Statistics often mean more when they come at tournament time, so here's a "By the Numbers" look at some of the numbers that stand out among the teams and players headed for the girls state basketball tournament Thursday, Friday and Saturday at UMBC's RAC Arena. Also included are state records, including one that has stood for 36 years. All numbers refer to players or teams in this year's tournament field unless otherwise noted. Many thanks to MPSSAAofficials for the state tournament records.
2
Undefeated teams – Poly and Gaithersburg
2
Losses this season among the four teams in the Class 4A semifinals – Poly, Gaithersburg, North Point and Wise
2
Teams that made their last tournament appearances in 1984 – Owings Mills and Fort Hill
3
Teams making their tournament debuts – Century, Patterson Mill and Western Tech
5
State championships won by Dunbar
7
State record for most championships set by Duval in 2002 and tied by Mount Hebron in 2008
7
Teams that were also in last year's state tournament field – Dunbar, Aberdeen, Frederick, Calvert, Gaithersburg, North Point and Wise
8
Baltimore-area teams in the field – Aberdeen, Poly, Dunbar, River Hill, Century, Patterson Mill, Western Tech and Owings Mills
9
State record for most 3-pointers made in two state tournament games, by Milford Mill's Mandakova Clark in 2000
10
Tournament teams that have never won a state title
18
State record for most free throws made in a game set by Arundel's Alex McGuire, who went 18-for-18 in 2004
19.4
Most rebounds averaged by a player in this year's tournament – Westlake's Tejahne Malone
20
Average number of assists by Aberdeen's top six players
27
Highest scoring average by a player in this year's tournament – Frederick's Lauren Tolson
27.95
Lowest average points allowed by any team in the field – Poly
32
State record for most points scored in a quarter set by now closed Brooklyn Park in 1990
35
Points scored by Aberdeen's Bri Jones in last year's state Class 3A semifinal, 12th-most in state tournament history
40
Years of the girls state basketball tournament
40
Points scored by Dunbar's Michelle Wright in last year's state Class 1A final, fifth most in state tournament history
48
State record for most points scored in a championship game, by Loch Raven's Janet Flora in 1976
49
State record for most points scored in a tournament game, by Catoctin's Tammy Joy in 1986
71
State record for most points scored by a losing team set by Aberdeen in its 76-71 loss to Frederick last season
73
Highest scoring average by a tournament team in this year's field – Aberdeen
87
State record for most points scored by a winning team set by Mount Hebron in 1988 and by Arundel in 2004
100
Percent of the defending champions to return – Dunbar, Calvert, Frederick and Poly