COLLEGE PARK – Prince George’s County’s state semifinal representatives had a rough day Thursday, as both County champion Friendly and Eleanor Roosevelt were eliminated from the playoffs in losses at the University of Maryland’s Comcast Center.
The Patriots lost to defending 3A champion Milford Mill, while the Raiders lost to Baltimore City’s Patterson High in a 4A contest. Patterson will face Charles County’s North Point High in the 4A title game, as the Eagles knocked off Montgomery County representative Magruder in the night’s final game.
Gwynn Park will try for a 2A title game trip today, but here’s a recap of last night’s P.G. action:
MILFORD MILL 58, FRIENDLY 37
The Patriots saw their 23-game winning streak come to a disappointing end in a hail of missed shots as they finished with their lowest point output of the season. Friendly shot just 25 percent (12-of-48) from the field, including a dismal 18.5 percent (5-of-27) in the first half as Milford Mill built a 29-15 lead at the break.
The defending 3A state champion Millers got double-figure scoring from Devin Hanner (12 points), Nick Smoot (10) and Chase Cormier (10), but got contributions from everyone as 10 different players scored. Hanner grabbed 12 rebounds and also had five blocks.
Milford Mill shot 45 percent (18-of-40) from the field, and out-rebounded Friendly 40-25.
Senior point guard Sherrod Baltimore had 11 points for Friendly, while Davon Morton had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
MILFORD MILL
Devin Hanner 12, Nick Smoot 10, Chase Cormier 10, Ryan Jackson 6, Isaiah McCray 5, Kentrell Myers 5, Duane Miller 3, Troy Parker 3, Travis Witherspoon 2. Totals: 18-40 20-27 58.
FRIENDLY
Sherrod Baltimore 11, Davon Morton 11, Mike Johnson 4, Lamont Short 4, Victor Blakey 3, Byron Hawkins 2, Chris Williams 2. Totals: 12-48 11-22 37.
Milford Mill 15 14 15 14 – 58
Friendly 4 11 9 13 – 37
3-Point Goals— MM (Smoot 2), F 2 (Baltimore 2). Total Fouls –MM 20, F 22. Fouled Out— F (Short). Rebounds--MM 40 (Hanner 12), F 25 (Morton 12).
PATTERSON 67, ROOSEVELT 59
Roosevelt led by five points at halftime after Patterson star sophomore guard Aquille Carr picked up three early fouls, but were outscored 25-13 in the second half as the Clippers took control.
The explosive 5-foot-6 Carr scored 15 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to lead Patterson (25-1) to its first-ever state title appearance. Their opponent in Saturday’s 8 p.m. title game – North Point – will also be making its inaugural trip to the state final.
“In the first half, like, I was just taking bad shots,” Carr said. “Then I knew when I came out in the second half, I got to put my team on my back, ’cause they’re looking for me to dish the ball to them and made wide-open shots. So basically, it was just like, ‘I’ve got to put my team on my back to get this ‘W’”.
Senior guard Rickey Meekins made four 3-pointers and helped carry the load with Carr on the bench in early foul trouble. He finished with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Raiders (17-9) meanwhile, fell in the state semifinals for the second year in a row.
“I just told the guys I was really proud of them,” Roosevelt coach Brendan O’Connell said. “Especially in the middle of the year, at one point we might have been sitting at 11-8 or something like that, and no one had us getting back here. So to get back here – a lot of guys got back here for the second time – and to come out of our County like we did, it’s a real accomplishment.”
Junior guard Chaun Miller led Roosevelt with 17 points, while senior forward Prince Okoroh had 15 and junior guard Akil Charles added 12.
“I thought we played well and I thought we played hard overall,” O’Connell said.” We just turned the ball over a little too much in the second half and gave up a little too many rebounds in the second half and Patterson made plays.”
PATTERSON
Aquille Carr 25, Rickey Meekins 16, Myrek Fowlkes 9, Marcus Woodyard 8, Karrell Goines 7, Pete Carter 2. Totals: 23-64 14-23 67.
E. ROOSEVELT
Chaun Miller 17, Prince Okoroh 15, Akil Charles 12, NieRonn Miles 6, Marcellus Gail 5, Malachi Alexander 2, Cameron Isreal 2. Totals: 20-52 15-24 59.
Patterson 16 10 25 16 – 67
E. Roosevelt 17 14 13 15 – 59
3-Point Goals— P 7 (Meekins 4, Carr 3), ER 4 (Miller 3, Gail). Total Fouls – P 18, ER 19. Fouled Out— ER (Charles). Rebounds – P 43 (Meekins 10), ER 39 (Miles 8).
