Falcon Girls Bow Out In Basketball State Quarters

With foul trouble rearing its head, an athletic and aggressive Oxon Hill defense starting to click, and an 11-point lead slipping down to one, Severna Park tried to go to the well of experience and grit one more time.

It turned out the Falcons had precious little left to give, and the Clippers were only starting to play their game.

Oxon Hill turned on the pressure and Severna Park found themselves out of legs, out of sync, out of answers, and ultimately out of time. The Clippers scored 27 of the game’s final 35 points, overturning a huge deficit and knocking Severna Park out of the 3A state quarterfinals 49-41 on Saturday.

Oxon Hill (22-4) dressed only seven players for the game, and the Clippers seemed to keep that in mind in the first half. They played a half-court, low-exertion type of game, while Severna Park ran, defended aggressively, and built a sizeable lead largely in transition. It was the exact opposite of what most scouting reports expected, for both teams.

Then, midway through the third quarter, everything flipped. Seemingly content with having kept the foul count and energy expenditure low, Oxon Hill threw on a three-quarter-court press and stacked turnovers, and Severna Park — having played a grinding, intense three-overtime game in the region final last time out — couldn’t get anything to stick. Their transition game continued in fits and starts, but the half-court offense sputtered to a halt, and what had been a water-tight defense soon followed suit.

“There were some things that made me think (there was fatigue),” Severna Park coach Kristofer Dean said. “But that’s a really talented group with some good shooters. We did well, but then we got out of position and had a couple of breakdowns defensively, and we started having turnovers. Once they got the momentum, we had to start chasing points, and that’s just not what we want to do.”

The Falcons (22-3) scored the game’s first seven points and threatened to run away with the game. They led for nearly 26 consecutive minutes. Maria Bragg and Maddy Sullivan set the tone early with decisive moves to the basket. Each finished with 11 points to pace the Falcons.

But Severna Park was undone by foul trouble, particularly to senior talisman Ryn Feemster, who this time couldn’t avoid the fifth foul. She finished with eight points.

Despite the loss, the Falcons finished the season with 22 wins and a region championship. Winning a state title notwithstanding, it was by all accounts a successful season, and Dean was quick to pay tribute to the players for their buy-in, and particularly the seniors for their leadership.

“They fought all year long. They listened. They’re great people, and coachable, and if they’re not, we don’t come close to doing what we did this season,” Dean said. “It’s tough right now, and we’re going to miss our seniors. But anytime you make the Elite Eight, that’s a great season. I mean, 22-3, you can’t hang your head at that.”

Oxon Hill 49, Severna Park 41

Oxon Hill       7    6    15   21   --49

Severna Park    11   11   13   6    --41

OXON HILL (49)

Conteh 11-2 4, Williams 6 0-1 13, Onunkwo 3 1-6 7, Igwe 2 2-5 6, Coleman 5 5 7-9 13. Totals 17 10-22 49.

SEVERNA PARK (41)

Hussey 3 0-0 6, Bragg 5 1-2 11, Sullivan 5 1-2 11, Rosati 1 0-0 3, Cover 1 0-0 2, Feemster 4 0-0 8. Totals 19 2-4 41.

3-point goals: Oxon Hill 4 (Coleman 2, Williams, Conteh); Severna Park 1 (Rosati). Total fouls: Oxon Hill 10, Severna Park 17. Fouled out: Feemster.