Ask Charles Wolz about his lack of playing time last winter at Quince Orchard, and he scolws.
“I was behind two all-league players [Kevin Kennedy and Neal Kosciulek],” Wolz is quick to point out. “We had a pretty good team.”
This summer, with Kennedy graduated, there is room in the frontcourt for Wolz, a 6-foot-7 left-hander. Monday night in the semifinals of the Montgomery County Recreation league, Wolz scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked two shots, propelling QO to a 57-42 come-from-behind victory over Richard Montgomery.
Last winter Wolz started the Cougars’ first seven games, but his minutes dissipated when coach Paul Foringer went with a quicker, three-guard lineup.
“He’s improved a lot,” said Foringer. “He’s much better around the basket. He gets to the rim now. He’s more aggressive.”
Wolz and QO (13-0) will be tested tonight at Rockville High in the title game as they face private school powerhouse Montrose Christian (13-0).
Wolz is one component of a strong QO frontcourt that includes 6-3 senior Kosciulek, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds Monday, and 6-4 junior Bobby Sewell (five points), who struggled Monday but was a force in the Cougars’ 66-60 quarterfinal victory Thursday over defending Maryland 4A state champion Sherwood.
QO summer league coach Andrew Ryan believes this is the Cougars’ first appearance in the MCRD final. To get there, his team needed to rebound from a 29-11 first half deficit Monday. RM (9-4) bolted to a big lead behind seniors guard Travis Addison (10 points) and Jared Center (10 points).
MONTROSE GUARDED
Montrose Christian was without its top players Monday in the MCRD semifinals. But it didn’t matter in a 72-44 defeat of depleted Landon.
While Montrose stars Terrell Vinson, Isaiah Armwood, Tristan Spurlock, as well as Spalding transfer Kevon Moore, were showcasing their skills in Las Vegas, Landon also was without five players who were at lacrosse camp and two significant others, 6-6 Christian Webster and 6-5 freshman Darien Atkins, who were at basketball camp.
Montrose won handily behind senior center Brandon Rascoe (18 points, seven rebounds) and a bevy of small, quick guards including junior Douglass Browman (16 points, six rebounds, four steals), junior Isaac Fulwood (eight points, four steals), and freshman Tyler Hubbard (16 points), who hit four 3-pointers.
Montrose hit 17 of 25 shots (68 percent) in a torrid first half shooting display that included a run of five straight 3-pointers in the second period. Landon (8-5) was led by versatile junior Steven Mathews (15 points) and 6-6 senior Ersin Levent (14 points).
MCRD Championship
Where » Rockville High
Girls » Georgetown
Visitation (9-4) vs. Falcons (10-3), 7 p.m.
Boys » Quince Orchard (13-0) vs. Montrose Christian (13-0), 8:30 p.m.
