PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tommy Brenton
River HillThe versatile, 6-foot-4 senior guard-forward capped an outstanding season with 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the No. 9 Hawks (23-5) to their first state championship with a 60-51 win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase in the Class 3A title game.
Whatever the Hawks needed, Brenton, a team captain, supplied, as he finished the season averaging 20.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals. He was continually at his best in the season's biggest moments, as evidenced by his state-record 19-for-20 performance from the foul line in the title game.
Last season, Brenton earned first-team All-Howard County honors after averaging 13 points, six rebounds and five assists as the team's point guard.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Graves
River HillIt took just three seasons for Graves and his Princeton-style offense to reach the top, as the Hawks captured the Class 3A state championship, the program's first.
River Hill went from 4-19 in Graves' first season to 15-9 last year to a 23-5 mark this winter that was highlighted by the improbable state title. Relying on a precise, half-court offense that featured many touches, screens, backdoor cuts and, most of all, discipline, the Hawks successfully controlled the flow of the game to overcome opponents. The team went 17-0 when holding an opponent to 49 points or fewer.
First Team
Name, School, Class, Pos.Steve Lombardozzi Atholton Senior Guard
Obi Ukwuoma Long Reach Junior Guard
Blair Burnett Wilde Lake Senior Forward
Tommy Brenton River Hill Senior Forward
Kevin Cureton Oakland Mills Senior Forward
Torey Fassett Atholton Senior Forward
David Pearman Oakland Mills Senior Forward
Sam Permutt Atholton Senior Forward
Second Team
Name, School, Class, Pos.Keith Richardson Long Reach Senior Guard
Kevin Seker Mar. Ridge Junior Guard
Kyle Servance Reservoir Senior Guard
Pat Speicher Centennial Senior Guard
Mark Feagans Glenelg Senior Forward
Daniel Hostetler River Hill Senior Forward
Bill Reybold Reservoir Junior Forward
Evan Williams Glenelg C.S. Junior Forward
Note // Teams selected by Glenn Graham after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.