Boys Basketball Team

When Randallstown ascended to the area's No. 1 ranking, some wondered if it was deserving. Last night, the Rams left no doubt they're again the best boys basketball team in Baltimore County. Visiting Randallstown captured its third consecutive county championship, throttling No. 19 Woodlawn last night, 77-55. In its first action since Feb. 14, the Rams won for the 44th time in 46 games. "I think the snow hurt both teams in the beginning," said Randallstown coach Kim Rivers, whose team suffered its only loss this season to No. 3 Dunbar.

Harford Christian boys basketball coach Justin Cross does not try to hide his enthusiasm for this season's team. "I've been coaching four years now, and this has been a year of anticipation for me," he said. "We have a little bit of everything on this team, and I believe we're good enough to win our conference title." Harford Christian was 21-11 last season and finished third in the Maryland Association of Christian Schools conference. "We're a pretty deep team, we're very fast and athletic, and we have talent in all positions," Cross said.

With its 64-51 victory at Arundel last Friday, the No. 6 Broadneck boys basketball team pushed its record to 11-0, the third-fastest start in school history. And the Bruins, 5-0 in county league play, can tie the school-record 13-0 start by their 1988-89 team this week. Broadneck hosted Chesapeake (0-10) last night and visits Southern (1-9) on Friday. Barring a major upset, the Bruins could set a school record at 14-0 in their showdown at No. 7 Glen Burnie (9-1, 6-0) on Tuesday. Clyde Gross, JJ Hicks and Kevin Hunt lead the Bruins.

The Howard County-leading Long Reach boys basketball team does not instill fear in the opposition when it first walks onto the court. That's because the team is so small. The small forward, Ray Hall, is 5 feet 10. Point guard Mike Smelkinson is 5-4. Shooting guard Jared Bradford is 5-10. "We're probably the smallest team in the county," coach Al Moraz said. Smelkinson, a key component in the Lightning's success this season, may be small but he's awfully tough. His skills, honed through year-round play, including Baltimore City's Mount Royal Amateur Athletic Union team, are remarkable.

Early in the season, Southwestern's boys basketball team earned the nickname "giant killer" after knocking off three ranked opponents before moving into the rankings. But the Sabers have lost five straight after starting 7-0.The area's newest giant killers are the Gaels of Mount St. Joseph, who notched their fifth victory over a ranked team Sunday, downing Loyola, 83-80.The Gaels, who have not been ranked this season, also have beaten Southwestern, Edmondson, Broadneck and St. Frances.The Gaels began the season 0-6 but have won seven of their past 11.How good are the Gaels?

Veteran basketball coach Mike Mongelli has been named to succeed Joe Russo as Hammond's girls basketball coach.Mongelli, 56, began Hammond's boys basketball program in the 1977-78 season. He coached the Golden Bears for eight years and won county and region titles in the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons. His 1982-83 team won the state championship, the first boys basketball team from Howard County to do so.Mongelli, a physical education teacher at Hammond, returned to coach four more seasons: the JV boys in 1988-89, the varsity boys in 1994-95 and 1995-96, and the JV boys in 1996-97.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR LOUIS BIRDSONG Mount St. Joseph Birdsong epitomized the team concept that led the Gaels to a state record for wins in a season by a boys basketball team. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound senior forward's constant hustle and all-around play helped lead the Gaels to a 38-1 season and a No. 5 national ranking by USA Today. Birdsong's strengths were in evidence in Frostburg this past weekend at the 46th Alhambra tournament, where he led the Gaels to their first final in that event in 35 years, which they lost to DeMatha, 70-55.

The winter storm that's passing through the state today has yet to postpone any of the boys basketball regional championship games, which are still set to take place for Thursday and Friday. However, it is impacting preparations, particularly for the Class 2A and 1A games that are scheduled for Thursday. Four of the seven regional title games scheduled for Thursday involve Baltimore-area teams, and with school closed today, each won't have the opportunity to practice after semifinal wins on Tuesday.

• Daquan Cook, Digital Harbor, junior, guard • Ryan McTavish, South Carroll, senior, guard • Kavon Pyatt, Edmondson, senior, guard • Ronald Scott, John Carroll, senior, guard • Kameron Williams, Mount St. Joseph, sophomore, guard • Tevin Hanner, Milford Mill, senior, forward • Jarred Jones, John Carroll, junior, forward • Myrek Lee-Fowlkes, Patterson, sophomore,...