SPHS Girls Hoops Looking for Consistency, Experience

It’s been tough sledding for the Severna Park girls basketball team as the calendar turned to 2026, but head coach Kristofer Dean is convinced the team is in for better days ahead.

Nearing the midway point of the regular season, the Falcons are sitting 2-8, but they have cautious optimism about where they’re headed.

Severna Park has tasted victory just twice, an early-season 32-25 slugfest over Broadneck and a 51-26 win over North County on January 9, but they have come close on a few other occasions. They had Severn School on the ropes before falling 38-37 on December 16, gave Oakdale a game before succumbing by 10 on December 10, and also had single-digit losses to Riverdale Baptist and Glen Burnie. Allegany, Annapolis, Maryvale Prep and St. Timothy’s rounded out the early slate.

With starting senior guard Maria Bragg out for the first part of the season and junior point guard Izzy Burleson suffering an injury, running the offense has come a little early to three young players: freshman Annmarie Mitzel, and sophomores Lola Lewis and Riley Buck.

“Those three are going to be very good; they just need some time,” Dean said.

Having put their trust in senior center Naomi Batty to hold down the fort in the low block, the team has had varying degrees of success as the younger perimeter players learn on the fly.

The successes are getting closer together, and as the back half of the season starts to unfold, the hope is dividends are right around the corner.

“Right now, we just want consistency and to put four good quarters together. A lot of times we get three good quarters, but we haven’t gotten all four yet, and that’s just time and experience,” Dean said. “If we can get where I think we can get to by the end of the year, we’re going to be in pretty good shape.”