Girls Basketball: Western Tech Holds Off Owings MIlls for Ninth Consecutive Victory

Owings Mills High was not at all shy about their defensive strategy Wednesday night. Each time Western Tech junior Ateh Ade touched the ball in the post, three Eagles pounced, arms extended, forcing the Wolverines’ leading scorer into a difficult shot or pass.

Fielding a roster with three big, physical post players of their own, Owings Mills was able to maintain such a high level of defensive pressure without risking foul trouble or lethargy in keeping up with Western Tech’s athletic junior. The approach worked, holding Ade to just eight points, including six from the free throw line.

With Ade shutdown, the Wolverines were forced to utilize their quickness, breaking out in transition to take the lead and shooting well from the free throw line to sustain the advantage in their 37-33 home victory.

“At the beginning of the year, we wouldn’t have won that game,” Western Tech coach Nolan Roe said.

The Wolverines are now 13-2 on the season having won their last nine straight.

The scrappy, young team relies on the production from their freshman and sophomores in the backcourt. That includes freshman guard Sydney Clopton, who knocked down three 3-point baskets on her way to a team-high 13 points for the game.

Clopton’s hot hand from 3-point range spurred the Wolverines’ attack early, hitting two from behind the arc in the first quarter. Paired with the sharp shooting from deep, Western Tech pushed the ball quickly each time they gained possession. Rather than wait, allowing the Eagles to set up a tightly packed 2-1-2 zone, the Wolverines spotted outlet passes cheating up beyond the halfcourt line on every steal or defensive rebound. The fast-paced transition gameplan gave Western Tech a 14-12 first quarter advantage.

Stagnant for the most of the remaining minutes of the half, the Wolverines continued to struggle against the Eagles halfcourt zone, but breaking free for chances in the open court.

“We had a good plan for them, but they are fast and just got to many transition buckets,” Owings Mills coach Donchez Graham said. “They were able to turn us over, and I don’t know how many transition baskets they scored, but it was far too many.”

Owings Mills scored just four points in the period. The Eagles committed turnovers, forced difficult passes and took ill-advised shots as they were stumped when trying to break through the Wolverines’ zone. While Ade was stifled offensively, she was unfazed on the defensive end. Just as she battled for position against Owings Mills' Ebony Smith when looking for an entry pass, she fronted the larger, stronger Eagles’ center. Smith scored just 10 points on the game.

Despite barely cracking double-digits, Roe credits Smith with Owings Mills’ success in the post.

“We knew [Smith] was going to be a game-changer,” Roe said of Smith, who didn’t play first time the two sides met at the end of December when Western Tech won 43-25. “At her size and strength, she is going to get six or seven rebounds by just being under the basket. She was difficult to handle.”

Down 24-18 at half, the Eagles chipped away to start the third quarter. Alisia Mobley led the Owings Mills attack, scoring five straight points including a deep 3-point basket to cut the Wolverines’ lead to one at 29-28. That long shot, though, was the Eagles final basket of the quarter. Western Tech hit just one field goal, along with a free throw by Ade, to retain a two-possession lead.

The two sluggish offenses continued their scoring woes in the fourth quarter. The first basket for either side didn’t come until a shade more than four minutes were left on the clock. Mobley fed Smith on a soft lob over the Wolverine defender for a layup. Ade was fouled on the other end and hit the first of two free throws to push the lead back to three.

Mobley continued to look for her shot, driving to the basket or running off picks to get a chance from 3-point range. Averaging nearly 26 points per game, the Eagles’ leading scorer managed just 13 Wednesday night, as the Wolverines grinded out the four-point victory.

Western Tech looks to continue their tear through conference play on Friday night on the road against Pikesville High, while Owings Mills will try to get back on track Thursday against Chesapeake High (BC).