Session 1 of the 2015 Governor’s Challenge featured seven four-team brackets; five featuring boys’ teams, and two on the girls’ side.
After opening round games on Saturday, Monday’s championship action saw seven competitive games, including a few games that went down to the wire.
BRACKET 1
CHAMPION
Theodore Roosevelt (Washington, D.C.)
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Brandon Howell (Averaged team-high 14.5 points in two wins)
BRACKET RECAP
Despite being down 12 points early in the first quarter, Theodore Roosevelt roared from behind to overcome Largo for the boys Bracket 1 championship, 62-59. Roosevelt took their first lead of the game at the 2:27 mark in the third and used a stingy full court press to distort Largo along the way. Brandon Howell had a team-high 14 points for Roosevelt. Largo was paced by Gregg Boyd, who had a game-high 19 points. In the consolation game, local representative Parkside dispatched St. Joseph By The Sea (N.Y.), 80-65. Gary Briddell turned in a herculanean performance with 19 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for the Rams.
BRACKET 1 RESULTS
Mon: Theodore Roosevelt 62, Largo 59
Mon: Parkside 80, St. Joe By The Sea (N.Y.) 65
Sat: Largo 74, St. Joe By The Sea (N.Y.) 72
Sat: Theodore Roosevelt 76, Parkside 50
BRACKET RECAP
Despite being down 12 points in a blink of an eye early in the first quarter, Theodore Roosevel
BRACKET 2
CHAMPION
Thurgood Marshall
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Desmond Rene, 2016 G, Thurgood Marshall (Averaged 21.5 points, 6.5 assists in two wins)
BRACKET RECAP
When momentum was up for grabs, Thurgood Marshall used a stellar second half performance in which they shot nearly 70%, to propel themselves victorious over Edison in the Bracket 2 title game, 84-65. Anwar Henson registered back-to-back 26 point contests and shot a cool 62% from the field (18/29 FG, 8/16 3-pt FG) for the tournament. Bracket MOP Desmond Rene also had his share of offensive success, dropping 28 points in the bracket title game. Rene also took home MOP honors in Thurgood Marshall’s championship run last year.
BRACKET 2 RESULTS
Mon: Thurgood Marshall 84, Edison 65
Mon: Aberdeen 80, JM Bennett 40
Sat: Thurgood Marshall 71, JM Bennett 36
Sat: Edison 57, Easton 52
BRACKET 3
CHAMPION
Indian Creek (Crownsville, Md.)
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Devin Garrett, 2016 G/F, Indian Creek (Averaged 21 points and 12.5 rebounds in two wins)
BRACKET RECAP
Indian Creek took home the Bracket 3 title with a big win on Saturday, and a tough victory over Queen Anne’s County on Monday. Senior swingman Devin Garrett was superb in the championship game, putting up 24 points and pulling in 17 rebounds. Queen Anne’s senior forward Juwan Moore turned in a strong championship effort of his own, with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
BRACKET 3 RESULTS
Mon: Indian Creek 66, Queen Anne 55
Mon: Harford Tech 57, Easton 54 [schedule change]
Sat: Indian Creek 71, Harford Tech 41
Sat: Queen Anne 53, Arcadia (Va.) 43
BRACKET 4
CHAMPION
Cambridge-SD (Cambridge, Md.)
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Ivan Taylor, 2016 F, Cambridge-South Dorchester (Averaged 12 points, 8 rebounds in two wins)
BRACKET RECAP
Cambridge-South Dorchester rolled to the Bracket 4 championship with a 34-point dismantling against Delmar (Del.) in their opener, and a 64-52 win over Harford Christian in the championship game. Though the championship game wasn’t as easy for C-SD as their first, a second half surge in which they cruised to a 16-0 run to start the third quarter proved to be enough to hold on the rest of the way. Desjuan Murray had a team-high 21 points and added six rebounds in the Vikings’ win. Ivan Taylor went for his second double-double of the tournament, posting 15 points and 10 rebounds to earn Bracket MOP honors. Derreck Orr finished with a game-high 24 points for Harford Christian.
BRACKET 4 RESULTS
Mon: Cambridge-South Dorchester 64, Harford Christian 52
Mon: Delmar (Del.) 65, Salisbury School 30
Sat: Harford Christian 67, Salisbury School 39
Sat: Cambridge-South Dorchester 79, Delmar (Del.) 45
BRACKET 5
CHAMPION
Kempsville (Virginia Beach, Va.)
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Bryant Page, 2018 G, Kempsville
BRACKET RECAP
Kempsville (Va.) continued to ride the play of dynamic sophomore guard, Bryant Page, who turned in his second 20-plus point performance of the tournament, lifting the Chiefs to the Bracket 5 championship over Kings Christian, 64-60. After pushing their lead to double digits midway through the third quarter, Kings Christian clawed their way back to make it a one possession game with under 1:30 to go in the fourth. Kempsville put the Eagles comeback to rest, icing a series of pivotal free throws in the closing minute. Page finished the two game tournament scoring 42 points on an impressive 60% from the field (15/25 FG).
BRACKET 5 RESULTS
Mon: Kempsville (Va.) 64, Kings Christian 60
Mon: Mardela 54, Worcester Prep 50
Sat: Kempsville (Va.) 60, Mardela 36
Sat: Kings Christian 47, Worcester Prep 43
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GIRLS BRACKET 1
CHAMPION
St. John’s College HS (Washington, D.C.)
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Jaylin Carodine, 2018 G, St. John’s (Averaged 10 points, 10.5 rebounds in two wins)
BRACKET RECAP
St. John’s faced — and passed — a major test in their two games, with matchups against state title contender Walt Whitman and McDonogh, a yearly juggernaut in Baltimore. The Cadets were led by sophomore guard Jaylin Carodine, who averaged 10 points and 10.5 rebounds in the two wins, and added four steals and three assists in the hard-fought 60-55 championship game win over McDonogh. Whitman captured 3rd place honors with a big win over local Stephen Decatur.
BRACKET 1 RESULTS
Mon: St. John’s 60, McDonogh 55
Mon: Whitman 77, Stephen Decatur 33
Sat: McDonogh 72, Stephen Decatur 30
Sat: St. John’s 62, Whitman 43
GIRLS BRACKET 2
CHAMPION: Sanford (Hockessin, Del.)
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Samantha Pollich, 2019 F, Sanford (Averaged 14 points, 12.5 rebounds in two wins)
BRACKET RECAP
Sanford (Del.) turned in an impressive two-day performance, on a team mostly made up of underclassmen, including freshman forward Samantha Pollich — who earned Bracket MOP honors — and fellow freshmen Lauren Park and Olivia Tucker. Winning their two games by an average of 37 points, the Warriors were dominant from start to finish, beating local Mardela handily in their opener, and then whopping St. Joseph (N.Y.) in an all out-of-state championship game. Mardela defeated Parkside in a low-scoring 3rd place game, as Taylor Ross led the way with 13 points in the consolation win.
BRACKET 2 RESULTS
Mon: Sanford (Del.) 72, St. Joseph By The Sea (N.Y.) 33
Mon: Mardela 37, Parkside 26
Sat: St. Joseph By The Sea (N.Y.) 53, Parkside 44
Sat: Sanford (Del.) 71, Mardela 37
