Atholton?s girls basketball team isn?t just trying to win its second straight state title tonight ? it?s playing for a place in Maryland basketball history.
The Raiders, who won the 2A title last season, moved up in classification this year because of an increase in the Columbia school?s enrollment. If fifth-ranked Atholton (22-5) can beat Montgomery County?s Paint Branch (24-0) tonight at 9 at RAC Arena, the Raiders will become just the third school in girls? state basketball history to win a state title the year after winning one in a lower classification.
“As a senior, this is my last game and I definitely want to keep going and win,” Atholton senior guard Ellie Snyder said. “Last year was exciting as my first time in the state final, but this year I know what to expect and what we have to do to get there and what we have to do to win.”
The feat has only been accomplished by Frederick County?s Linganore, which won the 2A title in 1996 and 3A in 1997, and Montgomery County?s Wheaton, which won the 2A title in 1997 and 3A in 1998. Even on the boys? side, only three schools have been able to reach the top again the next year in a larger classification.
But it won?t be easy for the Raiders to earn a spot among the state?s all-time greats.
Paint Branch is led by Maryland?s Gatorade Player of the Year Tarik Hislop (21 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.9 apg, 4.4 spg), who is complemented by classmate Khalilah Quigley (19.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg).
The Panthers average 72.3 points per game, and yield just 41.8. In its 69-58 semifinal win over Great Mills, Paint Branch used a 20-0 run bridging the first and second quarters to take control of the game.
Atholton?s seniors, however, feel nearly invincible, especially after their 60-56 overtime win against sixth-ranked Western (20-4).
The Raiders, who battled foul trouble throughout a very physical game, trailed by as many as three points in overtime, but railed behind a three-pointer by senior guard Brittany Coughlan and a game-winning layup from senior forward Taylor Chapman with 13 seconds remaining.
Chapman recently eclipsed the 1,000-point and 1,000-rebound marks for her career, and played like it against Western, scoring 10 points to go along with 22 rebounds.
Snyder (19 ppg) scored a game-high 17 points, and Coughlan added 16 on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
“One of us had to step up and it I knew it could be anyone on the floor,” Coughlan said. “I have the most trust in any of my teammates and we never let each other down.”
