Schools

Lady Eagles Basketball Team Gives Aberdeen Reason to be Proud

The Lady Eagles basketball program gave fans more than their money's worth every game this season.

I’m no hotshot sports writer. And I don’t claim to be.

But I have thoroughly enjoyed covering and following the Aberdeen High School Girls Basketball team on their road to the MPSSAA Class 3A state championship.

Despite the fact that Aberdeen (23-2) lost to Frederick on at the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s RAC arena, the players, coaches and faithful fans have AB-SO-LUTE-LY nothing to be ashamed of.

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The Lady Eagles are already regional champions—which is no small accomplishment. And every time I’ve had the pleasure of watching them play, the team members have conducted themselves like ladies both on-and-off court.

The Aberdeen Patch website went live on Monday Dec. 27, 2010. I was brand new in town and I didn’t know anyone here. To make this new venture even more challenging, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is notoriously slow in terms of news.

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But drawing on my own high school memories, I thought—actually hoped—the basketball team would be playing in some kind of winter tournament. So I drove by the high school on the Tuesday after the site launched to see what was happening.

I ran into activity bus driver Janeice Faison, who had to drive the girls down to Fallston High School for the Vernon Brown Memorial Basketball Tournament. I went down for the game because I wanted to see some good basketball and start meeting the people of Aberdeen.

I was sincerely impressed.

The Lady Eagles swooped down on Edgewood in a mid-season exhibition game and beat the Lady Rams 65-31, on the strength of impressive inside-outside play.

The sophomore center Brianna Jones couldn’t be stopped on the block. Senior guard Ayana Stewart showed outstanding leadership. And junior Lakeia Hayden showed why point guards are rightly nicknamed “Floor Generals.”

But even more impressive was the team’s attitude after they blew out their Route 40 rivals. The players were respectful of their opponents and they never got full of themselves. Coach Stacy Liles and the assistant coaching staff also conducted themselves as true professionals.

From that very moment, I knew this team would be going downstate (making a run for the championship.)

That’s why I made a commitment to cover as many of the Lady Eagles games as possible. When I didn't attend the games, contributing sports writer did. And these outstanding student athletes have given the fans much more than their money’s worth every game.

No one can accuse these ladies of not playing with heart, not showing up mentally—big game, or small—or even lacking enough intensity to get the job done.

This team has lost only one other game this season. That loss on came at the hands of then defending state champions the Joppatowne Lady Mariners, who lost to Dunbar on Friday night in the Class 1A state semi-final. But the Lady Eagles returned the favor on , handing Joppatowne a loss that ended that program’s more than yearlong winning streak and removed that air of invincibility.

And I suspect that if these Lady Eagles got a second chance with that Frederick team they would even the score.

Nevertheless, I am glad that I personally had the opportunity to cover this program’s season and this Lady Eagles team. And I am proud that Aberdeen Patch shared this journey with the readers, the team and the fans because there are few chances in life to see or be a part of something so special.

Today is the first day back in school after the big game. Don’t dwell on the hurt. Hold your heads high today, players and fans alike. The Lady Eagles basketball program is one that should make you proud.

 

(The Monday Morning Quarterback is a column about the joys and complexities of life as seen through the eyes of Mark Tyler, the Local Editor of Aberdeen.Patch.com. Mark Tyler can be reached at Mark.Tyler@patch.com or (443) 945-1882.)


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