Schools
Best Running Game Could Decide Aberdeen-Largo State Semifinal
The high-scoring styles of the Lady Eagles, who average 72 points per game, and the Lady Lions, who average 81.3 points per game, should provide an interesting match-up.
The Aberdeen Lady Eagles basketball team will face the Largo Lady Lions Thursday in a state semi-final showdown likely to be decided by which team best plays the same style of basketball.
The game will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at the University of Maryland Balitimore County.
Patch caught up with the coaches for both teams Tuesday at the MPSSAA state basketball press conference at the Sheraton hotel in Columbia.
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Both teams like to run the floor and play pressure defense. The victor will go back to the UMBC Saturday night to play the winner of the Fredrick-Howard game for the MPSSAA 3A state championship.
“They’re scrappy,” Coach Stacy Liles said of her opponents. “I know they’ve got speed and we do too.”
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Liles’ Lady Eagles (23-1) have demolished most of their competitors, often winning by more than 20 points. The Lady Eagles’ largest margin for victory this season was 51 points on Dec. 13, when they beat Havre de Grace 65-14.
The team’s only loss came at the hands of Joppatowne, the MPSSAA 4A state champions. Aberdeen lost to Joppatowne at home by three points on January 6. But the Lady Eagles beat their rivals by six points on Feb. 10, to end Joppatowne’s more than yearlong winning streak.
“We like aggressiveness,” Liles said. “We like a fast-paced game.”
Largo (25-1) also has blown out teams of lesser skill and experience. Lago beat Potomac High School by 77 points on Jan. 4.
“Our style is very aggressive,” said Largo coach Ayana Ball-Ward. “We like to run—baseline to baseline.”
Largo averages 81.3 points and 25.3 rebounds per game.
Largo’s team lost only to Bowlingbrook High School of Illinois this season. Bowlingbrook beat Largo by 27 points. But Ball-Ward said even that was a learning tool for her girls.
“For them to have a team full of (NCAA) Division I prospects, it was a good experience for us,” Ball-Ward said. “It was a good game and a tough game.”
The Lady Eagles average 72 points and 32 rebounds per game.
“I think our styles are a lot a like,” Liles said.
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