Lusby, MD – As of Wednesday night, Feb. 3 the buzz around Patuxent’s gym increased as the stands began to fill steadily. The two teams set to play were Patuxent, and Great Mills. Both entering play tied in division records, but Great Mils won the previous meeting Jan. 8 by a score of 60-43.
This time both teams seemed to match runs the entire game. It all culminated when with 8 seconds left, Patuxent guard Darus Maddox took the ball up court, crossed over his dribble, and rose to take a 3 point basket. The taller Hornets defender, David Oliveras, reacted perfectly, and swatted the ball back into Maddox’s hands as the buzzer sounded. Great Mills had held off the late Patuxent run, and pulled off the victory by a score of 56-53.
The ever rowdy Patuxent home crowd was into the game early, when on a Maddox missed field goal, junior forward Juan Watkins surged in and put up a powerful two handed put back dunk. However, despite the crowd’s intensity, Great Mills responded with something of their own, by way of an Oliveras three ball. After he made the shot, Oliveras paused for a brief second and held a finger to his lip to indicate silence to the boisterous home crowd. The first quarter ended with the score being 17-11 Great Mills, and Oliveras had 10 points in the quarter.
In the second quarter, both teams turned the ball over, or couldn’t get many shots to hit. A key impact play in the game did occur in the quarter. Maddox stole a Hornets bounce pass, and rose as if to throw a right hand jam, but his attempt hit the front of the rim, and bounced into the arms of a Great Mills defender. This was a key two points that would later come back to bite the Panthers. At half, Patuxent had trimmed the lead down to 1, and trailed by a score of 24-23.
In the third quarter, more or less the same thing happened as the quarter before. Teams traded baskets, and looked hot. Then, both teams would be cold as ice simultaneously. Terrell Gross did bring the Patuxent crowd back into it with a breakaway two handed jam that he sent down with authority. However, at the buzzer going into the fourth, Oliveras put up a three ball that found nothing but net. This brought the Hornets lead back up to 4, and they led 39-35 headed into the final quarter.
Patuxent fought back, but could never take the lead in the final quarter. They had an opportunity to tie it at the end of the game when a long Great Mills pass down court led the intended target out of bounds with 8 seconds left. The stage was set for Oliveras to make his block and seal the deal. The Hornets swept the Panthers this season, and moved a game ahead of them in the division standings. They are tied with Huntingtown for the division lead.
For Great Mills, David Oliveras led the way with 24 points. His teammate Parran Barnes had 9. For Patuxent, Darus Maddox finished with 26, and Terrell Gross finished with 8 points.