Girls Basketball: Wolverines Can't Keep Pace with Defending Champ Joppatowne

After an impressive regular season and a dominating quarterfinal win over Pikesville, the Western Tech girls were eliminated in the Class 1A North Semifinals by Joppatowne, 58-41.

The Wolverines (20-3) were paced by Sydney Clopton (11 points) and Ateh Ade (six points, 11 rebounds) but failed to cut into a 12-point halftime deficit, getting outscored 14-3 by a talented Joppatowne squad in the third quarter.

“Honestly, they were just better,” head coach Nolan Roe said after the game. “They had exceptional guard play and a lot of good players that could drive and kick. We wanted to force them into outside shots. We did, and they made them.”

After Western Tech had given opposing backcourts fits all season with its full-court press, the Wolverines finally ran into a squad with the guards equipped to handle it.

Joppatowne, which captured the MPSSAA 1A State Title a year ago, connected on six three pointers, including four in the second quarter alone.

“Inside and out they beat us, basically hands down,” Roe said. “They are a good team.”