(Photo by Carolin Harvey)
Oakland Mills’ state title run falls short in 3A finals
The Oakland Mills Scorpions opened their state title game in perfect rhythm, the team swaying in unison as the National Anthem was sung. They controlled much of the first three quarters, which is good. However, basketball is a game of runs and the South River Seahawks scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, powering them to a 56-45 win for South River’s first 3A state title in almost 40 years.
The Scorpions were gracious and dignified after their loss, shaking hands, walking one-by one to center court as their names were called to collect their runner up medals and congratulating South River.
When it was his turn, South River Coach Mike Zivic hoisted the Seahawks 3A over his head as his team and fans erupted.
“When you work so hard and get that close it’s tough to fall short,” Oakland Mills Coach Michael Coughlan said after the game.
Long way in a short time
Coughlan and his team were disappointed, yet encouraged about how far the team has come in a relatively short time.
Coughlan’s Scorpions finished their outstanding season at 23-5, 39-13 over the last two seasons.
That’s a stark contrast to the Scorpions’ recent history.
“When Destiny (Macharia) was a freshman, they were 2-20,” Coughlan said. “The next year we were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. This year we won four playoff games.”
Even with the loss, Coughlan is proud of his team’s growth and is bullish on the Scorpions’ future.
“We’re focusing on the growth of this group, and we just need one more quarter of growth,” Coughlan said.
How it Went
The game opened with a seeing-eye Scorpion pass for the first points of the game, followed by a couple free throws and a four-point lead in the opening moments.
The Scorpions finished the first quarter with a 5-0 run, powered by Macharia’s logo three, finishing the first quarter tied 11-11.
Early in the second quarter, Oakland Mills’ Chloe Grenway popped a sideline three-pointer, part of an 8-0 run, to give Oakland Mills a 14-11 lead. Heaven Alexander’s drive and left handed layup tied it at 18-18. Jeriah Shipp’s steal and layup put Oakland Mills back up by two, 23-21.
Grenway’s next three-point attempt was wide, but she was fouled with two seconds left in the first half. With ice water in her veins, she cooly drilled all three free throws for a six-point Scorpion halftime lead, 27-21.
The Scorpions hit six of seven free throws in the first half; South River hit two of four.
Grenway nailed a three-pointer to open the second half for a seven-point lead, 30-23. But moments later South River tied it 30-30 on a pair of free throws.
Grenway’s three-pointer lifted the Scorpions to a 36-32 lead midway through the third quarter.
About that time South River rolled out a full court press, with enough pressure to turn coal into the diamonds. The Scorpions, though, blew through it like it was a sieve for a 40-35 third quarter lead.
Destiny Macharia’s three-pointer lifted Oakland Mills to a six-point lead. 43-37. A South River offensive rebound cut the lead to two, 43-41. South River converted a Scorpion turnover to tie it at 43-43. A South River steal and layup put the Seahawks up 45-43 and the Seahawks had their own 8-0 run.
South River’s Kiera West put the Seahawks up by five, 48-43. West followed that with a left-handed layup and a seven-point Seahawks lead, 50-43 with 2:13 left in the game. A South River jumper from the lane put the Seahawks up by nine, 52-43 with 1:13 left.
With time waning, Oakland Mills was forced to foul to stop the clock. West’s free throw lifted South River to a 53-43 lead on a 13-0 run four-minute run.
South River’s full-court press in the fourth quarter was the foundation for that 21-5 fourth quarter run, erasing that three-point deficit and powering them to a 56-45 win and the Seahawks first state title in 40 years.
Playing Friday’s state title game on the University of Maryland’s larger court, coupled with South River’s full-court press the entire game ground Oakland Mills down just enough for the Seahawks to put together their late-game run.
This article was written by freelance reporter Randy Wyrick.
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