February 23, 1995|By Pat O'Malley | Pat O'Malley,Sun Staff Writer
Playing one of the metro area's most demanding schedules, No. 14 Severn has been beaten by the best guard from Baltimore in top-ranked Lake Clifton's Shawnta Rogers and now the best from the Washington area in Louis Bullock of Laurel Baptist.
Bullock led Laurel Baptist (33-4), ranked No. 5 by the Washington Post, to an 88-75 victory over Severn (19-8) yesterday. The 6-foot-2 point guard, bound for the University of Michigan, scored 29 points (20 in the second half) and had five boards and eight assists.
Bullock sank 11 of 12 from the free-throw line (9-for-10 in the final period) to run his season totals to 202-for-216, 94 percent accuracy.
All five Laurel Baptist starters hit double figures in what was a homecoming of sorts for Eagle coach Chris Chaney, a Southern of Harwood grad.
"We did not lose this game, they beat us," said Severn coach Wayne Fowler. "We don't have the type of team to compete in the paint with a team like that. Our kids showed they have the stock to play hard, but . . . "
"Bullock is outstanding and a classy kid, but we couldn't stop their big guys inside and that No. 10 [Landon Rowe] hurt us, too. Chris does a great job with them."
Severn had the lead five times in the first half before the Eagles went on a 10-2 run just before the break with Rowe hitting two three-pointers. Rowe was 3-for-5 from three-point range, finishing with 11 points.
The spurt gave the Eagles a 34-28 advantage despite 10 points by the Admirals' Alhamisi Simms, who tied freshman Dennard Melton with 24 points and seven rebounds.
Laurel Baptist hit seven of its first eight from the floor (28-for-54, 52 percent for the game) in the third period and took a 58-44 lead into the final period. The Severn deficit went to 19 points (65-46) with 5:33 left as the Eagles dominated inside, collecting 20 second-half boards to 12.
Kojo Mensah-Bonsu, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, scored 16 points, pulled down 11 boards and had two blocks. Eight of his rebounds came in the second half while he was in foul trouble.
Junior Calvin Stith, a 6-8 center and the brother of Bryant Stith of the Denver Nuggets, scored 13 points, grabbed nine rebounds and snuffed two shots.
"Some of our kids deserve more recognition than they get," said Chaney. "And Louis knows he couldn't do it without them."
Chaney was aware that Severn nearly upset Lake Clifton in December before bowing by a basket, and that the Admirals have played a tough schedule in Baltimore.
"We knew Severn had a very good team and are well coached," said Chaney. "Playing at their place [a very small gym] is not easy and Simms got off to a great start against us."
Jay Lonnie Booth (12 points, three steals) and John Vereen (11 points, six rebounds) played well for Severn.
Vereen, who said Laurel Baptist is "the best team we've played," managed to keep Bullock scoreless in the second period with help from Booth and Javual Mack.
