Oakland Mills High School

Kaleah Anderson (Glen Burnie) and Chloe Greenway (Oakland Mills) earned MVP honors in a back-and-forth battle. Anderson got things rolling early, knocking down a three to open the scoring—setting the tone for a game full of shot attempts on both sides. A standout from Anne Arundel showed out as well, making a big impact throughout the game. Anne Arundel led 37-29 at the half, but Howard County came out of the break firing, going on a 12-0 run to flip the momentum. Lauer caught fire in the second half, drilling a logo three and following it up with another from the top of the key. Howard County took a 64-60 lead with just over 3 minutes left and held a one-point edge with 30 seconds remaining. But Anne Arundel responded with a clutch bucket to take the lead late. Anne Arundel escapes with a 69-68 win. 🔥

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.

Two 16-win teams will face off in the first county championship game of the basketball season. This playoff season will feature five teams with at least 15 wins and two of the best are kicking off the slate. Oakland Mills and Reservoir meet for the second time this season with all of the playoff pressure. The Scorpions’ path to another state championship appearance, including the possibility for redemption of the 2025 team, will start against a nearly flawless Gator squad. The Gators are a similar juggernaut that could be poised for a deeper run than last season. An early January hiccup did not slow them down at all before the playoffs. Tomorrow’s county championship could be the best game of the season and recent history from both teams suggests that the matchup will be fiercely intense. Oakland Mills has found success in February matchups against Reservoir. Since the 2021-2022 season, the Scorpions are 3-1 in those matchups with a point differential of +29. That February success also extends to other matchups. Oakland Mills has not lost a game in the month since Feb. 21, 2024, against Hammond. Reservoir’s road trip should not slow their momentum at all. The Gators are 9-1 away from their court. They have won each game where they scored at least 30 points. Defense will be key to winning against Oakland Mills for the first time in three years. The Gators allowed at least 60 points in the last three games against Oakland Mills. Their current season high allowed is 52, which came in an out-of-county matchup against Notre Dame Prep on January 10. February has seen the best defensive performances yet. Opposing teams have eclipsed 40 points just once in eight games. The Scorpions will be the toughest assignment because of their offensive consistency. Oakland Mills has scored at least 55 points in home games since Jan. 7 against Wilde Lake. On the season, they have reached that mark in six of their eight home games. A majority of the February schedule had at least 65 points scored. The Scorpions and Gators will face off at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow for the county crown.

Maryland 3A central region had their indoor track competition on 2/5/26. In the Girls 55m Finals Aubree Lilly from Towson won first place and ran a time of 7.13s. Samantha Amauwa from Franklin placed second and ran a time of 7.18s. Rozelyn Sarfo from Oakland Mills placed third and ran a time of 7.28s. Sarfo also set a personal record for herself and became the new Maryland 33rd place for this event. In the girls Girls 55mH 3A Finals Nyla Lavender from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute won first place and ran a time of 8.54. Lavender set a personal record for herself and became the new Maryland 19th place for this event. Taylor Moorer from Baltimore City College placed second and ran a time of 8.54s. Moorer set a personal record for herself and also became the new Maryland 20th place for this event. Ava Carr from Howard placed in third and ran a time of 8.55s. In the Girls 300m 3A Aubree Lilly from Towson also won first place (she also placed first in the 55m) she ran a time of 39.90s. With this run she gained three accomplishments she set a personal record for herself,became the new United States 75th place, and the new Maryland 14th place for this event.Samantha Amauwa from Franklin placed in second and ran a time of 39.95s. In the Girls 500m 3A Payton Buchanan from Oakland Mills won first place and ran a time of 1:17.37.Trinity Jordan from Franklin placed in second and ran a time of 1:18.00. Brooklynn Murrell from Baltimore City College placed in third and ran a time of 1:18.87. She also set a personal record for herself and became the new 22nd place in Maryland for this event. In the Girls 800m 3A Centennial High School in Howard County dominated the event with their runners coming in first,second, and third place.Kaylee Beal won first place and ran a time of 2:27.03.Beal also set a personal record for herself. Clara Curtis placed in second and ran a time of 2:27.61. Samantha Raker placed in third and ran a time of 2:27.68.Curtis set a personal record for herself as well. In the Girls 1600m 3A Kaylee Beal from Centennial also won first place (she also placed first in the 800m) she ran a time of 5:23.36. Aspen Yorek from Oakland Mills placed in second and ran a time of 5:26.67. Olivia Virago from Catonsville placed in third and ran a time of 5:27.62. In the Girls 3200m 3A Aspen Yorek from Oakland Mills won first place and ran a time of 12:11.20. Izabella McDonald from Guilford Park placed in second and ran a time of 12:14.47. Gabriela Nguyen from Centennial placed in third and ran a time of 12:20.59. Nguyen also set a personal record for herself. In the girls Girls 4x200m (3A) Oakland Mills’ team won first place and ran a time of 1:43.81 The team was R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, P. Buchanan, G. Osei-Bonsu. Baltimore City College’s The team placed second and ran a time of 1:46.51. The team was L. Pulley, T. Moorer, M. Hunt, A. Milligan. Franklin’s team placed third and ran a time of 1:47.48. The team was S. Amauwa, T. Jordan, K. Redd, K. Wallace. In the Girls 4x400m (3A) Oakland Mills’ team won first place and ran a time of 4:04.29. The team was R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, R. Martinez Romero, P. Buchanan. Baltimore City College’s team placed in second and ran a time of 4:10.22. The team was C. Shane, L. Pulley, B. Murrell, T. Moorer. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute ‘s team placed in third and ran a time of 4:17.23. The team was J. Newton, G. Jacobs, D. Griffin, K. Bastfield. They also became the new 37th place in Maryland. In the Girls 4x800m (3A) Guilford Park’s team won first place and ran a time of 10:21.97. The team was C. Logan, L. Eastman, J. Ortega, I. McDonald. They also became the new Maryland 29th place. Baltimore City College’s team placed second and ran a time of 10:37.89. The team was K. Hunt, C. Shane, J. Pulley, B. Murrell. They also became the new 41st place in Maryland. Franklin’s team placed third and ran a time of 10:42.03. The team was K. Wallace, N. Tromble, T. Clingan, S. Shon. They also became the new 47th place in Maryland. In the Girls High Jump 3 Ava Carr from Howard won first place and jumped 5-04.00 feet. She also became the new 7th place in Maryland. Patience Oyamo from Guilford Park placed in second and jumped 5-04.00 feet. She also became the new 4th place in Maryland. Julia Irvin from Howard placed third and jumped 5-00.00 feet. She became the new 24th place in Maryland. In the Girls Pole Vault 3A Kendall Shirey from Howard won first place and cleared 9-00.00 feet. She also became the new 22nd place in Maryland. Molly Van Valkenburg from Towson placed in second and cleared 7-06.00 feet. She also set a personal record for herself. Alisha Rao from Howard placed third and cleared 7-00.00 feet. In the Girls Shot Put 3A Natalie Bank from Centennial won first place and threw 32-02.00 feet or 9.80m. Amirah Curtis from Baltimore City College placed second and threw 30-07.25 feet or 9.33m. Imani Smith from Howard placed third and threw 30-06.75 or 9.32m.

The final stretch of the basketball season has arrived, with six games to go before the playoffs start. Three Howard County teams are in pursuit of the county’s best record and a neck-and-neck chase for a number one seed. Oakland Mills, Marriotts Ridge and Atholton will spend the next month fighting for that glory, setting up fans to watch high-stakes basketball down the stretch. Here is a breakdown of each team’s path to the best record this season: Oakland Mills: The Scorpions lead the way with a 14-1 record this year and six more games on their schedule. Oakland Mills has been a juggernaut on offense all season. They have played only four games without scoring at least 60 points, winning three of them. The Scorpions deliver late and close too with four wins by one possession. Oakland Mills has the hardest path to keeping possession of the top record. Their remaining strength of schedule is the highest of all the remaining teams at a .507 winning percentage. The Scorpions will only play four unique teams to close the season. They face an improved Guilford Park back-to-back over a three-day span and will also see Glenelg twice. The hardest game left on their calendar is the season finale, facing Atholton for a second time. The Scorpions lost their first matchup 49-25 at home, setting the stage for a potentially crucial matchup for tiebreaker and seeding purposes. Marriotts Ridge: Marriotts Ridge could have tied for the top record, but a cancellation last week keeps them half a game back in the standings. The Mustangs have been an elite force on both sides of the court all season, with a 49-48 loss to Oakland Mills as their only loss. Marriotts Ridge has the easiest remaining schedule of the three teams. However, the .430 winning percentage for the rest of their schedule is somewhat misleading. The Mustangs face strong Baltimore City, Hammond and Mt. Hebron teams over their next three games. That stretch transitions into the easiest part of their schedule all season. The Mustangs close out the season with matchups against Reservoir, Centennial and Wilde Lake. The last two teams combine for a 2-24 record so far this year, reducing the pressure for Marriotts Ridge once the next three games are over. The Mustangs are still in control of their destiny for the top seed. Atholton: Atholton is a dark horse for the county crown at 10-5. They have the slimmest margin for error of any of the three possible teams. The Raiders’ record is far sharper against county opponents, coming in at 10-2 in those matchups. An outlier holiday tournament saw a decline in offense that Atholton turned around immediately in 2026. The Raiders would need both Oakland Mills and Marriotts Ridge to lose at least four of their final games. The only direct influence Atholton can have on that is in their penultimate game, facing Oakland Mills. Atholton’s remaining strength of schedule has a .500 winning percentage that creates a challenging path since they can only afford one loss. The Raiders will need to win their rematch against Guilford Park, which beat them 56-48 a month ago, and a season sweep of Oakland Mills. The Raiders’ standout season will still deliver a top playoff seed, but the Raiders could sneak their way to the top of the county.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKo8sPlqzgw

Oakland Mills stormed back on Friday to hold off the Reservoir Gators. The 11-1 Scorpions, entering the night's game, faced one of Howard County's most improved teams in 2026. Reservoir closed December with a 2-6 record and did not reach 50 points in half of their games. January has provided the reset that the Gators needed, leading to a now 3-2 record with wins against River Hill and Glenelg. The Gators have played close this month with a +3.33 point differential in their three wins. Playing close would be their path to taking down the Scorpions. Oakland Mills has been the most consistent team all season in the country. Outside of an outlier loss to Atholton, the Scorpions have rolled through the competition. Only three of their last 10 games had a score differential of fewer than 10 points. Both teams played a close first quarter with Oakland Mills ending up 15-13. Reservoir responded in the second quarter with a 14-8 run that provided a boost at the end of the first half. Three juniors, Kellen Whitaker, Canaan Chance and Lorenzo Foster-Franklin each scored double digits for the Gators. Whitaker and Foster-Franklin also controlled the backboards with eight rebounds each, tied for second between both teams and only trailing the nine from the Scorpions’ Caleb Redd ‘27. A neck-and-neck third quarter gave Reservoir a 40-36 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Scorpions, playing in unfamiliar territory with a late-game deficit, needed to battle back with the risk of a standings shakeup. 11-1 Marriotts Ridge would take the best record in the county if the Scorpions lost. Oakland Mills took back control and secured the game with a fourth-quarter surge. They outscored the Gators 22-15, marking the biggest difference between the two teams in a single quarter. The Scorpions' win came down to key junior contributors of their own. Redd finished the game with 14 points, leading the game, and Daniel Ndiritu scored 11 of his own, recording a 37.5% from the three-point line in the process. Reservoir's schedule eases up to close January despite a two-game road trip. They have 6-6 Mt. Hebron and 2-9 Centennial before the beginning of February. The Gators have their next four games against below-.500 teams, creating an opportunity to rise in the standings. Oakland Mills will hit the road for their longest road trip of the season on Wednesday. The Scorpions will face 6-8 Guilford Park, rematch against 9-5 Atholton, visit 6-9 Long Reach and end the trip on Feb. 4 against Chesapeake.

On Friday January 16 2026 Howard County had their 2026 Indoor Track County Championship. The River Hills Girls team became 2026 girls county champions. Oakland Mills was second place and Reservoir was third place. Relays: River Hill’s girls 4x800 became county champions. A. Mattes, N. Mohan, L. Virmani, and M. Virmani were the runners in this relay. Oaklands Mill’s girls 4x200 became county champions. R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, P. Buchanan, and G. Osei-Bonsu were the runners in this relay. Oakland Mill’s girls 4x400 became county champions. R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, R. Martinez Romero,and P. Buchanan were the runners in this relay. Additionally they set a new meet record!. This means this team was the fastest in all Howard County indoor championship history. Individual Running Events: Kendall Hall from Long Reach became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 300m. She ran a 39.89, which is a new personal record for her. Additionally she is now the new 9th place girls 300m runner in Maryland and the United States 46th place. On top of that she set a new meet record! This was a great race for her. Marella Virmani from River Hill became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 1600m. Payton Buchanan from Oakland Mills became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 500m. She ran a 1:16.74, which is a new personal record for her. She set a new meet record! This means this is the fastest time run in this event at this meet. Additionally she is the new fifth place in Maryland and 33rd place in the United States. Ava Carr from Howard became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 55m hurdles. She ran a 8.52, which is a new personal record for her. She is now the new 15th place in Maryland and 89th place in the United States for this event. Jaidyn Augustine from Marriotts Ridge became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 55m. She became the new 17th place in Maryland and 94th place in the United States for this event. Lauren Virmani from River Hill became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 3200m. Marella Virmani from River Hill became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 800m. Field Events: Ava Carr from Howard became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls high jump. Ruqqayyat Gobir from Howard became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls triple jump. Manuela Dabiri from Glenelg became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls shot put. She is the new 6th place in Maryland for this event. Hannah McDerment from Reservoir became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls pole vault. She vaulted 10-03.00, which is a personal record for her. Additionally she became the new 12th place in Maryland for this event. Rozelyn Sarfo from Oakland Mills became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls long jump. She became the new 5th place in Maryland and the new 64th place in the United States for this event. Please note titles such as __ place in Maryland/United States are subject to change as more meets happen across Maryland and the United States.

On Friday January 16 2026 Howard County had their 2026 Indoor Track County Championship. The Oakland Mills Boys Team became 2026 county champions. Reservoir was second place and Hammond came in third place. Relays: Centennial’s boys 4x800 became county champions. Z. Herzberger, J. Henlon, J. Oberly, and D. Locktish were the runners in this relay. Additionally they became the new fourth place boys 4x800 in Maryland and the new United States 85th place Reservoir’s boys 4x200 became county champions. J. Ray, D. Abodunrin, F. Fekoya, and J. Smith were the runners in this relay. Additionally this team became the new 14th place boys 4x200 relay in Maryland. Reservoirs’ boys 4x400 became county champions. D. Abodunrin, F. Fekoya, J. Smith,and F. Sule were the runners in this relay. They also set a new meet record! So this team also was the fastest at a Howard County indoor championship. Individual Running Events: Jason Smith from Reservoir became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 300m. He ran a 35.23, which is a personal record for him. He is newly 25th place in Maryland. Trevor Miyagishima from Hammond became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 1600m. He ran a 4:30.66, which is a new personal record for him. He is the new 13th place in this event in Maryland. Parker Lewis from Gilford Park became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 500m. He ran a 1:06.31, which is a new personal record for him. Additionally he is the new 15th place in Maryland and 63rd in the United States for this event. AJ York from Oakland Mills became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 55m hurdles. Femi Fekoya from Reservoir became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 55m. Wesley Zaron from Wilde Lake became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 3200m. He ran a 9:59.22, which is a new personal record for him. He also became the new 29th place for this event in Maryland. Parker Lewis from Guildford Park became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 800m. He ran a 1:58.42, which is a personal record for him. He became the new 5th place for this event in Maryland. Field Events: Bryce Adkins from Long Reach became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys shot put. Caolan Edmison from Mount Hebron became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys pole vault. Christian Roberts from Atholton became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys long jump. He jumped 21-03.00, which was a personal record for him. He now is in 13th place in Maryland for this event. Demari Keitt from Guilford Park became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys high jump. He jumped 6-00.00, which is a personal record for him. He also is the new 33rd place in Maryland for this event. Anuoluwa Suberu-Arotiba from Oakland Mills became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys triple jump. He jumped 39-08.75, which is a personal record for him. Additionally he became 46th place in Maryland for this event. Please note titles such as __ place in Maryland/United States are subject to change as more meets happen across Maryland and the United States.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJXrlQI1cnQ

This week features key matchups that could shake up the leaderboard. Get ready for some exciting action! 🏀

1.Oakland Mills 2.Marriotts Ridge 3.Atholton 4.Long Reach 5.Hammond Hammond is trending up after a 2–1 January start and faces Reservoir and Howard with a chance at their first winning record since Dec. 17th! 🏀

See you this weekend in Owings Mills. 8600 McDonogh Rd, Owings Mills, MD

Go Kyler!

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

Game has been postponed due to flu outbreak at Glenelg high school

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdfS1hfJZgQ

Three Howard County wrestlers placed in the top 15 rankings for weight classes below 150 lbs. Legacy Wrestling, a news and rankings website for Maryland, put together a list of the best wrestlers so far this season, splitting them into 14 unique lists. The lists include representatives from five unique Howard County programs. 120 lb: Dom Esposito Esposito placed 15th and stands as the only member of the list in the bottom third of the weight classes. The Long Reach sophomore enters his second season after a historic freshman year. As a 113 lb wrestler last season, Esposito surged his way to the top of the county with a strong 21-7 record last season, according to FloWrestling. He kept that momentum alive in tournaments and became the first Long Reach wrestler to win a regional title. Esposito is already off to a hot start this season with an undefeated run at the Grindstone Duals on Dec. 5. 132 lb: Phil Key Key ranked 10th on his list as one of two Glenelg representatives. The junior won a Howard County title last season in the 126 lb bracket and pulled off a lopsided scoring differential. He had six times more total points than his three opponents combined. Key is used to the biggest moments in Howard County wrestling and the scrutiny of a top rank. He previously told Legacy Wrestling about how he handles that pressure. “Going into the tournament as the number one seed gave me a lot of confidence, but I knew that I couldn’t take any of my opponents lightly,” Key said. 138 lb: Orlando Castelan-Cortez Castelan-Cortez started his third season this winter with a full resume of accomplishments on the mat. The Oakland Mills student recorded a county title in the 132 lb class last season in the closest match of the entire county championships. Facing Isaac Choi, Castelan-Cortez fought hard to squeeze out a 2-1 decision win and become one of five Scorpions to earn a first-place win last season. He has now won a county title in his first two seasons, recording one at 126 lb as a freshman and now 132 lb as a sophomore. Castelan-Cortez is ranked 15th on the 138 lb list. He has a chance to continue his pattern of dominance and take over a new weight class this season.