BOYS BASKETBALL: Chesapeake Captures Playoff Victory

It has been a long time since basketball has won a playoff game. Head coach Marlon Bailey can’t even remember the last time it happened.

“I think I was like six,” he said. “No just kidding—I don’t know. It’s been a long time.”

The long time came to an end Friday night in Edgewater as the Chesapeake Cougars defeated the Seahawks, 67-57, to clinch a win in the first round of the Class 4A east region playoffs.

“It was just an emotional game,” said guard and leading scorer Aaron Terry. “We just wanted to win. It’s the first playoff game we have won in a long time and we just came out here and worked hard as a team.”

The win didn’t come easy for Chesapeake. Despite being up by 20 points at the end of the third quarter, South River put up a fight and brought the game to within eight with three minutes to go.

With four minutes to play in the fourth quarter and the Cougars up, 57-44, Chesapeake was called for a travel, and then committed a shooting foul sending South River’s leading scorer Drevian Bell to the line to shoot two. Bell sank both shots to close the gap, 57-46.

On Chesapeake’s next possession, they committed another turnover giving the ball back to the Seahawks. Bell again capitalized with a layup and was fouled, sending him back to the line for an and-one. Bell converted the three-point play making the score 49-57, the closest it had been since the first quarter.

However, the comeback for the Seahawks was short lived. Terry hit a jumper on the next possession and it soon became a game of fouls. Chesapeake was able to convert on their final four free-throw attempts to seal the victory.

“Every time out, it was do not give up,” said Bailey. “For years it has always been Chesapeake giving up when someone makes a run. We have been stressing since game one, we can’t be the same old Chesapeake. We are supposed to be with everyone else. We’re tired of being in the basement. That’s the motto we have had all year.”

The Cougars proved they were the team to beat in the opening minutes, jumping out to a quick 19-10 lead in the first quarter. Despite a tough, in-your-face defense from South River, Chesapeake was ultimately able to capitalize thanks in large part to the play of Terry at guard.

“Aaron [Terry], I thank God he is a junior and I have him next year,” said Bailey with a laugh. “He is one of the top three point guards in Anne Arundel County. I would put him up against anyone and he’d succeed. When he came out and stepped up under the pressure, everyone else did too.”