Wicomico Holds Off N. Hagerstown

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND -- The first two Maryland state semifinal games Friday at Cole Field House on the University of Maryland's campus were decided early in each contest. The third game, the first Class 2A semi, looked like it would repeat that pattern. Someone forgot to tell North Hagerstown High School (22-4).

The Hubs came back from a 25-point deficit at halftime but fell short in Salisbury's Wicomico High School's 68-61 victory Friday evening. The unbeaten Indians (27-0) will take on suburban DC's Central High School in the state final at 3:00 p.m. at Cole.

Wicomico hit the first shot of the game and, while threatened, never gave up that lead. The first quarter ended with the Indians up 28-11. Wicomico extended the lead by eight to 46-21 at the half. Most fans wondered if this was it for the Hubs.

North Hagerstown, behind the all-around play of swingman Scott Rice (Elon), outscored Wicomico by 14 points to cut the lead to 52-41 with one period to play.

The Hubs got a seven-point play which started at 1:04 of the third when Tavis Green was fouled on a layup by senior reserve center John Wulff. Wulff said something to a rising Green which a referee apparently interpreted as taunting, though the look on Wulff's face left those in the stands wondering. Green made the free throw for the three-point play followed by two free throws on the technical by Rice. The Elon-bound guard then scored a layup with 49.4 seconds left and the score 50-41. Rice was called for a foul on an block of Greg Brown five-foot jumper with 8.6 seconds on the clock. Brown made both free throws to put the lead back to 52-41.

North Hagerstown got the spread down to four points at 64-60 with 27.8 seconds left in the game after Rice picked off a Wicomico pass which he fed to Eugene Taylor who was fouled on the layup attempt. Taylor made both free throws.

The Hubs needed to foul. The Indians kept the ball in point guard Jermichael Mitchell's hands. Mitchell, who hadn't been on the charity stripe yet, hit four of six free throws to preserve Wicomico's unbeaten streak.

Wicomico was led by Kyle Camper's 19 pints. Greg Brown added 15 and Craig Winder 14 points. Carl Miles tied for the game-high in rebounds with 13. Winder also had nine points and a team-high five assists along with three steals and two blocks.

Tavis Green scored a game-high 20 points; Rice added 13 and Cliff Carey 12 points. Rice was other player with 13 rebounds, eight of them on the offensive boards. He also picked off a game-high five steals.