Oakland Mills sweeps Columbia rivalry

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Oakland Mills has rivarly bragging rights and to date an undefeated season.

February 5, 2011 - In Columbia, MD, no other rivalry surpasses that of Oakland Mills and Hammond, as the Scorpions and Golden Bears fight tooth and nail in all sports. Having dispatched Hammond by 35 points in mid-December, the Bear faithful had extra motivation to cheer the home team; unfortunately for them, in the end Oakland Mills again proved victorious, returning home with a 61-45 win.

Joe Kiely (1) pushed things for Oakland Mills.

The final score hints domination, but that wasn't the case; Oakland mills only led 19-15 at halftime. It was then the Scorpions added a man-to-man defensive scheme to their 1-2-2 zone press, the results being an offensive surge produced by fast break points, really taking hold in the fourth quarter.

"Defense is what wins us games" said senior guard Joe Kiely when asked about getting points via stops. "We just run. And when we play man to man, we get steals, we get traps, and pretty much get our points off the steal and everything; (via) man to man".

Senior forward Greg Whittington was offensively productive throughout, dropping 29 points, including four, two and three point baskets, each. The defensive change seemed to energize him him, as in the second half Whittington notched several blocked shots.

Hammond, led by senior Sean Lenear's 15 points did get as close as five with 2:30 to go in the third quarter - fueled in large measure by pressuring the ball defensively - but suffered a 16-6 Oakland Mills run over approximately the next 10 minutes, and could never recover.

Seniors Dionte Jones and Dave Patrick chipped in nine and eight points respectively for Hammond, while senior guards James Peters (15 points) and Marcellus Ajiboye (10 points) joined Whittington in double figures for Oakland Mills. Keily notched four points, but was the catalyst for Oakland Mill's attack.

Their team, undefeated overall at 18-0, 15-0 in Howard County action, hosts Centennial, Tuesday, 7p. Hammond, struggling at 11-6,8-6, welcomes the same school Monday night, at 5:30p.

Extra: Joe Kiely talks the game and recruiting, here.