Summer league basketball is contested in empty gyms with little at stake. On a steamy July night at Magruder in 2005, however, Sherwood’s Deontay Twyman used the lowly stage for validation.
Officially, it was a Sherwood-Montrose Christian playoff game in the Montgomery County Recreation League. In reality, it was a one-on-one contest between the 5-foot-11 Twyman and Montrose’s 6-5 Greivis Vasquez, now Maryland’s starting point guard.
Twyman dominated, scoring close to 30 points, leading the Warriors to a near upset of the Mustangs, and frustrating Vasquez so thoroughly he was kicked out of the game.
“Vasquez couldn’t stay with him,” said Sherwood athletic director Bob Cilento. “It was a mismatch.”
Saturday night in the Maryland 4A title game, Twyman presided over another mismatch as he scored 26 points, propelling Sherwood to a 61-38 victory over neighborhood rival Magruder. This time the stage was fitting as Twyman played to a crowd of 9,000 at Comcast Center – including Vasquez, who watched from a tunnel in the corner of the arena.
“Superman took over again,” said Sherwood coach Dondrell Whitmore. “He called me up and said, ‘Coach, I’m gonna get 60 tonight.’ I said, ‘Man, go ahead and do what you gotta do.’”
It was obvious Twyman had the green light. On the Warriors’ opening possession of both halves, he drilled 20-foot jumpers with a defender in his face. In the final four minutes, after Magruder (20-6) pulled to within eight points, Twyman scored seven points to help Sherwood (23-4) sew up its first state title since 1979.
Twyman’s triumph was a popular outcome. As a record-setting quarterback, he carried the Sherwood football team to successive state championship games, only to lose. Along the way, Twyman earned admiration from foes and teammates for his selflessness.
In each of his three seasons as a starter, his points decreased as his assists increased, averaging 16 points and seven assists as a senior.
“He was the difference in the game,” said Magruder coach Dan Harwood. “Not only is the kid a great player and great athlete, I love the way he’s handled himself. I’m disappointed we lost. ButI’m really happy for that kid.”
The ultimate warrior
» In two state tournament games, Twyman hit 15 of 23 shots from the floor, 15 of 18 free throws, and had 11 assists.
» In three football seasons, Twyman threw 80 TD passes, tying Joe Haden (Friendly) for the all-time state record.
