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>> As the winter season winds
down, tournaments are on the
horizon.
The competition heats up
on "High School Sports Scene."
Hi and welcome to this edition
of "High School Sports Scene."
I'm Sydney Callahan.
We begin our coverage with the
4A/3A North Regional Duals
wrestling championship.
>> REPORTER: Baltimore County
teams made up three-fourths of
the wrestling squads at the
4A/3A North Regional Dual
matches held at Hereford High.
In one semifinal, the top-seeded
Bulls faced the four-seed
Eastern Tech.
The Bulls got off to a strong
start.
Junior Kevin Wheeler scored
a pin at 126 pounds.
Freshman Dylan Gray got
another at 132.
And Charles Stafford added a pin
at 138 to stake the Bulls
to an 18-0 lead.
The Mavericks did not give up,
earning decisions in five
of the next six matches,
as Stephen Beam,
Dustin Shackleford,
Ilya Usik,
Nathaniel Gale,
and Mitchell Burns picked up
wins, making the score
Hereford 24, Eastern Tech 15.
But the Bulls closed out strong
with pins by junior
Mike Swiger at 220,
junior Patrick Anderson
at 285 pounds,
and sophomore Anthony Genco
at 106 to earn a 42-26 win
and advance to the final.
Meanwhile, in the other semi,
third-seed Perry Hall faced the
number two seed,
Frederick County's Urbana
High School.
The Gators jumped out to a 6-0
lead behind decisions by
Shaun Murphy at 126 pounds
and Sean Taylor at 132.
Nate Liberto scored a pin
at 145 pounds for Perry Hall.
The teams exchanged wins
in the middleweights,
bringing the score to 27-27.
But Urbana took the last three
matches to earn a 36-27 victory.
The final between Hereford
and Urbana was a seesaw battle
most of the way.
Dylan Gray earned a 5-4 decision
to take the 132-pound match.
Senior Joe Ramsel scored
a first-period pin at 145.
Freshman Billy Hess followed
with a 6-3 decision at 152
pounds, giving the Bulls
a 12-6 lead.
Following a pair of Urbana wins,
sophomore Brock Turnbaugh
got a pin at 182 pounds
to make it 18-12 Bulls.
At 220, junior Mike Swiger
earned a 5-1 decision to keep
the Bulls ahead 21-18.
But that would be the last time
Hereford would lead as Urbana
earned decisions in the next
four matches en route to a
hard-fought 32-27 Regional
title.
>> As the regular season winds
down in both boys and girls
basketball, a couple of big
games will determine who makes
it to the County Championship.
On the boys side, the top two
teams in the 2A/1A Division
met for a shot at the title game
and neighborhood bragging
rights.
>> REPORTER: The Owings Mills
Eagles traveled to Randallstown
to take on their rivals
the Randallstown Rams.
Fans were eager to watch a good
game, but little did they know
they were going to witness
a nail-biter.
The game got off to a fast
start with a fast break from the
Eagles with an easy score.
But the Rams came right back
with a nice up-and-under move
by Marcus Varner, and he gets
fouled on the play.
The Rams controlled the game
and was able to build
an 11-point lead.
But the Eagles fought back
with a three-pointer by
Ahmad Wilson.
Half time score, Rams 32,
Eagles 28.
Second half was no different.
The Rams pound the ball inside
with Marcus Varner
and then they came right back
with a layup by Justin Ward.
The Rams built another lead,
but this time, the Eagles came
soaring back with a nice move
by Ahmad Wilson...
and a three-pointer by
Renard Johnson.
>> [ Cheering ]
>> REPORTER: Then a steal by
Ahmad, who went coast to coast,
followed up his own miss
with a layup.
The Rams were down by three.
The Rams weren't done yet.
Sophomore Jerell Cooke, who had
ice in his veins, fired a long
three, which forced the game
into its first overtime.
>> [ Cheering ]
>> REPORTER: In the first O-T,
the Eagles were able to get some
easy shots.
But the Rams were good from the
stripe, which sent the game into
a second overtime.
In the final seconds of the
second O-T, an up-and-under move
by Deshante Lloyd put the Eagles
up by one.
Rams were looking for Jerell
to take the shot, but good
defense forces him to pass to
Justin Brice, who banks in
a three, which puts the Rams up
by three.
Ahmad tries a desperation shot,
which is no good.
>> [ Cheering ]
>> REPORTER: The Rams won
a thriller 91-89.
What a game!
>> On the girls side,
the top two teams in the 4A/3A
Division met with a berth
in the County Championship
game at stake.
>> REPORTER: With the regular
season winding down, the top two
girls teams in the County 3A/4A
Division met at Milford Mill,
as the Millers played host
to the Catonsville Comets.
The first quarter was tight,
as the teams traded scores.
Dionna White, who would have
a huge game, got the Millers on
the board first as she drove to
the hoop for two.
Taylor Barton immediately
answered for the Comets.
The period stayed back-and-forth
until a pair of scores by Comet
freshman Lauren McDonald put
Catonsville up 11-9 at the end
of one.
In the second quarter, with
White in foul trouble on the
Millers' bench, the Comets
methodically began to build
a lead.
Deb Milani hit a three-pointer.
Taylor Barton added points
inside for Catonsville.
And Comet leading-scorer
Rachel Schwaab had a nice
baseline drive for two
as the Comets worked to 24-13
lead at the half.
The Millers seemed to settle
down as they came out for the
third.
Dionna White returned to the
floor and immediately made an
impact, making a free throw
and adding two points
off an offensive rebound.
White also added a steal and
another score as the Millers
whittled their deficit to four
points midway through the third.
However, Catonsville did not
waver.
Rebecca Schwaab got two from the
line.
McDonald fed Danielle Francy
inside for a score.
And Schwaab cut inside for two
off the inbound pass,
was fouled, and converted
for the three-point play,
pushing the Comets to a
nine-point lead at the end of
the third quarter.
The Comets held onto that lead
halfway through the fourth.
Then Sierra Naylor dropped a
three-pointer in to pull the
Millers to within five.
Down by four in the final
minute, the Millers stole the
inbound pass and Kayla Boyd
scored to make it 50-48 Comets
with 26 seconds left.
Following a Taylor Barton
free throw, Dionna White drove
for two to make it 51-50 with
14 seconds to play.
The Millers fouled
Rebecca Schwaab, and she calmly
hit both free throws.
But with the clock ticking down,
White took the ball down,
pulled up, and drilled a
three-pointer at the buzzer
to tie the game at 53.
>> [ Cheering ]
>> REPORTER: In overtime,
following a free throw by White,
Deb Milani puts back a rebound
for two.
Maddie Hunt scored on the break
to put the Comets up 58-54 with
44 seconds left in overtime.
Once again, Dionna White came up
big, putting in a missed
free throw.
And then driving for two points
to tie the score at 59 and send
the game to a second overtime
period.
Sierra Naylor hit her third
three-pointer of the night
to put Milford Mill up by three.
Maddie Hunt scored on a break
to cut the lead to one.
Akiri Lewis made a pair of
free throws for the Millers.
Then, appropriately, White made
a steal and took it in for the
last two of her 31 points on
the night to seal a
come-from-behind 66-61 win
for the Millers.
>> One of the reasons for the
Millers' success is senior guard
Jasmine Aguon-Rayford.
She's also this month's
outstanding female student
athlete.
Here's Capri Gaines
with the story.
>> GAINES: Senior
Jasmine Aguon-Rayford is team
captain of Milford Mill
Academy's girls basketball team.
Being a starting varsity point
guard for all four years
was something she had
to get used to.
>> When I was a freshman,
it's not that I was nervous,
but I was a little, like, shaky
because I was on the team with,
like, mostly seniors.
So I had to not like push that
out the window and realize
that I'm still the point guard,
and I'm still controlling
everything.
So I had to toughen up.
And I've gotten a lot tougher,
and I've taken a lot more
control.
>> GAINES: On the court, Jasmine
exhibits all the traits one
wants in a point guard.
>> You want a point guard that
can see the floor.
You want a point guard that
knows where everyone should be
and when they should get the
ball and when they should not
get the ball.
You want a point guard that
recognizes things about the
other team, and Jasmine
does that very well.
>> STUDENT: She's a good
shooter.
She can dribble well.
She...
just great leader.
She sees the floor, so she knows
how to get around a lot.
>> AGUON-RAYFORD: I like the
fact that I'm handling the ball
and everything that goes on
revolves around me because
I'm in control.
>> GAINES: Her coach and
teammates alike admire Jasmine
for her unparalleled leadership
and her ability to communicate
with her teammates.
>> McALILEY: She's very much
like a coach on the court.
She knows all the offenses,
defense expectations.
She gets the team ready.
Makes sure that they're where
they're supposed to be
when they're supposed to be
there, as well as in class.
>> STUDENT: She keeps the team
in check on the court and off
the court.
She...
she makes sure that we are
prepared for the game.
And makes sure that we are doing
things right.
>> GAINES: Jasmine is sure never
to let personal relationships
interfere with the team aspect.
>> We're really close.
But, once again, she keeps the
friendship and the teammate
kind of separate.
So if I'm messing up,
she would be sure to put me in
my place, and if I'm doing good.
But off the court, we're just as
close regardless if she's
yelling at me or not.
>> GAINES: Understanding that
defense was once her weakest
point, Jasmine made a conscious
effort to improve --
an effort her teammates can see.
>> My biggest weakness was
defense because I was, like, a
little slow.
But I've improved my speed,
and I've gotten a lot better
on defense.
>> JONES: On the court, she,
at first, she was a little iffy
on defense.
But she stepped up her game,
and now her defense is on point.
>> GAINES: Off the court,
Jasmine recognizes one of the
hardest aspects of being a
student athlete.
>> I think I've developed as a
student athlete.
I've gotten a lot better as far
as my grades.
And realizing that, like I said,
school comes first.
And it's not just all about
basketball.
I'm a student athlete, so I'm a
student first.
So I have to do what I need to
do in school.
>> GAINES: Jasmine makes it her
priority to lead her team by
example and always promote a
positive team dynamic.
>> AGUON-RAYFORD: During the
heat of the game, it will hurt
my team if I put my head down.
They'll see the negative
attitude, so I have to make sure
that at all times, I'm being
positive and keeping a good
outlook on the whole game.
So that way, my team can feed
off of my positive energy.
And they'll be good players.
>> When Jasmine's happy,
everybody's happy.
When she's upset, it's just --
it brings the whole mood down
because she's like the light
bulb of the team.
She just motivates
the whole team.
>> We would like to wish Jasmine
the best of luck with the
remainder of her basketball
season and with all future
endeavors.
For "High School Sports Scene,"
I'm Capri Gaines.
>> Congratulations to Jasmine.
To honor her selection as this
month's outstanding female
student athlete, she'll receive
an award provided by
Allogram, Inc. in Timonium.
Coming up next is Randy Dase
with "Coach's Corner."
We'll be back in two weeks
with another edition of
"High School Sports Scene."
We hope you'll join us then.
Until then, I'm Sydney Callahan.
Thanks for watching.
>> Hi, I'm Randy Dase,
and welcome to "Coach's Corner."
My guests today are Gena Young,
the girls varsity basketball
coach at New Town High School,
and a four-year senior guard,
Jacquynn Churchill.
Ladies, welcome to
"High School Sports Scene."
And, Coach, you're off to a
great start this year.
You're 16-3.
It's your first year
as the coach.
You got one more game to go.
What's it been like?
>> It's been wonderful.
Oh, my God.
I'm getting tongue-tied.
>> Did you expect to have
such a great record coming
into the season?
>> No, I thought it was going to
start out pretty slow.
You know, you got girls that's
basically brand new
to the program.
You have four or five returning
players and you got the other
five that's fresh--
Well, they, you know, four or
five freshmen.
>> Jacquynn, you're --
as a four-year starter, okay,
what were your goals
come November 15th
when you started practice?
>> My goal was to get a banner
up there.
I've been playing for four
years, so I wanted to
leave with something.
And, basically, I like the
chemistry that we have.
So I like the way we're going.
And I can see us getting
that banner.
>> So is this the best season
so far?
>> Yes, the best season.
>> It's always best to save the
best for last, right, Coach?
Now, Coach, it's sort of
interesting.
Last year, you were the
assistant coach, right?
>> Yes.
>> And now you're the head
coach.
Tell me what's the real
difference in terms of how you
handle the situation?
>> The real difference is as
the assistant coach, you more or
less, you know, got to play the
background to the head coach,
the Xs and Os, and, you know,
you got to have the coach's back
at some point.
Being the head coach is more or
less you're in front of
everyone.
The kids are there.
They're looking for you to
be their role model, you know,
to grow on or whatever.
>> So, basically, you're driving
the car.
Before, you were sitting
in the back seat, huh?
>> Yeah.
>> Jacquynn, tell me a little
bit about her as a coach.
Is she fiery?
Does she throw the clipboard?
She yell -- tell me about her.
>> She's fiery.
I think she's fiery, but we're
able to relate with her because
she's, you know, she's a female.
And she pushes us, but we don't
get mad because that's what we
want.
Like, last year, she was more,
like, behind the scenes.
But we could see that we liked,
when she did tell us things,
we liked how she spoke to us.
And right now, she pushes us.
She tells us something in a
forceful way, and we get it.
We go out there and we do it.
We get it done.
>> Now, Coach, what does
Jacquynn bring to your team?
>> Jacquynn is an exceptional
defender player.
She's not an offensive threat,
but when I need her to shut down
a player, she's the one I go to.
>> That's funny because we were
just talking before we started
taping.
You said you love defense.
>> I love defense.
>> What's so exciting about
defense?
>> Defense, you can switch it
up at any point.
You can go from a 1-2-2,
a 2-3, a 1-3-1.
And right now, they're going 94
feet of pressure, and drop back
to the half.
You know, whatever I need done,
they get it done on defense for
me.
>> I'm an old boys coach, right?
But I've always watched girls
basketball, and you have
the shot clock.
So I'm wondering, you're telling
me, don't you press every time
with a shot clock?
>> We press just to put the
pressure on the ball so they can
run the shot clock down.
So we drop back into half court
off-- I mean, half court set,
it's more or less they only have
maybe 10 to 15 seconds to get a
shot off.
>> Do you play any man-to-man D?
>> Some.
We play some until, you know,
somebody forget to do their
assignment.
>> [ Laughter ]
>> That's a real breakdown
then.
>> Right.
>> Now, she said offensively,
you're sort of -- you get a lot
of assists or you set
the show up.
How's it work on the offense?
>> I can get a lot of assists,
you know.
I know who to pass it to,
you know.
And for the most part, I make
smart passes -- or I try to.
Sometimes I have those moments.
But, yeah, because I guess from
my years, I know which player is
going to do what.
So I know who I can pass it to
at certain times.
>> How many seniors are on the
team?
>> Only two.
I'm one of two seniors on the
team.
>> Wow.
That's outstanding.
So are they mostly juniors?
Do you have any sophomores?
>> One sophomore.
>> Four --
four freshmen.
>> Four freshmen.
>> Wow.
>> And three juniors.
We only have 10 players.
>> Only 10 players.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Well, you're lucky the flu
season hasn't hit, right?
>> Well, we had that where a
couple girls went out for the
flu.
We had eight players, we were
down to eight.
But, you know -- and then we
have Jennah, who was out on
injury, so...
>> Now, I haven't seen you guys
play, but are you, like, patient
on the half court or do you like
to get the fast break
transition going?
>> We actually are a fast-break
team.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> We like secondary breaks.
>> We get it and go.
>> We get the ball up the court,
make the layup, set your press,
and let's rock 'n' roll.
>> You have any size, Coach?
>> We have two 6', 6'2" players,
And then from there, it drops.
It drops to 5'5".
>> Yeah.
>> Jacquynn, how tall are you?
>> I'm 5'3", and there's about
four of me.
>> Are there?
>> Yeah.
>> But I bet you're pretty quick
and pretty tough.
>> Yeah.
>> Now, in the spring, I heard
you run track?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Tell us about your track
a little bit in the spring.
>> I'm looking to go to States
this year.
Last year, I didn't make States.
I got cut off at Regionals
because of an injury.
So I'm trying to make it to
Morgan State this year so I can.
>> Okay, and what events do you
run in track?
>> I do the 100 mainly,
but I do the 4x1, the 4x2,
and the 400 if they make me.
>> Wow.
Very good.
>> Now, Coach, I said you're
16-3.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Two of your three losses,
though, are to some pretty tough
programs.
Catonsville and Milford have
always had some pretty solid
programs.
If you win your next game,
you said you'd probably qualify
for the Counties.
Who would you probably see in
the County Championship?
>> According to what I just saw,
probably Milford Mill.
>> Okay.
And I know you played Milford
before, but you got to play the
game to see who's going to win,
right?
>> Right.
>> Any secret weapons you could
pull out of your back pocket?
I know you got beat by them the
first time.
>> No, I mean, I think we need
to do a better job on defense.
That's where we fell apart at.
It wasn't the offense.
It was more just our defense
fell apart.
A lot of girls want to reach at
the last second, and, again,
missed assignments.
>> So they don't want to move
those feet, huh?
>> Right, they don't move them
legs.
I don't know why.
Bonbons, maybe.
>> Jacquynn, what do you
think?
What do you think about Milford?
Can you take them?
>> I'm waiting.
I'm waiting to beat them.
We haven't beat them in four
years, I don't think.
And they need to be knocked off
their high horse.
>> Oh, wow.
>> Okay, I know you're going to
finish up with Randallstown.
Is that a big rivalry, Coach?
>> Yes, it is.
>> So the gym will be packed
and everybody will be having a
good time.
Jacquynn, do you enjoy --
I know basketball is a very
intense sport, okay?
Usually have a pretty decent
crowd, especially a Friday night
game and a rivalry.
Do you enjoy everybody yelling
and screaming?
>> Yeah, I like it.
When I was younger, I was kind
of scared.
But I like it.
It motivates me, kind of,
when I hear somebody, you know.
>> So you like that intensity?
>> Yeah, I like it.
>> Yeah, I think for basketball,
as a coach, it's like driving a
car, too, because you've got to
make so many adjustments.
>> Right.
>> Everybody's yelling and
everybody's screaming all the
time.
Coach, why do you like
basketball so much?
You come back, I know you
coached a little bit at
Randallstown.
Now you're back at New Town.
What brings you to the sport?
>> I love the sport.
It's a passion of mine
since I was in high school.
It's just a driving force that,
you know, I just want to take
what I've learned through the
years of playing and then
instill it in the girls.
So, hopefully, they'll learn
something from it.
>> Is there a college coach
that you always read a little
bit about or go to clinics that
you like?
>> I read about Tennessee --
Pat Summitt.
>> Right.
>> That's who I idolize,
Pat Summitt.
>> Okay.
And how about you, Jacquynn?
Are you a college basketball
fan?
>> Yeah, I watch it sometimes.
>> Yeah, got any favorite team
out there?
>> I like Maryland, Baylor,
UConn -- last year.
>> Yeah.
Well, UConn's a safe bet,
isn't it?
>> Yeah.
Yeah.
>> And I heard that also at
school, that you're involved
in a special program at school.
You want to tell us about the
AVID Program?
>> Oh, yeah, the AVID Program.
I've been in that for four years
as well.
And now I'm helping younger
freshmen in it.
I have three siblings in it.
So I just like to help kids get
to college.
>> Can you tell us the purpose
of the program?
>> Oh, the purpose of the
program is to send kids to
college, basically, with a lot
of scholarship money.
And at New Town, we have, like,
the best program as far as
raising scholarship money
and getting kids to college.
So that's what the main goal of
it is -- college readiness,
getting kids ready for college.
>> So, Coach, she's a fine
example of a student athlete.
>> Yes, she is.
>> And when we talk about
student athletes, usually
they're winners in the long run.
So we got the County
Championship coming up.
Okay, hopefully, you get to the
County Championship.
And then comes the Regionals.
You want to tell us a little bit
about the Regionals and how that
looks, Coach?
>> The way the Regional works
right now, we're set in number
one in our region --
in the 1A North.
So, hopefully, we'll get a bye
in the first round
and play whatever team that's
coming out.
>> And the Regionals, you have
people coming in from
Baltimore City, other counties.
So you got to do a little bit of
scouting.
And being the number one seed is
nice, though.
You'll get a home game,
won't you, Coach?
>> We get a home game --
possibly two home games --
and then
the Regional Championship.
>> Sounds good.
Well, listen, ladies, it's been
a pleasure talking with you
today.
And, Coach, I want to wish you
luck.
And, hopefully, you have a long
tenure there at New Town.
Lady Titans, right?
>> Yes.
>> And, Jacquynn,
congratulations on a great
career.
And, hopefully, you can get to
that County Championship and
maybe make a good run in the
Regionals.
>> Thank you.
>> Good luck.
>> Thank you.
>> For "High School Sports
Scene," I'm Randy Dase.
Thanks for watching.
See you next time.