Girls Basketball Roundup: Guard tandem

stands out in Old Mill’s setback

Guards Kourtney Salisbury and Tiara Bolden couldn’t quite carry Old Mill to victory last night, but they were successful at showing they can lead the Patriots against quality competition.

Bolden, a sophomore in her third varsity appearance, scored a team-high 17 points with Salisbury adding nine of her 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Patriots fell to Henry A. Wise, 63-60.

“To go out and have a game like this and play with a top team from (Prince George’s) County,” Old Mill coach Craig White said. “It’s good to see.”

Despite trailing by as many as 10 points early in the second half, the Patriots were able to pick up intensity in the fourth quarter and tie the score in the final minute. Salisbury, who had no points in the first half, was instrumental in the fourth-quarter comeback.

“I just knew the team was down,” said Salisbury, whose Patriots benefited from Wise’s foul trouble during the entire fourth. “I just tried to keep going to the line in bonus time.”

Salisbury showed her strength in driving through the lane in the fourth. She scored four points on a pair of layups and drew six foul shots, converting five.

“She’s definitely our leader,” White said. “She stayed aggressive tonight and was able to penetrate, which is where she excels.”

The Patriots started the fourth quarter trailing by four and hung around until Salisbury nailed two foul shots with 57 seconds left, making it 57-57. The Pumas, a preseason favorite in the Class 4A West Region, responded with two quick baskets to take a four-point lead with just 39 seconds remaining.

With 12 ticks left, Bolden threw up a desperation 3-point attempt that banked off the glass and sent the Old Mill gymnasium into frenzy. The Patriots fouled Puma guard Leslie Slayton, who converted both shots, with five seconds left to give Old Mill one last shot.

Salisbury’s heave from just past half court was tipped, and teammate Jasmine Smith couldn’t get off a shot before the buzzer.

The Patriots, who outscored the Pumas in three of four quarters, never managed to overcome Wise’s 21-13, second-quarter outburst.

“We lacked a little intensity,” White said. “But (Wise) just shot the ball well in the second quarter.”

With such a strong showing in the second, Wise was able to reverse the momentum that Old Mill built in the first quarter with a 15-12 lead. Wise also benefited from 35 turnovers by the Patriots.

“We turned the ball over 23 times in the first half,” White said. “We were able to limit it to 12 in the second half, but that really hurt us.”

Much like Salisbury in the fourth, Bolden was the catalyst in the first quarter as she scored nine of the team’s 15 points.

Breonna Pinkcett and Monet Nias were strong in the post for Old Mill, combining for 20 rebounds. Nias scored 14 points to go with her 11 boards, and Pinkcett added nine points.

Despite taking the loss, White is optimistic about the direction his team is heading.

“Things are falling into place,” White said. “You lose and it’s not good, but as long as you improve, it’s really all about where you are in February-March.”

Henry A. Wise 12 21 11 19 – 63

Old Mill (2-2) 15 13 12 20 – 60

Henry A. Wise (63)

Borum 3(2) 0-0 8; Smith 7 0-1 14; Slayton 3 7-12 13; Porter 0 2-2 2; Waters 3 2-2 8; Brooks 6(3) 3-4 18. TOTALS: 22(5) 14-21 63.

Old Mill (60)

Pinkcett 2 5-10 9; Martin 1 0-0 2; Salisbury 3 6-8 12; Bolden 6(2) 3-6 17; Nias 7 0-0 14; Conley 1 0-1 2; Smith 1 2-3 4. TOTALS: 21(2) 16-28 60.

MEADE 75, FRANKLIN 29: Imani Bailey recorded a triple-double with 22 points, 10 steals and 10 assists to help the Mustangs cruise. Alissa Chambliss added 24 points and six rebounds, and Nicole Dixon dropped 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Joi Carter dished out five assists for the Mustangs.

Meade (4-0) 15 13 35 12 – 75

Franklin 7 8 8 6 – 29

Meade (75)

Bailey 10 2-2 22; Chambliss 9(4) 2-2 24; Carter 3 0-0 6; Young 2 0-0 4; Moore 1 0-1 2; Patterson 2 0-0 4; Dixon 4 5-6 13. TOTALS: 31(4) 9-11 75.

Franklin (29)

Reid 2 1-2 5; Izzard 1(1) 1-4 4; Morris 1 1-3 3; Foote 4 0-1 8; Nivens 2 0-0 4; Dorsey 1 0-0 2; Corton 1 1-2 3. TOTALS: 13(1) 4-12 29.