Annapolis Tops Arundel 65-56, On Senior Night

After falling to the Arundel Wildcats back in January, Annapolis wouldn't let it happen again, especially not on Senior Night.  Four Panther seniors scored in double figures on Friday night, as Annapolis got back at its visitors with a 65-56 victory.

The Wildcats clawed back to bring the game within three late in the game, but a strong defense and some clutch free-throw shooting preserved the win.

"We came out and played hard. We wanted to defend our home court," Tajuan Watson said. "This was Senior Night for us and we wanted to go out [in] our last regular-season game and get a W."

Watson led all scorers with 17 points on the night.

A pair of three pointers from senior Colin Varn had the Panthers looking strong early, as Annapolis took an 11-point lead after the first quarter.

Arundel senior Tyler Washington tried to pull the Wildcats back into the game after converting a pair of three-point plays, but the Panthers didn't seem to be phased.

"The start didn't lose the game for us," Arundel coach Jeff Starr said.  "Every time we got down, we battled back.  I think we cut it to two or four, we just didn't have enough to get over the hump tonight."

Arundel junior David Nicholson awoke from a cold first half, with seven third-quarter points, but it wasn't enough as Annapolis matched every little run that Arundel could manage.

The Wildcats clamped down on defense in the fourth quarter, as the Panther offense suddenly went cold. But a late technical on Starr turned a six-point deficit into nine. By that time the Wildcats, who were already facing foul trouble, could do nothing but foul.

Three free throws from Watson and two from Domico James of Annapolis put the game out of reach, as the Panthers secured the win.

KEY MOMENT: With about two minutes to play, Arundel had brought the game back to within six points, at 60-54.  Then a technical foul on coach Jeff Starr sent Tajuan Watson to the line for Annapolis, where the senior hit one of two. A pair of made free throws on the resulting possession and the Panthers had put the game away with a new nine-point lead.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tajuan Watson, 17 points. Delonte Joyce, 13 points. Domico James, 13 points. Colin Varn, 12 points.

WHAT IT MEANS: Annapolis has now moved into a three-way tie for second place in the county with Arundel and Glen Burnie. For Arundel, the loss drops them out of a tie for first place.

WHAT THEY SAID: "We knew that we had to come out with more intensity than we did last time," Delonte Joyce said.

"Hitting free throws," Watson said was the key to stopping a late charge by Arundel. "We gave up some easy lay-ups, but defense, toughness and heart.  Just closing it out and going out with a bang."

"Whenever you coach against coach Brady, it's always going to be a battle," Starr said.

WHAT'S NEXT: Now in a three-way tie with Arundel and Glen Burnie, the Panthers will look to separate themselves from the pack when they travel to Glen Burnie Tuesday.

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Lady Panthers Fall to Arundel Again

Twenty-four points from Arundel senior Tiffany Grant helped the Lady Wildcats top Annapolis High School for the second time this season, 62-50, on Friday night.

Annapolis held a two-point lead early in the second quarter, before Arundel used a 7-0 run to regain the lead. 

The Lady Panthers brought the game to back to one possession in the fourth quarter. But thanks to some clutch free-throw shooting by guard Ashlynn Park and ten points by Grant in the final quarter, the Lady Wildcats walked away 62-50 winners.

Terri Bennett and Niccole Brown led Annapolis with 10 points a piece.