Long Reach JV used a big middle‑innings surge and aggressive baserunning to earn a 13–8 win over Mt. Hebron JV in a fast‑paced, high‑energy matchup. How the Game Unfolded Mt. Hebron struck first with multiple early runs, scoring in four of the first five innings and keeping steady pressure on the Lightning pitching staff. The Vikings finished with 8 runs on 6 hits, drawing 5 walks and swiping several bases to manufacture offense early. Long Reach answered with consistency at the plate and took control in the middle innings. After trailing early, the Lightning broke the game open with a six‑run fourth inning, followed by a four‑run fifth, flipping the momentum for good. Long Reach finished with 13 runs on 10 hits, capitalizing on walks, hit batters, and defensive miscues. Key Performances – Long Reach JV Bryce Kegel went 3‑for‑5 with a double and an RBI, setting the tone offensively. Matthew Jeffries was a catalyst, going 2‑for‑3 with 2 RBIs, two stolen bases, and pitching an efficient inning. Gabe Paulhamus drove in 2 runs, added a stolen base, and earned the win on the mound despite working through traffic. Dalen Johnson reached base four times, scored 3 runs, and stole 3 bases, constantly pressuring the defense. Long Reach stole 9 total bases, using speed as a difference‑maker. Key Performances – Mt. Hebron JV Logan Slater went 2‑for‑3 with 2 runs scored and stole multiple bases. Sahib Singh delivered a 2‑for‑3 performance with a double and an RBI. David Lee drove in a run and handled duties both behind the plate and on the mound. Mt. Hebron pitchers struck out 7 Lightning hitters, but control issues (8 walks, 2 HBPs) proved costly. Pitching Breakdown Long Reach used four pitchers to get through seven innings, limiting damage late despite some early wildness. Mt. Hebron relied on a bullpen mix as well, but Long Reach capitalized during relief appearances with timely hits and stolen bases. Final Takeaway This was a momentum‑driven game where Long Reach’s depth, speed, and timely hitting shifted the outcome. Mt. Hebron showed resilience and early offensive balance, but the Lightning’s explosive middle innings were the difference.
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The correct score was 1-16 (Mt. Hebron winning).
14-2
Howard County saw two teams make championship appearances and three win their region this season. Glenelg and Reservoir powered their way to have a chance at a title. Howard made it to the state bracket. Here are CSZ’s awards for the best of the county this season: Team of the Year - Reservoir Gators Reservoir tied for the best regular-season record at 16-4 and won a county-high five playoff games. The Gators hit the ground running in December, winning all six of their games and keeping opponents under 40 points in four of them. Their seven-game win streak to open the year showcased that this year’s team would not take a step back, leading the county once again. A January lull, which had a 1-4 stretch for the Gators, proved to be the outlier in the year. Reservoir returned to its winning ways in February and carried that momentum for the rest of the season. Since the start of February, they won 12 straight games, including the playoffs, before the championship against the Poly Engineers. A 57-34 loss to that Poly team ended the playoff run, but Reservoir still managed to defy expectations by remaining at the top of the county. Coach Deb Taylor reflected on what she and her players accomplished this season. “At the beginning of the season, I didn’t think we would win as many games as we did…We graduated 2 all-county players and people thought we would be down. Instead, we won our first county championship and made school history,” Coach Taylor said. Most Improved Team - Glenelg Gladiators Glenelg boosted its record by six regular-season wins and eight total this year, turning the page after finishing under .500 in 2025. The Gladiators built early momentum and sustained it this year. They won their first five games of the season with a key one early against a talented Mt. Hebron team. In CSZ’s preseason power rankings, we placed Glenelg seventh with concerns about the team’s defense. The 2025 team had a 3-9 record when the defense allowed more than 40 points. The Gladiators allowed 40 points in the same number of games this season, but showed the offensive grit to overcome it. Glenelg improved by three wins in the stat to have a 6-6 record in those games, including the playoffs. Their playoff journey featured four blowout wins, taking down Southern, Wilde Lake, Frederick Douglass and Williamsport. The dominance carried into the start of the championship game, but Glenelg got outlasted by Manchester Valley, who won its first championship in the process.
Seven Howard County teams advanced to the second round of regionals this weekend. The first round of regional games started and finished on Friday across all four MPSSAA classes. Four of the remaining Howard County teams used a first-round bye for an extra week of rest before the intensity of the playoffs ramp up. The other three teams prevailed in matchups against rival county teams. All of the Howard County teams are in the 2A and 3A classes. 2A: Glenelg, Hammond, River Hill Hammond holds the second seed in the West II bracket, standing ahead of the other two remaining teams. The Golden Bears pulled off a thrilling midseason comeback this year, posting an 8-4 record in 2026 after ending 2025 with a 45 record. Their opponent in this second round is the River Hill Hawks. 11-10 River Hill took care of business on Friday with a 65-47 win against 1-19 Wilde Lake. The Hawks will now hit the road to take on Hammond. In their last meeting, the Hawks won late and close in a 56-54 game. The Golden Bears and Hawks face off at 6:00 p.m. tonight. Glenelg are on the other wing of the bracket, coming off their upset win against Long Reach. Three weeks ago on Feb. 5, the Lightning comfortably beat Glenelg at Glenelg in a 67-57 game. The Gladiators appeared to have run out of gas with only one win in their prior eleven games. None of those games finished with a margin less than six points. Glenelg stunned everyone with a 68-62 road win to keep their playoff dreams alive. The path for a Gladiators miracle run will only get harder in the regionals’ second round. Their next opponent is a 12-5 Southern team that remained consistent throughout the entire season. Southern has not ceded an upset loss to a team with a lower winning percentage all season. Glenelg will try to become the story of the MPSSAA playoffs at 6:00 p.m. tonight. 3A: Atholton, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Oakland Mills Marriotts Ridge holds the top seed in North II and earned a first-round bye. Their first playoff opponent is a Franklin High School with momentum. They took down Howard in a thrilling 48-46 showdown, continuing their resurrection from an early-season 1-5 record. Marriotts Ridge will host the second round matchup at 6:00 p.m. tonight. South I number one seed Oakland Mills faces 10-11 Sherwood for its first playoff game. Sherwood routed Reservoir in the first round with a final score of 85-47. The Scorpions will look to bounce back from their county championship loss and regain their momentum for the playoffs. The two teams face off tonight at 6:00 p.m. Across the bracket, Atholton will prepare for a cross-country matchup against Mt. Hebron. The Vikings just secured their closest win of the season against Guilford Park, winning 59-58. They are 6-3 in their last nine and facing an Atholton squad that did not lose a single county game at home. Atholton and Mt. Hebron face off at 6:00 p.m. tonight.
Sam Feher 21 points
Sam Feher 18 points, 6 blocks
Score was 40-50 Hebron
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJXrlQI1cnQ
Howard County basketball returns next week with most teams still in the mix for county glory. For this CSZ midseason check-in, we looked at what each school’s main goal should be for 2026. Note: The listed records are only for games against other Howard County teams. 1. Reservoir (4-0) New Year’s Resolution: Do more of the same The Gators are the best team in the county so far. Their offense is playing at an elite level in each game and the defense matches with a stifling presence. Their closest county game ended in an eight-point win, marking the only time Reservoir did not outscore opponents by at least 17. No team has commanded the court like the Gators and that dominance should extend into the rest of the season. Next up: vs River Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 7 2. Oakland Mills (5-0) New Year’s Resolution: Get ready to hit the road The Scorpions boast the best county record and fully earned that spot. The team has played in sync all season so far, with no signs of slowing down. January will be a tougher challenge for this Oakland Mills squad. Nine of their 13 games for the rest of the season are on the road. Five of their eight January games will be away from Scorpions fans, including matchups against Mt. Hebron and Reservoir. Next up: vs Wilde Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 7 3. Glenelg (4-0) New Year’s Resolution: Stay resilient on the road The Gladiators are the last of the three undefeated teams in county games. Glenelg has comfortably handled its early schedule, which included three road games against rival schools and five total. The road trips will continue through early July, with four in their next six matchups. Staying strong in the next few weeks will set the Gladiators up well for the playoff push, where they play seven games at home in their final nine. Next up: vs Glenelg Country School on Monday, January 5 4. Wilde Lake (5-1) New Year’s Resolution: Give the defense more room to breathe The Wildecats firmly sit in the county’s top tier with a strong December performance. They have limited opposing teams to fewer than 45 points in five of their games. The only outlier, coming against Glenelg, stands as their lone county loss. While Wilde Lake is still playing at an elite level, an offensive step forward could be the missing piece to leapfrog the three teams ranked higher. Their last two county games showed greater separation, with a 20-point win over Atholton and a 12-point win over Mt. Hebron. Next up: at Oakland Mills on Wednesday, Jan. 7 5. Marriotts Ridge (4-3) New Year’s Resolution: Increase possession quality Mustang basketball has been a flashback to a lower-scoring era of high school basketball. The Marriotts Ridge defense has excelled, allowing 40 or fewer points in six of their seven county games. The offense has only surpassed 40 in two of those games and the team won both. With points in short supply, the Mustangs could become a juggernaut with a slightly sharper offense, reducing their need to come through in close games. Next up: vs. Long Reach on Friday, Jan. 9 6. Howard (3-2) New Year’s Resolution: Stay on track The Lions rebounded from a close 52-48 loss to Oakland Mills with three wins in their next four county games. Howard’s offense is leading the way with 45 points in every game and wins each time they score 50. The defense has given the team enough to win and their team formula has provided plenty of momentum for the rest of the season. Next up: at Garrison Forest on Wednesday, Jan. 7 7. Mt. Hebron (4-3) New Year’s Resolution: Shrink the margins against the county’s best The Vikings almost exclusively traded off wins and losses through December. The offense and defense have been consistently solid. Mt. Hebron has handled business against the lowest teams in the standings but has struggled against the top squads. Their -21 point differential against Marriotts Ridge, Glenelg and Wilde Lake is a stark contrast to their +74 in their other games. Playing closer in those matchups is the first step in taking a seat at the top. Next up: vs Atholton on Wednesday, Jan. 7 8. Guilford Park (1-3) New Year’s Resolution: Sustain the holiday momentum The Panthers already matched their county win total from last season with a 48-32 win against Long Reach. While the other games have not gone their way, Guilford Park picked up wins against Green Street and Frederick Douglass last weekend. The team could make school history by securing its first January win in program history. Next up: at Hammond on Monday, Jan. 5 9. Hammond (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Raise the floor The Golden Bears’ 2025-2026 season has been one of a split identity through December. Hammond had a season-best 62-55 win against Atholton before scoring 34 total points across their final two games. They have a +12 point differential in their wins, including a non-county game, and a -104 point differential in their losses. Closing those margins against the county’s best can create more opportunities to keep the pressure on opponents and find ways to win. Next up: vs Guilford Park on Monday, Jan. 5 10. River Hill (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Tighten the defense The Hawks are undefeated when they hold opposing teams to 45 points or less. They have only accomplished that score in one county game and one non-county game. Barring a sudden offensive turnaround, the Hawks will need to lean into a defense that has given the team chances to get more wins. Next up: vs Reservoir on Wednesday, Jan. 7 11. Centennial (1-5) New Year’s Resolution: Revamp the offense The Eagles have performed at an untenable offensive level so far, which has been the defining factor of their season. They have reached 30 points in two of their games. The defense has performed solidly, holding Glenelg to 40 and Marriotts Ridge to 31. Getting games closer will be a key step in a Centennial season turnaround. Next up: vs Long Reach on Monday, Jan. 5 12. Long Reach (0-4) New Year’s Resolution: Improve in-county play The Lightning have exclusively taken care of teams beyond the Howard borders. Against DC International and Meade, Long Reach had their two highest scoring games and their two sharpest defensive efforts. Finding ways to bring that level of play against their rivals will be the only way that the Lightning can climb the standings. Next up: at Centennial on Monday, Jan. 5 13. Atholton (0-4) New Year’s Resolution: Take a page from last season’s book The Raiders struggled in December and stand as one of two teams without a win against a county opponent. They will need better play from the offense and from the defense if their season is to turn around. The 2024-2025 team, which lost its final three games in December before coming back from winter break with a commanding 80-54 win, could be a good source of inspiration. Next up: at Mt. Hebron on Wednesday, Jan. 7
Howard County basketball returns next week with most teams still in the mix for county glory. For this CSZ midseason check-in, we looked at what each school’s main goal should be for 2026. Note: The listed records are only for games against other Howard County teams. 1. Oakland Mills (5-0) New Year’s Resolution: Generate more offense The Scorpions are the last undefeated team in the county, earning that spot with a close 49-48 win against Marriotts Ridge. Oakland Mills will need more point separation to stay at the top of the standings. Most of their games have been within two possessions, including two very close wins against Long Reach and Marriotts Ridge. On an individual level, Daniel Ndiritu ‘27 became the first player to score 20 points this season for the Scorpions, reaching that mark in the final game of the year. Next up: vs Catonsville on Monday, Jan. 5 2. Marriotts Ridge (6-1) New Year’s Resolution: Stay on track The Mustangs are off to a nearly flawless start this season. They have scored 65+ points in six of their seven games and allowed fewer than 55 in five of those games. Marriotts Ridge closed out the year on a particularly high note, reaching a season high of 81 points scored against Reservoir. Next up: vs. Howard on Wednesday, Jan. 7 3. River Hill (5-2) New Year’s Resolution: Win on Wednesdays The Hawks have evened out after a strong 2-0 start against Hammond and Wilde Lake. A tougher schedule has contributed to a 3-3 record in their last six games, but River Hill has developed a clear split based on game time. The Hawks have not won a Wednesday game since Feb. 7, 2024, dropping the last eight across three seasons. River Hill’s four remaining midweek games could determine the fate of their season. Next up: at Reservoir on Wednesday, Jan. 7 4. Mt. Hebron (5-2) New Year’s Resolution: Enjoy being at home The Vikings opened the season with a challenging gauntlet, playing five of their first seven games on the road. Mt. Hebron pushed through and won four of those five. They have six more road games this season, but the final stretch of the season is almost exclusively on their home court, with four games in February as the playoff push intensifies. Next up: at Atholton on Wednesday, Jan. 7 5. Atholton (3-1) New Year’s Resolution: Trust the defense Atholton plays a unique brand of basketball compared to the rest of the county. The Raiders’ defense-first approach has singlehandedly brought their best county start in years. They have allowed an average of fewer than 50 points per game, including just 32 against River Hill. Before this season, they had not won three of their first four county games since 2022. Facing Marriotts Ridge and River Hill proved that this style of play can propel the Raiders into contention. Next up: vs Mt. Hebron on Wednesday, Jan. 7 6. Long Reach (3-2) New Year’s Resolution: Keep up the momentum The Lightning closed out the year on a high note with considerable improvement from last season. A 0-2 start looked like more of the same before a three-game winning streak provided a sharp turnaround. For reference, Long Reach did not have three county wins last season until Valentine’s Day. Next up: vs Centennial on Monday, Jan. 5 7. Reservoir (2-3) New Year’s Resolution: Forget the Marriotts Ridge game The Gators have hovered around .500 all season, with their longest winning streak standing at one game. For the most part, Reservoir has played solid basketball with a good defense and an inconsistent offense. The only outlier came in the final game of the year against Marriotts Ridge, where the team allowed 81 points to the Mustangs. Staying the course can keep the Gators toward the middle of the standings. Next up: vs River Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 7 8. Glenelg (2-2) New Year’s Resolution: Look for more synergy The Gladiators played fewer games than most county teams after a game against Oakland Mills was canceled. With four county games recorded, Glenelg has flashed the pieces needed for contention, but has not been able to consistently put them together yet. They did end the year with everything working in the year’s final game, beating Centennial 55-52. Next up: vs Guilford Park on Wednesday, Jan. 7 9. Hammond (2-4) New Year’s Resolution: Rediscover their offense The Golden Bears spent the first half of December playing well on both sides of the court. They took care of games against Glenelg and Wilde Lake before their season took a turn as the schedule grew more challenging. Games against Mt. Hebron and Oakland Mills closed the year in a slide that came down to the offense’s decline. In their last three county games, Hammond lost each and failed to score 55 points in all of them. Changing that will be their top priority for 2026. Next up: at Guilford Park on Monday, Jan. 5 10. Centennial (1-5) New Year’s Resolution: Trust the process The Eagles’ record is not yet indicative of their performance this season. They lost to River Hill and Marriotts Ridge, but their other games showed a team that should be better than 1-5. In two-possession or fewer games, Centennial has a 1-4 record, with the only win coming in the season opener against Reservoir. The Eagles should see more wins if they can continue to play close and wait for more late-game breakthroughs. Next up: at Long Reach on Monday, Jan. 5 11. Guilford Park (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Tighten the defense The Panthers recorded their first December win in program history against Howard on Dec. 15. Outside of that game, the Guilford Park offense has performed well, but the defense has still not clicked. Against county opponents, they have averaged 59 points scored per game. Their win against Howard was the only time that they did not allow 55 points in a county game. Next up: vs Hammond on Monday, Jan. 5 12. Howard (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Improve in-county scoring The Lions have stepped back so far after their strong performance last year. The offense has not recorded 50 points against a county team once this season and the team’s success is almost exclusively against other schools. Their two best wins came against Crossland and Winters Mill, which were two of their last three games. A Lions’ turnaround this season will only be possible if they can bring that offense to their 12 remaining games in the county. Next up: at Marriotts Ridge on Wednesday, Jan. 7 13. Wilde Lake (0-6) New Year’s Resolution: Turn the page on 2025 The Wildecats have not performed as many would have expected this season, following an 18-win campaign last year. Wilde Lake needs improvement offensively and defensively in 2026. Finding their first win quickly could be the spark this team needs to get back on track for the rest of the season. Next up: vs Oakland Mills on Wednesday, Jan. 7
Sydney Nance 16 points, 6 Rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blk. Jaiden Bryant (double-double) 12 points, 10 rebounds.
On December 8th 2025 Howard County had their first indoor track meet for the 2026 season. 1 Guilford Park-78 2 Oakland Mills-77.5 3 Reservoir-75 4 Howard-68.5 5 River Hill-67 6 Marriotts Ridge-45 7 Centennial-36 7 Glenelg-36 9 Hammond-32 10 Wilde Lake-21 11 Long Reach-19 12 Atholton-15 13 Mount Hebron-11 GP: Junior Patience Oyamo won both the 55m hurdles (9.03) and the women's high jump (5 ft). In both events she earned 10 points for a total of 20 points for GP. In the 55m Giovanna Hart came in sixth place running 7.62s and earned 3 points. Kaitlyn Alford came in eighth place running 7.67s and earning 1 point. In the 800m Izabella McDonald (2nd,2:29.67, 8pts) and Charleigh Logan (3rd,2:34.29,6pts) For a total of 14 points for GP. With several other amazing athletes earning points from Gilford Park they have cemented themselves as a competitive group for the rest of the indoor track season! OM: Oakland Mills like usual were an extremely competitive group this first meet. Rozelyn Sarfo was second in the 55m with a time of 2.39s winning 8 points for Oakland she also was fourth in the 300m running 41.95s winning 5 points with a total of 13 points from her. Payton Buchanan was third in the 300m with a PR of 41.65 earning 6 points. She won 1st place in the 500m running 1:22.14 earning 10 points. Jordyn Harriston came in fourth for the 55m running 7.44s and earning 5 points. In the 55m hurdles she came in fifth running 9.90 earning 4pts. Lastly in the 300m she was fifth place running 42.53s and earning 4 points for OM. Oakland Mills has many great athletes who will continue to shine throughout the season! Resi: Reservoir came in third and notably did amazing in their field events. Senior Hannah McDerment won 1st in shot put throwing 30-06.00 and earning 10 points additionally she won 1st in pole vault clearing 8-06.00 earning 10 points for 20 points in total. In pole vault Shea O'Brien was third place clearing 8 feet earning 6 points. Joanna Manela also cleared 8 feet and earned 5 points. In high jump Madison Xokoli cleared 4 foot 8 inches she came in second place and earned 8 points. Janelle Laughner also cleared 4 foot 8 inches she came in third place earning 6 points. In long jump Jasmine Alston was third place jumping 15-06.50 earning 6 points and Janelle Laughner came in fourth place jumping 14-07.25 earning 5 points. In the 55m Dara Akinsanya was third place, running 7.39 and earning 6 points. Keep a tab on these amazing field competitors as well as the runners from Resi! Congratulations to all the runners who competed during this meet!
Here are CSZ's rankings of all 13 Howard County Girls' Varsity Basketball teams for this season. Each team's 2024-2025 record is included inside the parentheses. 1. Oakland Mills (17-2) The Scorpions enter 2025 after their first championship appearance since 1991. They had a 21-1 record against county rivals and scored 45 points in all of the wins. Coach Michael Coughlan said he hopes that this year’s team will have a “stifling half-court defense and up-tempo fast-paced offense.” Oakland Mills’ path to another title starts on Friday vs Reservoir. 2. Reservoir (18-3) The Gators improved by six wins last season, leading as a team at the top of the county. They beat every other team except Oakland Mills. Reservoir earned two playoff wins, including an 81-9 victory. Their season starts today against Richard Montgomery. 3. Howard (15-4) The Lions advanced the furthest in the playoffs outside of Oakland Mills. They picked up strong wins against Glenelg and Mt. Hebron but otherwise struggled against the county’s best, including two losses to River Hill. Howard’s first game is against Mt. Hebron on Friday. 4. River Hill (15-6) The Hawks got off to the best start in the county last year, winning ten of their first eleven games. Their offense scored 49 points in all of those wins, but they only reached that mark in two of their final ten games. River Hill will look to keep its elite level throughout the whole season, starting today against Urbana. 5. Mt. Hebron (12-8) The Vikings played up and down throughout 2024. They went 5-1 to start the season, 4-7 in the middle of the winter and won their final three games. Mt. Hebron made a deeper playoff push with wins against Old Mill Senior and Chesapeake. Their season starts against Howard on Friday. 6. Wilde Lake (8-10) The Wildecats made the biggest improvements of any county team last season. They won eight games after recording a 2-39 record between 2022 and 2023. That momentum carried into two playoff wins, advancing to the state tournament. Wilde Lake opens its season against Meade tomorrow. 7. Glenelg (10-12) The Gladiators returned to double-digit wins last year after a down 2023. Glenelg performed well offensively, but the defense played more inconsistently. They had a 3-9 record when they allowed 40 points. Glenelg will face Century on Friday for the season opener. 8. Atholton (9-11) The Raiders picked up a playoff win last year for the first time since 2022. They played evenly throughout the season and did not have luck on their side, losing four games by one possession. Atholton’s first game of the season will come against Century tomorrow. 9. Centennial (7-11) The Eagles surged last year with an exciting run to the second round of the playoffs. After falling to a 2-8 record on Jan. 24, Centennial rallied to a 5-3 record to close the year, despite five straight games on the road in that span, and earned a playoff win against Long Reach. The Eagles will make their season debut tomorrow, facing Walkersville. 10. Hammond (9-10) The Golden Bears reached a season-best 7-5 record last year on Jan. 31. They took a step back in February with a 2-5 record that sank them under .500. Hammond will look for increased stamina at the end of the season this year. Their first game is on Friday at River Hill. 11. Long Reach (7-13) The Lightning improved by five wins last year in their best performance since 2018. They hung around .500 for most of the season before a late losing streak brought the record down. Long Reach went 4-3 in December, 2-5 in January and 1-6 in February. They will try to find more consistency this season, starting on Friday against Atholton. 12. Marriotts Ridge (3-17) The Mustangs snapped a 14-game losing streak last season, which dated back to Jan. 26, 2024. Their season highlight came in a 33-32 win over 9-11 Atholton. Marriotts Ridge will look for offensive improvement this season after reaching 30 points in five of their 21 games. That could come as early as tomorrow against Catonsville. 13. Guilford Park (1-17) The Panthers had a challenging debut season last year. They had one win on Dec. 9, 2024, against Marriotts Ridge. The season unravelled after that point, ending in a 17-game losing streak. Guilford Park will look for its first home win this Friday against Centennial.
Here are CSZ's rankings of all 13 Howard County Boys' Varsity Basketball teams for this season. Each team's 2024-2025 record is included inside the parentheses. 1. Mt. Hebron (20-2) The Vikings firmly led the county last year with the deepest playoff run and the most wins. An outlier in the season opener did not stall their dominance, giving way to a 20-1 run and playoff victories over Chesapeake and Marriotts Ridge. Mt. Hebron’s season will open on Friday against Howard. 2. Marriotts Ridge (15-7) Marriotts Ridge enjoyed another strong season last year with momentum for 2025. They will try to get past Mt. Hebron after three losses in 2024. Coach Seth Willingham said fans should have high expectations again because of a “tough man defense and uptempo fast paced offense with multiple scoring options.” Marriotts Ridge starts its season against Wilde Lake on Friday. 3. Wilde Lake (18-5) The Wildecats powered their way to 18 wins with remarkable consistency. Interestingly, four of their losses came at home. They also had a close home loss to Southern in the first round of the playoffs. They will try to earn their first playoff win since 2022 this year. Wilde Lake opens its season against Marriotts Ridge on Friday. 4. Howard (15-6) The Lions took a big step forward last year with their best start in five years. They burst out to a 10-1 record before dealing with midseason adversity. Howard battled through and ended the season on a high note, carrying their strong offense into the playoffs. Howard will try to push their way further this year, starting with a key test against Mt. Hebron on Friday 5. Atholton (11-8) The Raiders used a late-season surge to go on a playoff run last year. They hovered around .500 through the middle of January before winning five of their last eight games. Postseason wins against Long Reach and Centennial highlighted their strong season. Atholton basketball returns on Friday against Long Reach. 6. Centennial (12-9) The Eagles tied Mt. Hebron for the best start in the county last season. They had an 11-1 record before things rapidly changed. They closed the year 1-8 and lost to Atholton in the second round of the playoffs. Centennial will try to put two strong halves of basketball together this year, opening their season against Guilford Park on Friday. 7. Hammond (8-12) The Golden Bears have serious momentum entering the season. They rebounded from a 2-10 start to win six of their last eight. Coach Kyle Duffie said that Hammond fans should expect a “hard nosed, fast and fun style of play” this season. Their journey starts on Friday against River Hill. 8. Reservoir (8-13) The Gators made significant improvements last season. They played hot-and-cold basketball all winter but picked up steam as they went. They beat High Point in the first round of the playoffs 79-37. With an all-new starting five, Reservoir will take on Centennial on Dec. 8. 9. Glenelg (8-12) The Gladiators battled through adversity in the first half of the 2024 season. They reached a season-best 7-5 record on Jan. 31 with a chance of securing a strong playoff seed. February became a struggle as the team went 1-7 before losing in the first round to Marriotts Ridge. Glenelg will try to find more stamina this year, starting on Friday against Century. 10. Oakland Mills (6-14) The Scorpions picked up a playoff win against Guilford Park last season. They rebounded from a 1-9 start and won three of their last four games, securing a better record than in 2023. Oakland Mills will face Howard on Dec. 8 for their first game. 11. Long Reach (5-17) The Lightning finish ahead of River Hill on this list because they beat the Hawks in the playoffs last year. They will try to return to the program that won 19 games in 2023 and prove 2024 is an outlier. Long Reach will face Atholton on Friday in a playoff rematch from last season. 12. River Hill (7-14) The Hawks struggled to maintain consistency last season. After posting a 3-3 record in December 2024, they lost 11 of their final 14 games. Their season starts on Friday against Hammond. 13. Guilford Park (5-17) The Panthers had a challenging debut season last year. They lost their first 11 games but rebounded to win five of their next eight. Their season ended in a four-game losing streak. Guilford Park will open their season this Friday against Centennial.
Howard County brought home one girls’ soccer state championship and three regional winners this year. Mt. Hebron dominated the 2A soccer bracket and won it all. Atholton and Marriotts Ridge won their respective regional championships. Here are CSZ's awards for the best of the county this season: Team of the Year - Atholton Raiders Yes, Atholton did not win a championship this year, unlike Mt. Hebron. The Raiders get this award because of how they reached their 13 wins in comparison to the Vikings. Atholton won every game where they scored. The Raiders took off in October, winning all nine of their games, including three in the playoffs. Mt. Hebron played exceptional defense all season and earned their title in commanding fashion. They also had a 6-1 record in one-goal games, which was the best in the county by multiple games. These two teams played near identical defense, with Atholton allowing 10 goals and Mt. Hebron allowing nine this season. While it is an incredibly close call, Atholton’s combination of offense and defense stood out all year in a way that their playoff exit should not diminish. Most Improved Team - Glenelg Gladiators Glenelg returned to a winning record this season and finished the regular season with an 8-3-3 record. After a 4-10 2024 season, the Gladiators had work to do if they wanted to climb into the county’s upper echelon. The season did not start as they had hoped. Glenelg lost two of its first three games and had five road games waiting in its next six matchups. The Gladiators fought to keep their season alive with a three-game winning streak and then three consecutive 1-1 ties to close out the six-game stretch. They won a season-high four games in a row to close out the year and cement their place in the county’s top five teams. A quick playoff exit to Walkersville did not provide the storybook ending for Glenelg’s return to contention. Regardless, the Gladiators should still be a team to watch next year. Best Game of the Season - Atholton (0) vs. Mt. Hebron (0) on Sept. 30 Before we knew where they would finish in the standings, Atholton traveled to Mt. Hebron in a preview of the county’s best teams. The two squads ended the game in a scoreless tie, leaving the better team to be determined over the season’s final seven games. Mt. Hebron had not finished in a scoreless tie against a county opponent since Sept. 29, 2022, against River Hill. The Vikings learned how to play close games and execute late to win. They won four one-goal games in the playoffs, including the championship against Century High School.
Two Howard County volleyball teams won state championships and three total regional winners this year. Howard took the 3A title and Glenelg finished with the 2A trophy. Reservoir also won their regional bracket. Here are CSZ's awards for the best of the county this season: Team of the Year - Howard Lions Describing Howard’s dominance is a difficult task because of the many ways there are to do it. Perhaps their undefeated 20-0 record is the highlight. Maybe it is the fact that they won 60 of their 62 sets played this year. Snapping a 45-year championship drought, which had been the longest among all county teams with at least one title? The best way to describe Howard is through their remarkable consistency. The Lions steamrolled the regular season and still discovered another higher level of play for the postseason. Their championship stat line, facing a then-unbeaten North Hagerstown High School team, sounded like it would have come from a rout in September. Howard authored a season for the school history books and they fully stood alone in 2025. Most Improved Team - Guilford Park Panthers Guilford Park finished its season with a winning record for the first time in program history. The Panthers finished with a 9-5 regular season record and secured their first-ever playoff win. Guilford Park debuted last year with a 5-8 record. A challenging start sank their season early, as they opened with one win in their first eight games. Optimism for 2025 did grow after four wins in the final five games, including two wins against out-of-county competition. The Panthers followed a similar script this season. A 2-3 start proved concerning, but the team showed a similar level of grit to bounce back. They swept seven of their ten games in October, with one of those against Mt. Hebron in the playoffs. Coach Karen Kart has already brought Guilford Park to double-digit wins in her second season and, if they can get off to a strong start, the Panthers should be a top-three contender in 2026.
Howard County brought home one boys’ soccer state championship and three regional winners this year. Glenelg powered its way to an undefeated record and the 2A championship. Centennial and Wilde Lake made it to the state bracket. Here are CSZ's awards for the best of the county this season: Team of the Year - Glenelg Gladiators Glenelg fired on all cylinders throughout the regular season and the postseason. They won their first championship since 2022 with an undefeated signature season. The Gladiators allowed one goal across five playoff games. In the last two years, Glenelg has only lost one game. The team’s offense stood out as a juggernaut that no team could stifle. Glenelg scored multiple goals in all 17 of its games this year. They had at least three in 15 of those games. The Gladiators saved their best for the home crowd. They allowed six goals at home all season and outscored opponents by a +35 goal margin. Most Improved Team - Oakland Mills Scorpions Oakland Mills boosted its record by six wins this year, turning the page after a winless 2024. The Scorpions won their first three games of the season. They played spoiler early against top teams like Reservoir and Howard. However, they faltered down the stretch and closed the regular season with a 1-7-1 record. With all momentum going against them, the Scorpions battled back. They picked up two playoff wins, knocking out Atholton and Reservoir. Oakland Mills finished with their most wins since 2019 and have meaningful momentum to make a deeper push next season. Best Game of the Season - Centennial (1) vs. Reservoir (1) on Oct. 14 The Reservoir Gators closed out their 9-4 season as a spoiler for the two teams above them. Facing Centennial and Glenelg, the first-place team in the county would have to go through Reservoir. Centennial entered the game as the clear second-best team, looking to move its way up. The Eagles posted a 10-1 record, losing only to Glenelg. With a Gladiator loss and two wins, Centennial could have tied for first place. Reservoir played spoiler and finished the game in a 1-1 tie. The Eagles had not tied in their prior 17 games and had only scored one goal in just one preceding game. Glenelg secured its first-place crown and did not look back for the rest of the season.
Howard County boasted another field hockey state championship and three regional winners this year. Glenelg went all the way again this year and two others, Long Reach and Marriotts Ridge, made it to the state bracket. The Gladiators and Lightning raced all season to take the county crown, making for a thrilling rivalry. The title came all the way down to the last game of the season. Facing then 8-5 Mt. Hebron, Glenelg needed a win to outright secure first place in the county. They took the Vikings down 6-0 and have now finished first in each of the last three seasons. Here are CSZ's awards for the best of the county this season: Team of the Year - Glenelg Gladiators Glenelg fired on all cylinders throughout the regular season and the postseason. The Gladiators finished the regular season with a +88 goal differential and played elite defense across five playoff games. They won their last three games by one goal and saved their best for last in the championship. In the last three seasons, including each postseason, Manchester Valley has only allowed 16 goals in 49 games. Glenelg has been their defense’s kryptonite in that stretch as the Gladiators scored seven of those goals in only three games. In overtime and tied 1-1, Glenelg found its hero in Lakshmi Almli ‘28, who scored the game-winning goal. Most Improved Team - Atholton Atholton boosted its record by two wins this year and finished the regular season at 7-5. The Raiders won their first three games of the season in a start that got the county’s attention. Atholton finished above .500 for the first time since 2021. They battled through a mid-season stretch against the county’s best teams and earned a playoff win against Guilford Park. The offense helped the team finish undefeated after scoring two goals. Best Game of the Season - Long Reach (1) vs. Glenelg (2), Quarterfinals on Oct. 31 The highly anticipated rematch of Howard County’s two best teams did not disappoint. After Glenelg won their regular season game 2-1 on Sept. 22, the two faced off again with the county championship on the line. Samantha Legge ‘26 scored Long Reach’s only goal, ending a historic campaign for the Lightning midfielder. The Gladiators powered their way to the end with shutdown second-half defense and two critical goals. Kareena Blackwell ‘27 provided the game-winner late in the second quarter. Glenelg did not look back after this game and took down Kent Island and Manchester Valley as Howard County’s top team.
Last night Mount Hebron won their 2nd state title in school history after their previous title win in 2021. Hebron and Century both had very strong defenses keeping the game at a stalemate through regular time and both overtime periods. Both teams were mentally ready for PK’s to begin. Senior Pearl Prasartkarnka was in goal for the Vikings while Senior Megan Taltavull was in goal for the Knights. Century started the PK’s with Junior Ryley Poe. Prasartkarnka makes a statement immediately saving the first shot. First for the Vikings is Sophomore Sarah Corb. Corb doesn’t even give Taltavull a chance and places her shot top right corner giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Century Sophomore Cassie Plitt was up next. Plitt placed the ball towards the bottom right but Prasartkarnka wasn’t going to allow it, getting a hand on it keeping Hebron up 1-0. Junior Sam Bucchioni steps up and replicates Corb’s shot to put the Vikings up 2-0. Senior Raegan Edwards tries to cut the deficit for the Knights. She placed her shot towards the right hand corner but it was no match for Prasartkarnka pushing it out keeping the score 2-0. Next Junior Grace Garvin was up to try and seal the deal for the Vikings. Garvin steps up but her shot is saved by Taltavull keeping the score 2-0. Up next Century looks to get one on the board placing a shot to the top right making the score 1-2. With the chance to give Hebron a state title once again Senior Maddie McShea was up. The stadium was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, until McShea sent Taltavull the wrong way sending the Mount Hebron section erupting into cheers. Congratulations Vikings! Photo Cred: Haldan Kirsch