Rematch of County Championship Game Has Different Result

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Suitland, MD – Suitland and Potomac both were high school juggernauts last year in the state of Maryland. Potomac would garner the state 2A crown, while Suitland reached the playoffs themselves, losing a heartbreaker to Largo High School and thereby being denied a trip to Maryland’s 4A Final Four tournament.

This season, both have continued to demonstrate excellence on the hardwood. The Potomac Wolverines are led by their first year coach, Dwayne Shell. Shell relies heavily on senior leadership. His Suitland counterpart, Tyrone Massenburg, is once again patrolling the sidelines for Suitland, and employing a guard rotation that could be the envy of the area.

The two squads met in the Suitland Holiday Tournament’s championship game recently, and again illustrated the talent and depth necessary for state title runs. Suitland would prevail 82-77 in this game, despite blowing a 14 point lead in the 4th quarter. An added benefit from a Ram perspective is that this victory provided a sense of revenge – Potomac defeated Suitland in last year’s Prince Georges County Championship game 57-52, on 2.23.05

From a Ram perspective senior guard Michael Lewis scored 33 Points, while fellow senior forward/center Cliff Dixon supplied 16. The Wolverines were paced by 23 points from senior combo guard Rick Pride. Bobby Shannon, a high flying senior swingman, added 18.

The game started with Potomac winning the tip, though by the time Shannon hit a 15 footer, they trailed 6-2. Suitland’s Dixon would extend that lead to 10-3 via a steal and powerful dunk, causing Potomac to signal for a timeout with 4:05 left in the first quarter.

For the remainder of the period, both teams went back and forth, with Potomac having a slight 12 to 9 scoring advantage. Pride and Shannon were central to the effort, as the former notched a nice and-one play, as well as a steal and conversion to close the 1st quarter at a 19-15 Suitland advantage.

During the course of the games various intermissions, fans were invited to attempt a half court shot. Only one made it and subsequently won the unspecified prize – Arnold Richmond III. This young 12 year old whose father, Arthur Richmond III indicated plays “point guard” for “Thurgood Marshall Middle School and Lake Arbor Rec” calmly hit the long, long range bomb. As a result, the fans went wild, with a detectable emotional surge present before the start of the 2nd quarter.

Maybe the capitalized on the recently generated energy, or maybe coach Shell motivated the Wolverines to play better, but they would go on a 17 to 7 run during the first 3 minutes and 30 seconds of the period, fueled by defensive pressure and timely shooting by Pride and Shannon. At that point in time, their newly earned lead stood 32-26.

To close the quarter Suitland’s Lewis responded with 5 points (including a 3-ball). Based to a large degree on his contributions, the rams would only trail 35-34 at the half. This diminutive yet highly skilled point guard would show his broad skill set throughout the game, which includes jump shots, driving, dishing, and sinking foul shots.

Both teams went back and forth in the 3rd, until around 4 minutes to play in the period. At that point Suitland would outscore the Wolverines by 10 to close the quarter. As to be expected, Lewis was key.

He would score from the outside and at the rack, with one play standing out: With his team losing by 2 points, Lewis took the ball behind his back in traffic, and scored at the cup. That move ignited the Suitland faithful in attendance, and when added to the full court man defense coach Massenburg employed, momentum was squarely on their side going into the last stanza.

The Rams extended their 10 point lead by playing good team defense, applying ball pressure, and riding an offensive surge by their burgeoning big man, Dixon. He used his entire 6 foot 9 inch+ frame when he tipped a ball in, posted in the lane (which led to being fouled), and flushed hard off a rebound.

Around the 4:42 mark, and trailing by 14, Potomac could have packed it in, but didn’t. Two reserves came in, and sparked the Wolverine’s effort. Forward Adrian McFarland (4 points), immediately stole the ball and converted a layup, as well as scored on an inbounds play; showing the same fight and competitiveness that have driven him to become a highly recruited linebacker on the gridiron.

Fellow reserve forward Darryl Glass (2 points) also made his presence known. Shortly after skying to block a dunk, Glass filled the lane in an open court setting, grabbed a pass, and slammed hard after ball faking.

Potomac’s two senior leaders, Pride and Shannon, then showed why they are highly recruited ballers. Pride would score on a traditional and-one, after which Shannon came down and scored at the cup after a team generated steal. In fact, at around a minute and a half left, Potomac had whittled the one time 14 point lead down to one, via pressing and thereby creating turnovers and converting the scoring opportunities they presented.

The Wolverines would get to within a point, but Suitland’s experienced team showed they had been in these positions before by grinding out the victory, primarily from the foul line. As to be expected, Lewis’ shooting was key, with senior forward Chris Mast (10 points) also scoring from the charity stripe. At the final bell, Suitland had won their Holiday Tournament 82-77.

The future is bright for both of these programs this year. They both have senior leadership that will deliver when required. After the game, Potomac’s Shell indicated that his team’s practice time had been abbreviated, and as such they will improve in their sets designed to attack zone defenses, as well as their defense.

Massenburg of Suitland, after the contest, indicated that his team’s deep guard rotation will be the Ram’s strength, as will the tandem of Lewis and Dixon. As a result, playing them will be a chore in the near future.

It is a definite possibility that this year’s PG County Championship could again be these two teams. Check in with i95Ballerz.com for coverage of both squads, during the season and playoffs.

Pride and Shannon with 2nd Place Trophy