At the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association?s pre-state championships luncheon at Sports Legends in Baltimore Tuesday, executive director Ned Sparks asked the coaches in the room to look at their three colleagues seated at their classification?s respective table and reiterated what they already knew: Only one will be a champion.
But chances are, a few Baltimore-area coaches and players will be celebrating this weekend, with 13 local teams in the running for eight combined titles between boys and girls.
The state semifinals for all classifications start Thursday. All boys games will be held at the University of Maryland?s Comcast Center, and girls games will be at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County?s RAC Arena.
Last season, two Baltimore teams ? Dunbar and Randallstown ? and Long Reach of Howard County won boys state titles. River Hill was the lone girls champ from the metro area last season.
“It speaks volumes about the competition and the talent we have here in the metropolitan area,” said Randallstown coach Kim Rivers, whose 22-3 Rams face Wicomico (23-3) in a Class 2A semifinal Friday at 9 p.m. “The last couple of years, Dunbar and [Randallstown] have been successful ? and you add in New Town and Mervo, and it?s as competitive as the D.C. and [Prince George?s County] area.”
The last time the Baltimore metro area hasn?t had a boys champion was 1989, and Dunbar will be going after a 12th state title. The Poets (15-5) battled through a difficult campaign and are now two wins from a fifth consecutive state crown.
“The key to it is we all root for each other when we?re not playing each other,” Dunbar coach Darnell Dantzler said of area teams. “The only time we want them to lose is when we?re playing them.”
On the other hand, some programs are chasing their first titles. The New Town boys lost in last year?s semifinals to Dunbar in the Titans? lone state playoff experience.
While the New Town boys (21-3) will play Snow Hill (19-3) Friday at 5, the Titans? girls (25-1) also advanced to states and will face Pocomoke (18-5) Friday at 9.
“Its great that seven teams made it, and it gives the kids the exposure that Baltimore basketball deserves,” New Town boys coach Mike Smith said. “There is some great basketball in this area.”
Going local
» BOYS: Dunbar, Glen Burnie, Mervo, New Town, Randallstown, River Hill
» GIRLS: Atholton, Fallston, New Town, Old Mill, Poly, Southern (A.A.), Western
