. Frances, 42-40, on Dec. 11, felt the pressure of being No. 2.
Trying to bounce back from Monday's loss to No. 12 McDonogh, Roland Park (11-3, 3-2) started off strong, taking a 9-5 lead, but could not maintain it. The Reds turned the ball over six times to help Spalding outscore them 19-1 and take a 24-10 lead with 3:27 left in the first half.
To open the second half, the Reds cut the margin to 27-17 on Lauren Carter's follow shot and Daisy Alaeze's free throw, but a couple more turnovers helped the Cavaliers score two quick baskets. After Alaeze made another free throw, Brya Freeland hit Shaquila Curtis for a layup and then Morrison fed Curtis, who polished off a three-point play to boost the Cavaliers' lead to 36-18 with 3:04 left in the third quarter.
The Reds never cut the lead closer than 13 against a balanced, quick and physical Spalding team, whose only loss has been to St. John's (D.C.).
"We just need to get consistent," Reds senior Janie Outlaw said. "We let the paper and being No. 2 get all up in our heads, and we thought No. 1 and No. 2. We just have to stay focused every game. We're young and we have some mental issues, but I think as we grow, we'll get better at that."
The Cavaliers face another challenge to their No. 1 ranking when they host No. 3 St. Frances Friday at 7 p.m.
AS-Freeland 7, Maskins 2, Swinson 18, Curtis 5, Morrison 10, Calhoun 6. Totals 21 4-11 48.
RP-Outlaw 4, Davis 6, Alaeze 4, Carter 8, Edwards 4. Totals 8 8-14 26. Half: AS, 27-14.