Raiders Fall Short – Hornets Advance in First Round of Basketball Playoffs

March Madness started a few days early on the road to the Maryland State Basketball Championship and the excitement was everywhere. The most exciting game in the state was at Leonardtown High School as Glen Burnie came to the Birdcage and jumped out to an early 8-0 lead.

Leonardtown’s Nick Shade finally got the Raiders on the board with two of the teams three first quarter baskets. The first quarter started slow as the raiders missed their first nine shots and finished with 3 of 12 shooting from the floor and a 17-6 deficit. The Gophers finished the quarter with a vicious dunk by Justin Kuntz (19 points).

The Raiders did not give up continuing to chip away at the Gopher lead and at the half had cut the lead to 26-21. The Raiders got tough play in the paint from Senior Michael Aikens (13 points) Tyler Gladu, Chris Campaggio and Ryan Vanderwest all hit clutch three pointers to keep Leonardtown.

The Raiders finally tied the score at 58-58 for the first time in the game with time running out on a desperation 45 foot bank shot by Vanderwest.

Overtime was a tough battle with Vanderwest fouling out with 2:05 remaining and the Raiders coaches tried to call time out with less than four seconds remaining as Aikens hit a two pointer when they were behind by three at 66-63. The shot counted and Glen Burnie ran out the final seconds for the victory 66-65.

Glen Burnie was led by Kuntz, David Deavers (15 points) and Jamar Kane (11 points).

Great Mills boys became the only team in St Marys County to advance to the second round of the state playoffs with a 69-57 victory at Meade High School. Meade was led by Jamie White’s 24 points and great work was done in the paint by Mykel Harris (17 points) and Basil Moye (13 points). The Hornets will face North County who knocked off Chesapeake 102-32.

OTHER SOUTHERN MARYLAND FIRST ROUND SCORES