Class 1a

Third-seeded North Caroline did all its scoring in the third inning to knock off No. 1 Clear Spring, 3-0, in last night's state Class 1A championship.The Bulldogs (15-4) had run-scoring singles from Jen Bowman and Michelle Butler before Brenda Kibler drove in the third run with a sacrifice fly to center.Clear Spring (17-3) left nine players on base through the first five innings. The Blazers twice had rallies blunted when North Caroline center fielder Sue Bart threw out base runners, and Butler, the winning pitcher, retired the last nine in order.

The top-ranked Century boys have been solid all season and got off to a strong start on the rain-filled first day of the state track and field championships Thursday at Morgan State. Century finished the first day - which has events for Class 1A and 2A schools - in first place with 55 points. The Knights have a comfortable lead over Oakdale (28), from Frederick County, in the Class 2A division. Julian Woods and Jake Stefanick each gave the Knights a victory. Woods took first in the long jump (22 feet, 3.25 inches)

Boys state basketball semifinals Class 2A J.M. Bennett 51 Fort Hill 41 Central 64 Southern-B 56 Class 1A Dunbar 83 Havre de Grace 45 Pocomoke 72 S. Hagerstown 60 Girls state basketball semifinals Class 2A DuVal 54 Catonsville 44 Walkersville 40 Aberdeen 37 Class 1A Dunbar 75 Loch Raven 27 Pocomoke 61 Smithsburg 47

Breathing a collective sigh of relief before celebrating, Maryland's most prolific boys basketball team - Dunbar - added to the program's legacy in Saturday's Class 1A state championship game at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center. With a hard-fought 54-52 win over No. 9 New Town in a rematch of last year's title game, the No. 1 Dunbar captured its state record 15th Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association championship. Combined with their 20 Maryland Scholastic Association championships prior to joining the MPSSAA in the 1992-93 school year, the Poets now have 35 championships.

Junior Kelley Gibson scored 25 points in leading Easton to a 51-42 victory over the Williamsport Wildcats (19-6) of Washington County in last night's Class 1A state girls championship final at UMBC.Tamara Coursey added 10 points and five steals for the state champs from Talbot County, and teammate Lee Wildasin scored six points.Easton (22-2) couldn't expand the lead to more than six in the first half and led at halftime, 27-22, following a Gibson three-pointer at the buzzer.Gibson, a 5-foot-11 center, was anything but one-dimensional as she picked up six blocks, six rebounds and five steals.

CUMBERLAND - Joppatowne has been on a roller-coaster ride in 2008. Last night, the season for the No. 9 Mariners came to a screeching halt. Host Fort Hill took advantage of five second-half Joppatowne turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) to break open a scoreless game and defeat the Mariners, 28-0, in the Class 1A state semifinals. The Sentinels got a great game from running back Marcus Lashley, who rushed for 200 yards on 33 carries. The Sentinels (11-1) advance to next Saturday's Class 1A state championship at M&T Bank Stadium, where they will face the winner of today's Dunbar-Catoctin semifinal.

A funny thing happened to Fallston on its way to what could have been a rebuilding season. The Cougars came within one victory of winning the girls Class 1A state championship at Catonsville Community College during the weekend.With two freshmen starting, and as many as four ninth-graders on the court at once, Fallston overcame a slow start to make its first state semifinal appearance since 1987. The Cougars (18-6) went on to win 13 of their last 14 games before the state semifinals.After a hard-fought 45-40 win over Worcester County's Snow Hill in the semifinals on Friday, the Cougars held their own before losing to top-seeded Williamsport (23-0)

COLLEGE PARK -- It hasn't been easy and Joppatowne High may not be as good as it was last year but the Mariners are a victory away from consecutive state titles.Yesterday the Mariners outscored Williamsport, 21-9, in the fourth quarter to shake the scrappy Wildcats and post a 56-39 victory in a state Class 1A semifinal at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House.Joppatowne (19-4) will meet Worcester County's Pocomoke in the 1A championship game today at 1 p.m. Pocomoke (19-4) edged Brunswick, 75-72, in overtime in yesterday's other semifinal.

Darryle Dennis scored 19 points to lead Snow Hill of Worcester County to its third state title with a 92-75 win over Prince George's County's Surrattsville in the Class 1A state championship game yesterday at Comcast Center in College Park. Surrattsville's Jamahl Brown led all scorers with 36 points. Snow Hill, which beat Dunbar in the semifinals, finished 26-0. The Eagles led Surrattsville (12-12) from early in the game and built a 23-point lead at one point. The Hornets were able to cut the lead to 14 points late in the third quarter, but could get no closer.

Shana Wyant (17-3) pitched a four-hitter as visiting Glenelg (19-3) beat Catoctin, 6-1, to win the Class 1A South region final and advance to the state semifinals next week.Centennial 2, River Hill 0: Amanda Hall threw a complete game as the host Eagles advanced to today's 10 a.m. Class 2A South region final at McDonough in Charles County.Towson 11, Owings Mills 4: Andrea Hammer had two hits and two RBI as the host Generals (9-7) advanced to today's 10 a.m. Class 2A North final at home against North East (Cecil)

Dunbar could do just about anything it wanted against Washington in Friday's Class 1A state semifinal. The Poets had a large advantage in size, speed and strength. In other words, they were just too much. The Jaguars, from Somerset County, scored the game's first basket, but the rest of the evening belonged to No. 1 Dunbar. The Poets needed only four minutes to increase their lead to 10 points, and they didn't have much trouble in a 70-41 victory over Washington at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center.

Defensively, the New Town boys basketball team came ready to play in Friday's Class 1A state semifinal against Brunswick. When the offense caught up in the third quarter, the No. 9 Titans had the necessary mix to secure a return visit to Saturday's state championship game. Senior Justin Brown scored 23 points and junior Danny Shand finished with 16 as New Town earned a 52-44 win over Brunswick at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center. The duo combined for 15 points in the pivotal third quarter.

It took a while, but Dunbar's girls basketball team finally hit its stride in the third quarter of Thursday night's state Class 1A semifinal. The two-time defending champion Poets used a 17-point spurt that began late in the second half and got rolling with two Kahla McIver 3-pointers to spark a 55-43 victory over Mardela at UMBC's RAC Arena. Once the Poets took a 39-36 lead on McIver's 20-footer to end the third quarter, they revved up their defense and hit the boards to hold the Warriors scoreless for nearly five minutes of the fourth.

The Dunbar gym was sweltering during the Poets' boys basketball game against Baltimore City rival Edmondson earlier this season. It wasn't any different than countless other nights in past decades when the team had a big matchup, but the atmosphere was still new to Dunbar's transfer guard Daxter Miles. "There was a lot of emotions involved, a different vibe. That was the game so far," Miles said. "I know a lot about Poet Pride. You can see from all the banners on our wall. … It's great tradition here and an honor for me to play here.

New Town senior Vincent Minor may be small for a lineman, but he's played a big role in the Titans' drive to their first state championship game. At 5 feet 9, 180 pounds, Minor doubles as a center and a defensive end for the Titans (11-2), who defeated previously unbeaten Perryville, 28-27, in the state semifinal, and will meet No. 6 Dunbar, the two-time defending champion, for the Class 1A title Saturday at noon at M&T Bank Stadium. Minor started playing football in sixth grade after he spotted the Randallstown Panthers rec team as he and his mother rode by the field.

No. 6 Dunbar (12-1) vs. New Town (11-2) When: Saturday, noon TV: Ch. 54 Internet radio: SFMSports.net Where: M&T Bank Stadium Coaches: Lawrence Smith, Dunbar; Joe Holland, New Town Last meeting: First meeting Outlook: In this David vs. Goliath matchup, first-time state finalist New Town takes on one of the state's most successful playoff programs. The Poets are two-time defending champions, have won six of the past eight Class 1A titles and have won more playoff games (43)

Joppatowne broke open last night's Class 1A East championship game at Havre de Grace with a 20-point fourth quarter. But it was a two-play sequence in the second quarter that changed everything. Hakeem Hines appeared to score a touchdown for No. 12 Havre de Grace late in the second quarter. But a penalty wiped it out, and Dominic Harper of No. 10 Joppatowne got an interception on the next play and returned it for a 77-yard touchdown. That put the Mariners in front, and they never trailed in a 26-0 victory last night.

WESTMINSTER -- Milford Mill coach Jesse Hannon was perhaps the most surprised person in Scott S. Bair Stadium when he heard his girls team had won the state Class 1A track and field title yesterday at Western Maryland College."

Everyone who thinks New Town will defeat two-time defending champion Dunbar in the Class 1A state football finals Saturday, raise your hands. Shawn Magginson can count the few believers. "Our parents, our coaches and our players say we can win," said Magginson, the Titans' quarterback. To others, the result seems a foregone conclusion. "We're gonna get smashed," running back Donte' Gross said. "At least, that's what I hear. " Who's to argue? It's the first trip to the finals - and cavernous M&T Bank Stadium - for New Town (11-2)