Baltimore Area News

February 26, 2003

Randallstown earns the Final #1 regular season spot in the polls! We will look forward to who earns the spots as the the State and Catholic League playoffs begin.

Prep polls
Through Feb. 23 events

Boys basketball Top 20
1. Randallstown 18-1
2. Mount St. Joseph 25-2
3. Dunbar 20-2
4. Douglass 19-1
5. Annapolis 20-1
6. Lake Clifton 16-4
7. Mervo 16-5
8. Archbishop Spalding 22-5
9. McDonogh 24-4
10. Walbrook 14-7
11. St. Frances 18-6
12. St. Paul's 21-4
13. Mount Hebron 16-3
14. River Hill 17-3
15. Southern-AA 15-6
16. Glen Burnie 16-4
17. Cardinal Gibbons 17-10
18. Long Reach 16-4
19. Woodlawn 13-5
20. Joppatowne 15-2

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.polls25feb25,0,1350048.story?coll=bal%2Dhighschool%2Dstoryutil

February 19, 2003

With the loss to Lake Clifton, the Douglas Ducks fall out the top spot for the first time. Randallstown stay the course and gets the #1 spot!

Prep polls

Boys basketball Top 20
1. Randallstown 18-1
2. Mount St. Joseph 25-2
3. Dunbar 20-2
4. Douglass 19-1
5. Annapolis 19-1
6. Lake Clifton 16-4
7. Mervo 16-5
8. Archbishop Spalding 21-5
9. McDonogh 23-4
10. Walbrook 14-7
11. St. Frances 17-6
12. St. Paul's 21-4
13. Mount Hebron 15-3
14. River Hill 16-3
15. Southern-AA 14-6
16. Glen Burnie 15-4
17. Cardinal Gibbons 16-10
18. Long Reach 15-4
19. Woodlawn 13-5
20. Joppatowne 15-2

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.polls18feb18,0,2398628.story?coll=bal%2Dhighschool%2Dstoryutil

February 19, 2003

Inside-outside combo powers Annapolis High; Two Baltimore Select Players dominate the hardwood.

The Lakers' Shaq and Kobie. Maryland's Baxter and Dixon.

Basketball fans have seen how a lethal inside-outside combination can produce championships.

For the Los Angeles Lakers, the interior muscle of Shaquille O'Neal in tandem with the perimeter game of Kobe Bryant has resulted in three straight NBA titles.

Maryland made consecutive Final Four appearances and captured the NCAA Championship primarily because it had a powerful post player in Lonny Baxter working with a dead-eye 3-point shooter in Juan Dixon.

Anne Arundel County's version of this trend can be found at Annapolis High, which boasts a high-scoring point guard in Laronja Owens and a dominant center in Josh Johnson. Together, this dynamic duo has put up huge numbers while leading the Panthers to a remarkable 68-4 record the past three seasons.

"At any level, if you could pick two players to start a team you would probably choose a point guard and a center. Those are two really important positions," Annapolis High coach John Brady said. "We're fortunate to have two really good ones. Laronja is one of the three best point guards I've ever had at Annapolis. Josh is certainly on short list of big-time centers that have played for me."

Owens, a pure scorer if ever there was one, ranks second all-time at Annapolis with 1,512 points. He probably won't surpass former back-court mate Marcus Neal (1,744) but could move past Southern's Chatney Howard (1,582) into fourth place on the list of Anne Arundel County public school scorers.

"Laronja is tough to stop because he's strong in all facets of offense. He can hit the 3, he can drive to the basket, he has a pull-up jumper and he's good at the foul line," Brady said.

Yet Owens is more than just a scoring machine. He's developed as a playmaker, to the point he has compiled 392 career assists. He is dishing off 5.1 per game this season to complement his County League-leading scoring average of 20.2 points.

"I think Laronja's court savvy is what makes him such an outstanding basketball player," Brady said. "He always knows the situation in terms of time and score, he always plays under control and he makes great decisions. He's very, very clever."

Any team that tries to focus defensively on Owens will get killed by Johnson, a left-hander whose long arms and quick leaping ability make him the equivalent of a player 6-foot-9.

Johnson possesses all the post moves - using a dangerous drop-step, solid turnaround jumper and effective half hook to quietly pile up 1,113 career points, which puts him sixth on Annapolis' all-time chart.

"Josh is a fantastic finisher around the basket. He has excellent hands, a real compact shooting motion and can take contact and still make the shot," Brady said. "If Josh gets the ball down low, nine times out of 10 he's going to put the ball in the basket."

Johnson has usually been good for two or three dunks per game this season en route to averaging 20.1 points. However, it's his rebounding that really gets Brady excited.

"I haven't seen a better rebounder at the high school level in all my years of coaching," said Brady, who has been coaching 26 season at Annapolis. "Of course Josh has all the physical tools in that he's 6-6 with incredibly long arms and an ability to get off his feet quickly. But what sets Josh apart is his effort on the boards. He goes after every ball every day, whether it's in practice or a game. He's relentless when it comes to rebounding."

Johnson is averaging 12-plus rebounds for the second straight season. He has hauled down 764 boards in three seasons, which ranks him among Annapolis' career leaders.

Some opponents have geared their defense toward Johnson, sagging in the lane or doubling down whenever he sets up in the post. That's when the lightning-quick Owens goes slashing through the lane for an easy layup.

"It's pick your poison. Neither of them can be handled one-on-one," Annapolis assistant coach Dale Chambers said. "What makes them even better is that they're both unselfish. Most of Laronja's assists go to Josh while Josh has gotten good at drawing the double and dishing back out to Laronja."

Brady believes the offensive production of Darius Johnson and Kojo Snowden prevents opponents from focusing solely on Owens and Johnson. The small forward and off guard are averaging 11.1 and 10.7 points, respectively.

"I don't think we've ever had four players average in double figures. That's hard to handle. You can stop two scorers, but not four," Brady said. "Of course, all the defensive attention that Laronja and Josh attract opens things up for the other guys."

While Johnson and Owens grew up in different areas of Annapolis, they have known each other since they were 11 years old. They played on a recreation basketball team coached by Owens' father and have become close friends.

Johnson, who hails from Eastport, considered himself a baseball player up until high school. He was a rangy first baseman who could hit for power when he starred for Peninsula Athletic League teams. He's become an outstanding discus thrower, having placed fourth at the Class 3A state meet last outdoor season and recorded a personal-best toss of 185 feet.

That latter fact may surprise some county basketball fans, who see Johnson's skinny physique and figure he's still relatively weak. Regular weightlifting and naturally powerful legs make Johnson one of the strongest post players around.

"Josh has grown into his body and is a lot stronger than he appears," Brady said. "He can absorb a lot of punishment down low."

Johnson is confident and outgoing, telling teammates to call him by whatever NBA star he happens to like at the time. For a while, he was nicknamed Zo after Alonzo Mourning, but recently switched to KG after Kevin Garnett.

"Josh is always chirping, always doggng his teammates and running a little smack in practice," Chambers said. "But come game time he gets real serious. He's the one who is vocal, encouraging his teammates to pick it up or congratulating people whenever they make a good play."

Owens, who lives in town, has always been a one-sport man. He is the son of Ronnie Owens and the nephew of Londell Owens, both of whom starred at Annapolis High. All the Owens brothers were known as Zeke, but Laronja has acquired the nickname of Eke.

Ronnie Owens, a tough-as-nails type of player who could knock down jumpers or drive to the basket with equal ease, was a three-time MVP of the Annapolis Summer League.

"Ronnie was old school and I see a lot of that in Eke. He's a real student of the game and learned a lot from having played with and against his father," said Chambers, another past MVP of the Annapolis Summer League who often did battle with the elder Owens.

"Eke came into high school fundamentally sound. He just knows and understands basketball."

As a sophomore, Owens started alongside Neal and gained an understanding of what it took to lead a team. Neal, a Division I prospect now playing at Polk Community College in Florida, was the prototypical combination guard.

Owens has become a similar player, capable of scoring himself or setting up others. He's a very focused player who is always seeking to improve in other areas.

"I wasn't the greatest player when I was younger, but I've worked hard at my game over time," he said. "I think I've gotten better at penetrating, rebounding, defending and getting my teammates involved."

Chambers has noticed a major change in how Owens directs the team.

"When Eke was a sophomore he was kind of passive. He's become more of a leader and is a lot more vocal out on the court," Chambers said.

Johnson and Owens are hoping to cap their careers by leading Annapolis to the Class 3A state championship, being held at the Comcast Center in March.

"We feel this is our years. We've come up short in the past, but that's not going to happen this season," Johnson said. " Both players plan on taking their games to the next level.

Johnson is drawing interest from numerous Division I programs with Wagner, coached by former N.C. State standout Derek Whittenburg, the most ardent suitor. He will likely have the grades and SAT score to play immediately at a four-year school as a freshman.

Owens may have to take the junior college route that worked for recent predecessors Marcus Johnson (College of Charleston), Thomas Hawkins (Glenville) State) and Neal, who is being recruited by numerous Division I schools.

"I believe I'm a Division I player and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get there," Owens said.

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2003/02_19-11/HIG

February 13, 2003

Ducks' streak ends at 46
29 points by Barksdale help No. 9 Dunbar top No. 1 Douglass, 70-57; Coffield: 'They outhustled us'; Rally earns revenge, ends chase of Poets' area-best 59-game run

Dunbar senior point guard Maurice Barksdale made one free throw after another during the closing moments against Douglass last night at Morgan State's Hill Field House.

Each one sapped hope from a Ducks program that has dominated rivals for the past season and a half. "I tried to concentrate on making my free throws because I saw the impact it had on their team," said Barksdale, who was 9-for-11 from the line in the fourth quarter and 17-for-22 for the night.

"As I made them, I saw their motivation start to leave them."

Barksdale almost single-handedly destroyed the Ducks' 46-game winning streak.

The senior's game-high 29 points included at least six in each period as he led the ninth-ranked Poets to a come-from-behind, 70-57 victory over Douglass before 1,942.

Douglass had a shot this season at reaching Dunbar's 52-game winning streak (from 1990 to 1992), second longest in the area only to the Poets' run of 59 straight (from 1981 to 1983).

"We wanted to preserve the streak," Dunbar coach Eric Lee said.

Poets center Michael Thompson grabbed nine rebounds, blocked four shots and scored nine points, and Byron Selby came off the bench to grab seven rebounds and score six points, all in the second half of a victory that avenged two losses last winter to the defending Class 3A state champion.

Brandon Russell scored 19 points for top-ranked Douglass (18-1), which lost for the first time since March 2001, when Southern-Baltimore defeated the West Baltimore school in the Class 4A South region quarterfinals.

The game was a return to glory, and to an old venue where Dunbar traditionally has dominated. Poets faithful, including former Dunbar coach Bob Wade, can recall only one time when the Poets lost a game at Morgan, to Lake Clifton in the early 1980s.

"Maurice did a heck of a job on us. He must have gone to the line 20 times," said Douglass coach Rodney Coffield, who played for Wade at Dunbar until 1980-81. "We played terrible tonight. They outhustled us, they outshot us, they out-rebounded us."

En route to its 28-0 season a year ago, Douglass dominated the Poets (19-2 this year) twice on their East Baltimore court.

But it was a different story last night on the neutral court at Morgan State. "I played on Dunbar's '84-85 team. I don't remember who we played, but we were successful that night," said Lee, recalling a game under Wade at Morgan. "Tonight, the guys came out and played well. They stayed patient, and they scored."

Down 39-35 at halftime, the Poets scored the first eight points after the break. A jumper by Herman Hayes (11 points) tied the game at 39, and his subsequent three-pointer gave Dunbar its second lead - its first since early in the first period - 42-39 with six minutes left in the third.

Russell's three-pointer tied the game at 42 with 4:15 left in the period, but a free throw by Thompson started an 8-0 run by the Poets, including four points by Barksdale and a three-pointer by Byron Roundtree for a 50-42 lead 1:37 before the final period.

Ahead 52-46 entering the fourth, Dunbar did not immediately pull away. Jermaine Bolden's three-point play had Douglass within 56-53 with 3:47 left to play, but a decisive 9-2 run gave the Poets a 65-55 lead with 2:01 to play. It was capped by Selby's layup off an assist from Barksdale.

"I'm the team's scrapper. When the coach calls my number, I come in and do the job," said Selby, whose effort began an exodus of Douglass' fans. "This is one of those games that you dream of playing in - big crowd, bright lights. We wanted to win real bad tonight, and we came out and got the job done".

By Lem Satterfield
Sun Staff
Originally published February 12, 2003

Derek Toney contributed to this article:
http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.poets12feb12,0,7056274.story?coll=bal%2Dhs%2Dbbasketball

February 12, 2003

Douglas continues to top the polls...

Prep polls
Through Feb. 9 events


Boys basketball Top 20
1. Douglass 18-0
2. Randallstown 15-1
3. Mount St. Joseph 23-2
4. Annapolis 16-1
5. Archbishop Spalding 19-4
6. Lake Clifton 14-4
7. Mervo 15-5
8. McDonogh 22-3
9. Dunbar 18-2
10. St. Frances 16-5
11. Walbrook 13-7
12. St. Paul's 18-4
13. Mount Hebron 13-3
14. Southern-AA 12-5
15. River Hill 14-3
16. Long Reach 14-3
17. Glen Burnie 12-4
18. Cardinal Gibbons 14-10
19. Joppatowne 14-2
20. Woodlawn 11-5

February 11, 2003

Statistical leader through Saturday...

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.stats10feb10,0,1481113.story

February 5, 2003

Douglas still on top with 44 straight wins; Catholic league hanging tough representing 4 of the top 10 spots in thi sweeks poll.

Prep polls
Through Feb. 2 events
Originally published February 4, 2003

Boys basketball Top 20
1. Douglass 16-0
2. Randallstown 14-1
3. Mount St. Joseph 22-2
4. Mervo 14-4
5. Annapolis 14-1
6. Archbishop Spalding 16-4
7. Lake Clifton 13-4
8. McDonogh 21-2
9. Dunbar 16-2
10. St. Frances 15-5
11. Walbrook 11-7
12. St. Paul's 17-4
13. Mount Hebron 11-3
14. Long Reach 14-1
15. Aberdeen 11-4
16. Southern-AA 11-5
17. Glen Burnie 11-3
18. Cardinal Gibbons 13-9
19. River Hill 13-3
20. Old Mill 11-5

February 2, 2003

Owens doesn't miss a trick Boys basketball: The Annapolis senior standout combines outstanding skills with a court savvy rarely seen in the high school game.

It figures that Laronja "Eek" Owens' favorite movies are action or fright flicks.
The Annapolis senior has been nothing short of a villain to Anne Arundel County boys basketball opponents for the past three years.

Owens, Anne Arundel County's Player of the Year last season and an All-Metro guard, has never lost to a county opponent in his three-year varsity career.

"Eek is one of the top five overall players that we have ever had at Annapolis," said Panthers coach John Brady, who considers Owens to be a "basketball genius."

"When it comes to court savvy and cleverness, nobody is better than Eek. He has more tricks than David Copperfield."

Annapolis is 63-4 overall with Owens in the backcourt. This season, the No. 5 Panthers are 14-1, including 10-0 in the county.

The Panthers will put their record of 69 consecutive regular-season wins over Anne Arundel teams on the line at 7:15 p.m. tomorrow at No. 17 Glen Burnie (11-3, 7-3).

Owens, who last season became the ninth Panther to score 1,000 career points (but the first as a junior) will be on center stage, and that's just fine with him.

"They'll be calling my name out in warm-ups, and teams do that all the time trying to distract me," said the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Owens. "It's kind of funny. It just makes me play harder. I like the pressure. Everybody wants to beat us, and that's what makes it great playing for Annapolis."

Nicknamed "Eek" after his dad, Zeke Owens, who played at Annapolis High more than 30 years ago, Owens has handled the pressure of being the go-to guy on the county's most-wanted team.

He is currently the county's leading scorer, averaging 23.3 points in 15 games.

His strength, quickness, creativity and ability to finish have enabled him to score on the move or from the perimeter.

Those attributes have helped him score 1,414 career points, just 93 shy of 2000 graduate Thomas Hawkins, who is second in Annapolis history.

Chances of passing former teammate Marcus Neal, who graduated in 2001 with 1,744 points, are remote, but that's irrelevant to Owens.

"It means a lot to me to be that high because throughout my career I've played hard and done whatever I've had to do to help this program," said Owens, who relishes assists as much as points.

"It's not about what I score. It's about playing my game and doing what it takes to win."

Brady said Owens is a very unselfish player whose work ethic is like that of his favorite player. "Michael Jordan is my favorite player because of his attitude and being such a hard worker," Owens said.

The same can be said of Owens, who is always looking for ways to improve his game, which he intends to take with him to the collegiate level.

"I've actually learned things from him," said Brady, who hopes to use Owens as a speaker at a clinic this summer. "He knows so many little things that he has picked up playing and observing -- things you won't get in a textbook. He has unique ways to guard players and to use his body on offense."

Owens has watched many NBA and college games on TV and is into basketball video games. "I'm the kind of person who studies the players and what they're trying to do," he said. "That's how I pick up a lot of things."

One of his favorite tricks is to pester the other team's top scorer by constantly tapping the elbow of his shooting arm.

"They usually get pretty frustrated," said Owens, who doesn't care to give away too many secrets.

It's no secret that the young senior, who won't be 18 until October, wants to succeed off the court as well.

He recently retook the SAT to try to raise his score. Brady predicts if he doesn't play Division I next year, he will after junior college.

"My goal is to get a college degree and some day start my own business," Owens said. "Or maybe I will coach."

Article can be found at theSun Paper Archives:

By Pat O'Malley
Sun Staff
Originally published February 2, 2003

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.majohnson02feb02,0,1541003.story?coll=bal%2Dhs%2Dbbasketball

January 27, 2003

Statistical leaders in the Baltimore region as of January 27, 2003

Matt Stevenson (SF) continues to score at will (Loch Raven) averaging 27 ppg. Josh Johnson (SF, PF) continues to controls the boards averaging 12.6 rpg along with his 19.8 ppg.

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.hsstats27jan27,0,6360761.story

Baltimore Prep Poll for January 28, 2003

Prep polls
Through Jan. 26 events
Originally published January 28, 2003

Boys basketball Top 20

1. Douglass 14-0
2. Dunbar 15-1
3. Randallstown 13-1
4. Mount St. Joseph 19-2
5. Annapolis 12-1
6. Archbishop Spalding 15-4
7. Lake Clifton 11-4
8. McDonogh 18-2
9. St. Frances 14-4
10. Mervo 12-4
11. Long Reach 13-0
12. St. Paul's 15-3
13. Aberdeen 10-3
14. Walbrook 10-6
15. Cardinal Gibbons 12-8
16. Atholton 12-1
17. Glen Burnie 10-2
18. Mount Hebron 9-3
19. Southern-AA 9-5
20. Calvert Hall 12-9

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.polls28jan28,0,6527410.story

January 21, 2003

Douglas wins its 40th straight and stays atop the prep polls.

Prep polls
Through Jan. 19 events

Boys basketball Top 20

1. Douglass 12-0
2. Dunbar 13-1
3. Randallstown 12-1
4. Mount St. Joseph 15-2
5. Annapolis 10-1
6. Archbishop Spalding 13-4
7. Lake Clifton 9-4
8. St. Frances 13-3
9. McDonogh 15-2
10. Mervo 10-3
11. Long Reach 13-0
12. St. Paul's 13-3
13. Cardinal Gibbons 11-6
14. Calvert Hall 12-7
15. Walbrook 9-5
16. Aberdeen 9-3
17. Old Mill 8-3
18. Atholton 11-1
19. Towson Catholic 10-7
20. Milford Mill 8-3

Polls can be located at:

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.polls21jan21,0,2398628.story?coll=bal%2Dutility%2Dhighschoolsp

January 20, 2003

Baltimore area stat leaders were posted in todays Sun Paper

The two Annapolis standouts are on th e top of the leader charts in scoring (Owens - 21.8 ppg) and rebounding (Johnson - 13.3 rpg, 19.1 ppg). The three year Baltimore Select player, Matt Stevenson is ranked 3rd in scoring with a 26.9 ppg average and right behind Johnson with 11.1 rpg. You can find the rest of the scoring, rebounding and assist leaders at:

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.hsstats20jan20,0,2231979.story.

January 15, 2003

Johnson leads the way for Annapolis

The 6'7 senior big man for Annapolis made it look easy against No.20 ranked Meade. Johnson grabbed 21 rebounds to go along with his 25 points. His running mate, senior PG Laronja Owens chipped in another 20 points, 14 of them in the second half. They still look like the team to beat in Anne Arundel County.

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/bal-sp.arpanthers15jan15.story

January 14, 2003

Prep polls

Douglas continues to hold on to the top spot with impressive wins during the Mayor's Tournament at Coppin State College over the weekend.

Boys basketball Top 20
1. Douglass 10-0
2. Dunbar 12-1
3. Randallstown 10-1
4. Mount St. Joseph 13-2
5. Archbishop Spalding 11-3
6. Annapolis 8-1
7. St. Frances 11-2
8. Lake Clifton 8-3
9. McDonogh 12-2
10. Mervo 7-3
11. Long Reach 12-0
12. Walbrook 8-4
13. Cardinal Gibbons 10-5
14. St. Paul's 10-3
15. Calvert Hall 11-6
16. Aberdeen 8-2
17. Glen Burnie 8-0
18. Towson Catholic 9-5
19. St. Mary's 13-4
20. Meade 7-3
Other teams considered: Atholton (9-1), Lansdowne (8-1), Old Mill (6-3), River Hill (8-3), Mount Hebron (7-3).

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/highschool/bal-sp.polls14jan14,0,3447208.story?coll=bal%2Dhighschool%2Dstoryutil

January 4, 2003

Gary Neal has a career high night against Rutgers

Freshman Gary Neal (Baltimore Select) scored a career-high 33 points including the first ten of the overtime period in the win.

Box Score:

http://www.lasalle.edu/athletic/mens/basketball/02-03%20Boxscores/rutgers.htm

Full Story:

http://www.lasalle.edu/athletic/mens/basketball/02-03%20Game%20Stories/rutgersstory.htm

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