After winning the school?s first state basketball championship, Winters Mill coach David Herman was asked if he would be partying in the streets of Carroll County.
“Not me, I?m too old,” Herman said. “I?m going home.”
The reserved Herman, 36, might feel old, but the streak his Falcons (21-6) eradicated at Comcast Center in the 2A final on Saturday was nearly twice his age.
With a 54-47 upset of then-second-ranked Randallstown, Winters Mill became the first Carroll County team since Westminster in 1947 to win a boys state basketball title ? ending 61 years of state tournament futility.
“It?s real wild,” senior guard Cammeron Woodyard said. “Not many people can say they got the opportunity to play in a game like this. For us to say we won it ? I?m speechless.”
The win was improbable, simply within the confines of the season.
The Falcons overcame a 9-6 start and were considered the weakest team in a state tournament field that included Prince George?s County power Gwynn Park, Eastern shore power Wicomico and three-time defending state champion Randallstown ? teams that had won a combined 16 state titles.
But Winters Mill made their second consecutive trip to the state tournament a memorable one right away, as it posted a 58-56 victory over Gwynn Park (25-2) when senior Devon Lesniak made a 16-foot jump shot as time expired on Friday.
Fewer than 24 hours later, the Falcons pulled off one of the most improbable victories in the state tournament?s 75-year history, when it prevented Randallstown (23-4) from becoming just the fourth school to win four straight titles.
After the awards ceremony, the Eagles acknowledged they weren?t aware the county hadn?t won a state title since Harry Truman was in the White House and Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball?s color barrier.
“I just knew the last [state finalist] was South Carroll in 1989,” Lesniak said. “But I didn?t know if they won or lost.”
Woodyard, who scored 35 points in the two games, said he knew South Carroll lost in 1989, but, “didn?t know it was 61 years.”
Winters Mill, which opened in 2002, played in the semifinals last year, one of just 11 trips to the state tournament by a Carroll County school since Westminster won the Class B title during the Cold War.
Even the Monocacy Valley Athletic League, comprised of 22 teams from Carroll, Frederick and Washington counties, had won just seven state titles since its inception in the late 1960s.
“There is so much good basketball played in our area, in our conference,” Herman said. “Carroll County basketball had a good year ? North Carroll, Century and others ? and I hope this brings attention to all of Carroll County basketball, and not just Winters Mill High School.”
The Falcons, who had seven seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen, were led by the McDaniel-bound Lesniak and the Penn State-bound Woodyard, who posted 13 points and nine rebounds against the Rams.
“[Woodyard] is probably the best player we played against all year,” Randallstown coach Kim Rivers said. “All around. And we played against some tough, tough players.”
Talent undoubtedly played a role in the Falcons? dream season. But according to Woodyard, the team?s ascension began following a 50-47 loss to Middletown on Jan. 29.
Winters Mill didn?t lose again.
“Everyone was determined,” Woodyard said. “From the time we were 9-6, everyone just stepped it up. We responded to the pressure.”
The Falcons also silenced their doubters.
“I think it?s a surprise to a lot of people,” Herman said. “I think that it?s a surprise when most teams win a state championship. There are some teams that sort of expect to get there. These kids can play. They can.”
