With the state public school regional boys lacrosse finals set for today, it is already guaranteed that at least two new state champions will be crowned among the three classifications.
On Monday, Centennial (14-3) knocked off defending Class 3A-2A state champion and Howard County rival Mount Hebron (12-6), 6-5, in the 3A-2A South Region semifinals. Centennial, the top seed in the region, will host county rival Glenelg tonight in the region final. The Gladiators advanced to the final with an 18-7 victory over Hammond.
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This came after another Howard County team, Marriotts Ridge (5-11), defeated defending Class 2A-1A state champion Loch Raven, 11-4, in the 2A-1A North quarterfinals.
Marriotts Ridge followed that with a 16-4 victory over Edmondson in the semifinals, which set up a meeting in the final against Pikesville (6-10). The Panthers, who defeated Western Tech in the semifinals, are gunning for their third state title after winning in 2001 and 2004.
The only defending state champion still in the playoffs is Severna Park (15-2), which is trying to win its third state title in four years. The Falcons, under first-year coach Larry Kramer, advanced to today?s 4A-3A East final thanks to a 10-9 victory over Anne Arundel County rival South River (12-5). Severna Park will face another county rival, Annapolis (12-4), which reached the final after a 9-6 victory over Leonardtown.
Should Severna Park reach its eighth state final in the last nine years, the Falcons have a good chance of facing Dulaney again in what has become one of the top public-school rivalries in the state over the last several years. Dulaney has won five state titles since 2000 and is the top seed in the 4A-3A South.
The Lions, who defeated Perry Hall, 17-4, in the regional semifinals, will take on North County in tonight?s final. The Knights (5-11), who play a difficult Anne Arundel County schedule, advanced with a 16-3 win over Baltimore County?s Kenwood (5-12) in the semifinals.
