Boys Basketball: Annapolis High Prepares to Face Arundel

There was not much margin for error last time the Annapolis High boys basketball team played Arundel. The Wildcats, playing at home in Gambrills, came away with a 58-57 win. So when the teams play Friday night at 6:45 at Annapolis, the host team can not afford some of the mistakes they made Jan. 7 at Arundel.

"The big thing is take care of the basketball," Mike Melton, a veteran assistant coach for Annapolis, told Patch on Wednesday. "I think we had a nine-point lead at halftime at Arundel and we came out and committed several turnovers in the first few possessions."

"That let them make a run and get back in the game," Melton added. "That will be an issue. We have to be able to play at a fast pace and limit turnovers. We didn't guard the ball well in that first game. We were letting them drive to the basket and get to the rim."

Domico James had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Annapolis in a 92-47 win over Chesapeake on Tuesday. Delonte Joyce added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Panthers, who improved to 16-3 this season. Dan Varn added 11 points as seven players on the team scored at least seven points. James is averaging about 25 points per game.

In other upcoming games, the boys basketball team at St. Mary's will face Gilman on Friday, Feb. 11. In the first meeting the Saints won, 67-53, over Gilman in Annapolis.

Tevin Johnson had 18 points for St. Mary's on Monday in a win over Mt. Carmel. The Saints were playing without senior captain Mike Wilde, who was out with a stomach virus. Archie Powell had two key free throws at the end to seal the win. Johnson had 19 points, Willie Brown had 15 and Wilde had eight in a 64-41 win over Boys' Latin.

Annapolis High girls face Arundel

The Annapolis High girls basketball team will host Arundel on Feb. 11.  Amber Jones averages about 11 rebounds per game for the Panthers, who are 8-11 overall and 4-9 in league play. Allysha McFarland leads Annapolis in scoring at about 12 points per outing.

Arundel has a strong program and has sent several players to the college ranks. That includes Talen Watson, a freshman who plays for the University of Massachusetts. The UMass team will be in the area on Saturday to play at George Washington. Ashley Davis, another former Arundel standout, is a freshman guard at Drexel. Arundel is 9-9, 8-5.

Mocniak paces St. Mary's

Melanie Mocniak had 21 points on Wednesday for St. Mary's in 55-51 win at Maryvale. Kelly Broussard added 12 points and Stephanie Lazo had nine, with six assists. Mocniak had 17 points, Kelly Broussard had 16 and Jennifer Broussard had seven for St. Mary's in a 69-25 win over St. Paul's.

Mocniak added 11 rebounds and Lazo added nine assists, according to head coach Terri Daniels.
 
Smith excels for Duke in win over UNC

Duke senior guard Nolan Smith, who played basketball as a middle school student at The Key School, had a career-high 34 points on Wednesday as his team beat North Carolina, 79-73, in the ACC rivalry. Duke trailed by 16 points before coming back for the win. Smith had 22 points in the second half. Jay Bilas, a former Duke player who is now an analyst, told ESPN Radio on Thursday morning that Smith is one of the best players in the country at his position. From Upper Marlboro, Smith is considered a top NBA prospect.

Key School boys basketball

The Key School boys basketball team was 6-13 overall and 1-10 in the C division of the MIAA before its last game on Feb. 10 against Beth Tfiloh. Alex DeMarco, a senior guard, is averaging about 18 points per game and Tommy Nayden is pulling down about 12 boards per contest, according to head coach James Peters. DeMarco had 13 points and freshman guard Brian Kelley had six in a 50-27 loss to Chapelgate of Howard County on Monday. Chas Winebrenner, a sophomore center for Key, had eight points in another game against Chapelgate earlier this month in a 72-40 loss.