Guilford Park High School

With school right around the corner, fall sports teams at Guilford Park High School are battling their way through tryouts. As each team prepares to compete in their respective sport, players and coaches are working both physically and mentally, pushing themselves to be their best. Everyone is working toward the same goal: representing Guilford Park with competitiveness, pride, and sportsmanship. Throughout tryouts, one thing that stood out was the leadership shown not only by coaches, but by the players themselves. Athletes are beginning to find their roles, build chemistry, and understand what it means to be part of their teams. One thing is for sure, the Panthers are putting in the work, and Guilford Park is ready to compete this fall season!

Guilford Park- 14 Meade - 2 In only their 2nd varsity season, the Guilford Park girls lacrosse team is 3-0 to start the season, matching their win total from the 2025 season. Tonight, at Meade, 10 different players saw the back of the net lead by three goals from Lauren Matney, and two goals each from Enk Batzorig and Ashlyn Chaney. Guilford Park also dominated in the draw circle winning 13 draws led by five from Bekah Hughey on the circle. Other goal scorers were: Sofia Rodriguez Hannah Mitchell Laylah Guerriero Addie McCollum Malina Tran Gabrielle Walker Yoonah Cho

GP goals: Jaidyn Bichell 2, Malina Tran 2, Bekah Hughey 1, Laylah Guerrio 1

OT win for GP! Great defensive battle.

5-4 Guilford Park

Howard County saw two teams make championship appearances and three win their region this season. Glenelg and Reservoir powered their way to have a chance at a title. Howard made it to the state bracket. Here are CSZ’s awards for the best of the county this season: Team of the Year - Reservoir Gators Reservoir tied for the best regular-season record at 16-4 and won a county-high five playoff games. The Gators hit the ground running in December, winning all six of their games and keeping opponents under 40 points in four of them. Their seven-game win streak to open the year showcased that this year’s team would not take a step back, leading the county once again. A January lull, which had a 1-4 stretch for the Gators, proved to be the outlier in the year. Reservoir returned to its winning ways in February and carried that momentum for the rest of the season. Since the start of February, they won 12 straight games, including the playoffs, before the championship against the Poly Engineers. A 57-34 loss to that Poly team ended the playoff run, but Reservoir still managed to defy expectations by remaining at the top of the county. Coach Deb Taylor reflected on what she and her players accomplished this season. “At the beginning of the season, I didn’t think we would win as many games as we did…We graduated 2 all-county players and people thought we would be down. Instead, we won our first county championship and made school history,” Coach Taylor said. Most Improved Team - Glenelg Gladiators Glenelg boosted its record by six regular-season wins and eight total this year, turning the page after finishing under .500 in 2025. The Gladiators built early momentum and sustained it this year. They won their first five games of the season with a key one early against a talented Mt. Hebron team. In CSZ’s preseason power rankings, we placed Glenelg seventh with concerns about the team’s defense. The 2025 team had a 3-9 record when the defense allowed more than 40 points. The Gladiators allowed 40 points in the same number of games this season, but showed the offensive grit to overcome it. Glenelg improved by three wins in the stat to have a 6-6 record in those games, including the playoffs. Their playoff journey featured four blowout wins, taking down Southern, Wilde Lake, Frederick Douglass and Williamsport. The dominance carried into the start of the championship game, but Glenelg got outlasted by Manchester Valley, who won its first championship in the process.

On any given night for Guilford Park High School, Christopher Wood can electrify the crowd with a high-flying dunk, a smooth pull-up jumper, or a deep three that barely touches the net. Wood has built a reputation as a player who can score from anywhere on the court, but the highlight plays only tell part of the story. Beyond getting highlights, Wood is a hard worker on and off the court. Hustle is the foundation of his game. He knows as he continues to get his energy up, the team will follow. It’s truly admirable to see his work ethic in everything he does as he continues to get better and better at what he does. He goes far beyond a player who plays for himself, he’s a player who knows how to play as a team

Girls basketball in recent days has seen a shift in participation in different areas. Around more pro leagues like the WNBA, there has been more exposure for women and girls to really showcase their abilities as athletes. This type of exposure is something that should also be seen in more high school sports departments. Guilford Park high school, for example, is a newer school that is trying to build all its programs from the ground up. One major thing we look for is inclusiveness on and off the court so that we can really cement ourselves into the county and make a stronger name for ourselves. That same presence and exposure matters — especially at a time when participation numbers are shifting. “Yes, participation numbers are fluctuating,” coach Fizzelle said. “Often female athletes will say they don’t know how to play basketball. Tryout numbers can be as many as 22.” On paper, 22 may not seem alarming. But for a program trying to build depth, confidence, and long-term stability, fluctuation creates uncertainty. The reasons behind it are layered. Some people have different reasons not to participate in certain sports. While some can feel that a sport isn’t for them, some are actually just scared to try out because they have no prior experience with the sport or they think they just won’t be good at it. “I think there is a decline because people are apprehensive about playing a new sport,” coach Frizzelle explained. “They often compare themselves to other female athletes that have been playing basketball for over a decade, and that can be discouraging.” Comparison has become a silent opponent. With highlight reels and social media clips constantly circulating, stepping into a new sport can feel intimidating. Many girls assume they’re already behind before they even try. Instead of seeing the court as a place to grow, they see it as a stage where they might not measure up. In reality, some of the best athletes start from not knowing how to play at all to becoming one of the greatest athletes to do it. Coaches will build you up and help you achieve your goals to the best of their abilities. Nothing is ever given to us, it has to be worked for in order to obtain it and appreciate it. Inclusiveness in the sport is something we hope to achieve in a time where numbers may be going down. It’s important for girls to know they belong in any sport they want to play in and be great at it!

Maryland 3A central region had their indoor track competition on 2/5/26. In the Girls 55m Finals Aubree Lilly from Towson won first place and ran a time of 7.13s. Samantha Amauwa from Franklin placed second and ran a time of 7.18s. Rozelyn Sarfo from Oakland Mills placed third and ran a time of 7.28s. Sarfo also set a personal record for herself and became the new Maryland 33rd place for this event. In the girls Girls 55mH 3A Finals Nyla Lavender from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute won first place and ran a time of 8.54. Lavender set a personal record for herself and became the new Maryland 19th place for this event. Taylor Moorer from Baltimore City College placed second and ran a time of 8.54s. Moorer set a personal record for herself and also became the new Maryland 20th place for this event. Ava Carr from Howard placed in third and ran a time of 8.55s. In the Girls 300m 3A Aubree Lilly from Towson also won first place (she also placed first in the 55m) she ran a time of 39.90s. With this run she gained three accomplishments she set a personal record for herself,became the new United States 75th place, and the new Maryland 14th place for this event.Samantha Amauwa from Franklin placed in second and ran a time of 39.95s. In the Girls 500m 3A Payton Buchanan from Oakland Mills won first place and ran a time of 1:17.37.Trinity Jordan from Franklin placed in second and ran a time of 1:18.00. Brooklynn Murrell from Baltimore City College placed in third and ran a time of 1:18.87. She also set a personal record for herself and became the new 22nd place in Maryland for this event. In the Girls 800m 3A Centennial High School in Howard County dominated the event with their runners coming in first,second, and third place.Kaylee Beal won first place and ran a time of 2:27.03.Beal also set a personal record for herself. Clara Curtis placed in second and ran a time of 2:27.61. Samantha Raker placed in third and ran a time of 2:27.68.Curtis set a personal record for herself as well. In the Girls 1600m 3A Kaylee Beal from Centennial also won first place (she also placed first in the 800m) she ran a time of 5:23.36. Aspen Yorek from Oakland Mills placed in second and ran a time of 5:26.67. Olivia Virago from Catonsville placed in third and ran a time of 5:27.62. In the Girls 3200m 3A Aspen Yorek from Oakland Mills won first place and ran a time of 12:11.20. Izabella McDonald from Guilford Park placed in second and ran a time of 12:14.47. Gabriela Nguyen from Centennial placed in third and ran a time of 12:20.59. Nguyen also set a personal record for herself. In the girls Girls 4x200m (3A) Oakland Mills’ team won first place and ran a time of 1:43.81 The team was R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, P. Buchanan, G. Osei-Bonsu. Baltimore City College’s The team placed second and ran a time of 1:46.51. The team was L. Pulley, T. Moorer, M. Hunt, A. Milligan. Franklin’s team placed third and ran a time of 1:47.48. The team was S. Amauwa, T. Jordan, K. Redd, K. Wallace. In the Girls 4x400m (3A) Oakland Mills’ team won first place and ran a time of 4:04.29. The team was R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, R. Martinez Romero, P. Buchanan. Baltimore City College’s team placed in second and ran a time of 4:10.22. The team was C. Shane, L. Pulley, B. Murrell, T. Moorer. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute ‘s team placed in third and ran a time of 4:17.23. The team was J. Newton, G. Jacobs, D. Griffin, K. Bastfield. They also became the new 37th place in Maryland. In the Girls 4x800m (3A) Guilford Park’s team won first place and ran a time of 10:21.97. The team was C. Logan, L. Eastman, J. Ortega, I. McDonald. They also became the new Maryland 29th place. Baltimore City College’s team placed second and ran a time of 10:37.89. The team was K. Hunt, C. Shane, J. Pulley, B. Murrell. They also became the new 41st place in Maryland. Franklin’s team placed third and ran a time of 10:42.03. The team was K. Wallace, N. Tromble, T. Clingan, S. Shon. They also became the new 47th place in Maryland. In the Girls High Jump 3 Ava Carr from Howard won first place and jumped 5-04.00 feet. She also became the new 7th place in Maryland. Patience Oyamo from Guilford Park placed in second and jumped 5-04.00 feet. She also became the new 4th place in Maryland. Julia Irvin from Howard placed third and jumped 5-00.00 feet. She became the new 24th place in Maryland. In the Girls Pole Vault 3A Kendall Shirey from Howard won first place and cleared 9-00.00 feet. She also became the new 22nd place in Maryland. Molly Van Valkenburg from Towson placed in second and cleared 7-06.00 feet. She also set a personal record for herself. Alisha Rao from Howard placed third and cleared 7-00.00 feet. In the Girls Shot Put 3A Natalie Bank from Centennial won first place and threw 32-02.00 feet or 9.80m. Amirah Curtis from Baltimore City College placed second and threw 30-07.25 feet or 9.33m. Imani Smith from Howard placed third and threw 30-06.75 or 9.32m.

Lady Hawks fought to the end led by Gabby Sane and Olivia Creighton with 14 and 10 points respectively

River Hill Lady Hawks were led by junior Saniya Carter and sophomore Olivia Creighton's 14 and 13 points respectively. Kudos to junior Charlotte Lawaray for her major defensive contributions.

Guilford Park High School made history with its first-ever basketball Senior Night, honoring the seniors who helped build something special from the ground up. The night ended perfectly as the Panthers celebrated their seniors the best way possible—with a hard-earned win on their home court.

On Friday January 16 2026 Howard County had their 2026 Indoor Track County Championship. The Oakland Mills Boys Team became 2026 county champions. Reservoir was second place and Hammond came in third place. Relays: Centennial’s boys 4x800 became county champions. Z. Herzberger, J. Henlon, J. Oberly, and D. Locktish were the runners in this relay. Additionally they became the new fourth place boys 4x800 in Maryland and the new United States 85th place Reservoir’s boys 4x200 became county champions. J. Ray, D. Abodunrin, F. Fekoya, and J. Smith were the runners in this relay. Additionally this team became the new 14th place boys 4x200 relay in Maryland. Reservoirs’ boys 4x400 became county champions. D. Abodunrin, F. Fekoya, J. Smith,and F. Sule were the runners in this relay. They also set a new meet record! So this team also was the fastest at a Howard County indoor championship. Individual Running Events: Jason Smith from Reservoir became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 300m. He ran a 35.23, which is a personal record for him. He is newly 25th place in Maryland. Trevor Miyagishima from Hammond became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 1600m. He ran a 4:30.66, which is a new personal record for him. He is the new 13th place in this event in Maryland. Parker Lewis from Gilford Park became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 500m. He ran a 1:06.31, which is a new personal record for him. Additionally he is the new 15th place in Maryland and 63rd in the United States for this event. AJ York from Oakland Mills became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 55m hurdles. Femi Fekoya from Reservoir became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 55m. Wesley Zaron from Wilde Lake became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 3200m. He ran a 9:59.22, which is a new personal record for him. He also became the new 29th place for this event in Maryland. Parker Lewis from Guildford Park became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys 800m. He ran a 1:58.42, which is a personal record for him. He became the new 5th place for this event in Maryland. Field Events: Bryce Adkins from Long Reach became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys shot put. Caolan Edmison from Mount Hebron became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys pole vault. Christian Roberts from Atholton became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys long jump. He jumped 21-03.00, which was a personal record for him. He now is in 13th place in Maryland for this event. Demari Keitt from Guilford Park became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys high jump. He jumped 6-00.00, which is a personal record for him. He also is the new 33rd place in Maryland for this event. Anuoluwa Suberu-Arotiba from Oakland Mills became a 2026 indoor county champion in the boys triple jump. He jumped 39-08.75, which is a personal record for him. Additionally he became 46th place in Maryland for this event. Please note titles such as __ place in Maryland/United States are subject to change as more meets happen across Maryland and the United States.

Howard County basketball returns next week with most teams still in the mix for county glory. For this CSZ midseason check-in, we looked at what each school’s main goal should be for 2026. Note: The listed records are only for games against other Howard County teams. 1. Reservoir (4-0) New Year’s Resolution: Do more of the same The Gators are the best team in the county so far. Their offense is playing at an elite level in each game and the defense matches with a stifling presence. Their closest county game ended in an eight-point win, marking the only time Reservoir did not outscore opponents by at least 17. No team has commanded the court like the Gators and that dominance should extend into the rest of the season. Next up: vs River Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 7 2. Oakland Mills (5-0) New Year’s Resolution: Get ready to hit the road The Scorpions boast the best county record and fully earned that spot. The team has played in sync all season so far, with no signs of slowing down. January will be a tougher challenge for this Oakland Mills squad. Nine of their 13 games for the rest of the season are on the road. Five of their eight January games will be away from Scorpions fans, including matchups against Mt. Hebron and Reservoir. Next up: vs Wilde Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 7 3. Glenelg (4-0) New Year’s Resolution: Stay resilient on the road The Gladiators are the last of the three undefeated teams in county games. Glenelg has comfortably handled its early schedule, which included three road games against rival schools and five total. The road trips will continue through early July, with four in their next six matchups. Staying strong in the next few weeks will set the Gladiators up well for the playoff push, where they play seven games at home in their final nine. Next up: vs Glenelg Country School on Monday, January 5 4. Wilde Lake (5-1) New Year’s Resolution: Give the defense more room to breathe The Wildecats firmly sit in the county’s top tier with a strong December performance. They have limited opposing teams to fewer than 45 points in five of their games. The only outlier, coming against Glenelg, stands as their lone county loss. While Wilde Lake is still playing at an elite level, an offensive step forward could be the missing piece to leapfrog the three teams ranked higher. Their last two county games showed greater separation, with a 20-point win over Atholton and a 12-point win over Mt. Hebron. Next up: at Oakland Mills on Wednesday, Jan. 7 5. Marriotts Ridge (4-3) New Year’s Resolution: Increase possession quality Mustang basketball has been a flashback to a lower-scoring era of high school basketball. The Marriotts Ridge defense has excelled, allowing 40 or fewer points in six of their seven county games. The offense has only surpassed 40 in two of those games and the team won both. With points in short supply, the Mustangs could become a juggernaut with a slightly sharper offense, reducing their need to come through in close games. Next up: vs. Long Reach on Friday, Jan. 9 6. Howard (3-2) New Year’s Resolution: Stay on track The Lions rebounded from a close 52-48 loss to Oakland Mills with three wins in their next four county games. Howard’s offense is leading the way with 45 points in every game and wins each time they score 50. The defense has given the team enough to win and their team formula has provided plenty of momentum for the rest of the season. Next up: at Garrison Forest on Wednesday, Jan. 7 7. Mt. Hebron (4-3) New Year’s Resolution: Shrink the margins against the county’s best The Vikings almost exclusively traded off wins and losses through December. The offense and defense have been consistently solid. Mt. Hebron has handled business against the lowest teams in the standings but has struggled against the top squads. Their -21 point differential against Marriotts Ridge, Glenelg and Wilde Lake is a stark contrast to their +74 in their other games. Playing closer in those matchups is the first step in taking a seat at the top. Next up: vs Atholton on Wednesday, Jan. 7 8. Guilford Park (1-3) New Year’s Resolution: Sustain the holiday momentum The Panthers already matched their county win total from last season with a 48-32 win against Long Reach. While the other games have not gone their way, Guilford Park picked up wins against Green Street and Frederick Douglass last weekend. The team could make school history by securing its first January win in program history. Next up: at Hammond on Monday, Jan. 5 9. Hammond (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Raise the floor The Golden Bears’ 2025-2026 season has been one of a split identity through December. Hammond had a season-best 62-55 win against Atholton before scoring 34 total points across their final two games. They have a +12 point differential in their wins, including a non-county game, and a -104 point differential in their losses. Closing those margins against the county’s best can create more opportunities to keep the pressure on opponents and find ways to win. Next up: vs Guilford Park on Monday, Jan. 5 10. River Hill (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Tighten the defense The Hawks are undefeated when they hold opposing teams to 45 points or less. They have only accomplished that score in one county game and one non-county game. Barring a sudden offensive turnaround, the Hawks will need to lean into a defense that has given the team chances to get more wins. Next up: vs Reservoir on Wednesday, Jan. 7 11. Centennial (1-5) New Year’s Resolution: Revamp the offense The Eagles have performed at an untenable offensive level so far, which has been the defining factor of their season. They have reached 30 points in two of their games. The defense has performed solidly, holding Glenelg to 40 and Marriotts Ridge to 31. Getting games closer will be a key step in a Centennial season turnaround. Next up: vs Long Reach on Monday, Jan. 5 12. Long Reach (0-4) New Year’s Resolution: Improve in-county play The Lightning have exclusively taken care of teams beyond the Howard borders. Against DC International and Meade, Long Reach had their two highest scoring games and their two sharpest defensive efforts. Finding ways to bring that level of play against their rivals will be the only way that the Lightning can climb the standings. Next up: at Centennial on Monday, Jan. 5 13. Atholton (0-4) New Year’s Resolution: Take a page from last season’s book The Raiders struggled in December and stand as one of two teams without a win against a county opponent. They will need better play from the offense and from the defense if their season is to turn around. The 2024-2025 team, which lost its final three games in December before coming back from winter break with a commanding 80-54 win, could be a good source of inspiration. Next up: at Mt. Hebron on Wednesday, Jan. 7

Howard County basketball returns next week with most teams still in the mix for county glory. For this CSZ midseason check-in, we looked at what each school’s main goal should be for 2026. Note: The listed records are only for games against other Howard County teams. 1. Oakland Mills (5-0) New Year’s Resolution: Generate more offense The Scorpions are the last undefeated team in the county, earning that spot with a close 49-48 win against Marriotts Ridge. Oakland Mills will need more point separation to stay at the top of the standings. Most of their games have been within two possessions, including two very close wins against Long Reach and Marriotts Ridge. On an individual level, Daniel Ndiritu ‘27 became the first player to score 20 points this season for the Scorpions, reaching that mark in the final game of the year. Next up: vs Catonsville on Monday, Jan. 5 2. Marriotts Ridge (6-1) New Year’s Resolution: Stay on track The Mustangs are off to a nearly flawless start this season. They have scored 65+ points in six of their seven games and allowed fewer than 55 in five of those games. Marriotts Ridge closed out the year on a particularly high note, reaching a season high of 81 points scored against Reservoir. Next up: vs. Howard on Wednesday, Jan. 7 3. River Hill (5-2) New Year’s Resolution: Win on Wednesdays The Hawks have evened out after a strong 2-0 start against Hammond and Wilde Lake. A tougher schedule has contributed to a 3-3 record in their last six games, but River Hill has developed a clear split based on game time. The Hawks have not won a Wednesday game since Feb. 7, 2024, dropping the last eight across three seasons. River Hill’s four remaining midweek games could determine the fate of their season. Next up: at Reservoir on Wednesday, Jan. 7 4. Mt. Hebron (5-2) New Year’s Resolution: Enjoy being at home The Vikings opened the season with a challenging gauntlet, playing five of their first seven games on the road. Mt. Hebron pushed through and won four of those five. They have six more road games this season, but the final stretch of the season is almost exclusively on their home court, with four games in February as the playoff push intensifies. Next up: at Atholton on Wednesday, Jan. 7 5. Atholton (3-1) New Year’s Resolution: Trust the defense Atholton plays a unique brand of basketball compared to the rest of the county. The Raiders’ defense-first approach has singlehandedly brought their best county start in years. They have allowed an average of fewer than 50 points per game, including just 32 against River Hill. Before this season, they had not won three of their first four county games since 2022. Facing Marriotts Ridge and River Hill proved that this style of play can propel the Raiders into contention. Next up: vs Mt. Hebron on Wednesday, Jan. 7 6. Long Reach (3-2) New Year’s Resolution: Keep up the momentum The Lightning closed out the year on a high note with considerable improvement from last season. A 0-2 start looked like more of the same before a three-game winning streak provided a sharp turnaround. For reference, Long Reach did not have three county wins last season until Valentine’s Day. Next up: vs Centennial on Monday, Jan. 5 7. Reservoir (2-3) New Year’s Resolution: Forget the Marriotts Ridge game The Gators have hovered around .500 all season, with their longest winning streak standing at one game. For the most part, Reservoir has played solid basketball with a good defense and an inconsistent offense. The only outlier came in the final game of the year against Marriotts Ridge, where the team allowed 81 points to the Mustangs. Staying the course can keep the Gators toward the middle of the standings. Next up: vs River Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 7 8. Glenelg (2-2) New Year’s Resolution: Look for more synergy The Gladiators played fewer games than most county teams after a game against Oakland Mills was canceled. With four county games recorded, Glenelg has flashed the pieces needed for contention, but has not been able to consistently put them together yet. They did end the year with everything working in the year’s final game, beating Centennial 55-52. Next up: vs Guilford Park on Wednesday, Jan. 7 9. Hammond (2-4) New Year’s Resolution: Rediscover their offense The Golden Bears spent the first half of December playing well on both sides of the court. They took care of games against Glenelg and Wilde Lake before their season took a turn as the schedule grew more challenging. Games against Mt. Hebron and Oakland Mills closed the year in a slide that came down to the offense’s decline. In their last three county games, Hammond lost each and failed to score 55 points in all of them. Changing that will be their top priority for 2026. Next up: at Guilford Park on Monday, Jan. 5 10. Centennial (1-5) New Year’s Resolution: Trust the process The Eagles’ record is not yet indicative of their performance this season. They lost to River Hill and Marriotts Ridge, but their other games showed a team that should be better than 1-5. In two-possession or fewer games, Centennial has a 1-4 record, with the only win coming in the season opener against Reservoir. The Eagles should see more wins if they can continue to play close and wait for more late-game breakthroughs. Next up: at Long Reach on Monday, Jan. 5 11. Guilford Park (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Tighten the defense The Panthers recorded their first December win in program history against Howard on Dec. 15. Outside of that game, the Guilford Park offense has performed well, but the defense has still not clicked. Against county opponents, they have averaged 59 points scored per game. Their win against Howard was the only time that they did not allow 55 points in a county game. Next up: vs Hammond on Monday, Jan. 5 12. Howard (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Improve in-county scoring The Lions have stepped back so far after their strong performance last year. The offense has not recorded 50 points against a county team once this season and the team’s success is almost exclusively against other schools. Their two best wins came against Crossland and Winters Mill, which were two of their last three games. A Lions’ turnaround this season will only be possible if they can bring that offense to their 12 remaining games in the county. Next up: at Marriotts Ridge on Wednesday, Jan. 7 13. Wilde Lake (0-6) New Year’s Resolution: Turn the page on 2025 The Wildecats have not performed as many would have expected this season, following an 18-win campaign last year. Wilde Lake needs improvement offensively and defensively in 2026. Finding their first win quickly could be the spark this team needs to get back on track for the rest of the season. Next up: vs Oakland Mills on Wednesday, Jan. 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_vSuQ8jCTc

Syki Barfield had a great game, scoring 17 points and contributing consistently on offense. Syki played unselfishly, was a strong teammate, and showed excellent teamwork throughout the game. They communicated well, supported others, and focused on playing as a team. Overall, Syki was a key contributor to the team’s success.

Syki Barfield had a great game tonight, scoring 20 points and contributing consistently on offense. Syki played unselfishly, showed strong teamwork, and was a positive teammate on the floor. They communicated well, supported others, and always looked to make the right play. Overall, Syki played as a true team player and was a key part of the team’s success.

Sydney Nance 17 Pts, 9 Reb, 5Stl, 3 Ast, and 5Blk

Howard County basketball season has arrived and all 26 teams will push to make the top of the standings this winter. CSZ spoke to coaches across the county and learned about underrated players to watch for this season. Glenelg Girls’ Basketball: Madison Perry Sophomore Madison Perry earned the nomination from head coach Maureen Roberson. She broke out last season as a key freshman and one of Howard County’s best young blockers. Her playoff contributions, including two 3-point shots, concluded a strong first campaign for the Gladiators. Roberson thinks she can take another step forward and the team will progress from their 10-12 record last season. “Fans should expect Glenelg to win this season. Our goal is to go to states,” Roberson said. Perry and the Gladiators open their season at home tonight against Hammond. Guilford Park Boys’ Basketball: Christopher Wood Power forward Christopher Wood could be a force to watch this season for the Panthers. The junior emerged last season as one of the four youngest members of Guilford Park’s first basketball team. He showed high potential on both sides of the ball, helping the Panthers rebound from a 0-11 start last season. Coach Malcolm Tatum sees Wood as an underrated player in Howard County and Maryland overall. The Panthers hit the road to face Severn Park in tonight’s season opener. Hammond Boys’ Basketball: Joshua Terry II and Jackson Givens Coach Kyle Duffie nominated two seniors as his selections for most underrated. He chose guards Joshua Terry II and Jackson Givens as players who could propel Hammond to a winning record for the first time since the 2016-2017 season. Both made big contributions in Hammond’s 68-63 season-opening loss to River Hill on Saturday. Terry is already the team’s points leader. The senior scored 20 with four rebounds and four steals. Givens led the team with five assists and added seven rebounds. Hammond will try to get their first win of the season in tonight’s game against Glenelg. Marriotts Ridge Boys’ Basketball: Blake Willingham and Aaron Hammann Coach Seth Willingham has high expectations for this year’s Mustangs team, setting the bar at “a county and regional championship and a run at states.” He chose junior Blake Willingham and senior Aaron Hammann as underrated pieces who could take Marriotts Ridge all the way. Willingham had an elite 48% 3-point rate, placing second in the county. The multi-sport athlete also plays football as the Mustangs’ quarterback and one of their team captains, reflecting the athleticism and leadership he can bring to the basketball team this winter. Hammann helped the Mustangs take off in the middle of last season, surging into the playoffs. He scored double-digit points in 20 of the team’s games and Marriotts Ridge won 15 of those games. Marriotts Ridge will take on Atholton at home tonight. Oakland Mills Girls’ Basketball: Adey Alexander Senior Adey Alexander will be a primary leader for the Scorpions, who currently sit at the top of the county. Oakland Mills made its first championship since 1991 and will try to go all the way this season. Coach Michael Coughlan wants Alexander to get more credit this season for her games. “She has never gotten the recognition she deserves for what value she brings to our group,” Coughlan said. Oakland Mills opens its season tonight against Howard in a playoff rematch.