Class 1a

New Town's football team has had to forfeit its season for using an ineligible player, ending a promising run in the regional playoffs. The Titans, who were 10-1 heading into Friday's Class 1A North regional championship, fielded a player who has used up his four years of eligibility at Milford Mill before transferring this fall, New Town coach Joe Holland said. According to Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association rules, the Titans must forfeit every game in which the ineligible player competed, which was all 11. Although they beat Northwestern, 40-12, in their first-round regional playoff game last week, Northwestern will advance to play Overlea Friday night for the regional championship.

The Carver boys and Liberty girls won team titles in Saturday's state championship meet at Morgan State. But the Bears and Lions earned their championships in different ways. No. 4 Carver had no trouble repeating as the Class 1A champion, while No. 3 Liberty needed a late rally to pull out a dramatic victory, edging North Hagerstown and Long Reach for the school's first state crown. Carver finished with 112 points for a 40-point win over Catoctin. The Bears now have won state titles in indoor and outdoor track this year and last.

Even though Pikesville senior Sasha Smallwood has spent most of her high school career winning pole vault competitions, her victory Thursday night is one she'll never forget. Smallwood won her fourth consecutive Class 1A state title despite vaulting on a torn meniscus in her left knee that will require surgery in the coming days. The senior's vault of 11 feet at Morgan State ended her career in a manner that left Smallwood stunned. "I am amazingly surprised," Smallwood said as she left to go to her senior prom.

— In the past two days at the University of Maryland, for a couple hours in each, the Dunbar boys basketball team took over the Comcast Center court like it was its own. The No. 4 Poets, prepped by their demanding regular-season schedule in Baltimore City, proved to be a cut above the rest of the Class 1A field. Their final assignment was Saturday's state championship game against Williamsport. Getting separation in the second quarter and then controlling the second half with defense, Dunbar repeated as champions, bringing home the program's 13th state crown with a thorough 64-43 win over the Wildcats from Washington County.

Joppatowne guard Zameria Jones signed her first autograph when she was 10. Even then, the natural instincts and athleticism that today allow her to hit circus shots and come from nowhere to make big defensive plays were obvious. With added skills, game smarts and experience, the senior does those things every night for the No. 3 Mariners (24-1), who are headed to UMBC to defend their Class 1A state title starting with Friday's 7 p.m. semifinal vs. No. 9 Dunbar. "I started going to the Boys and Girls Club when I was 7, and I used to play every day," Jones said with a laugh.

The Western Tech girls were having fun in the moments after the state indoor track meet ended Monday at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex. Laughing and joking, the eighth-ranked Wolverines spent several minutes taking pictures to celebrate repeating as the Class 1A state champions. Carver boys coach Stephen Kimes and Century coach Tony Griner also wore smiles, but they were more of relief. Even though Century swept the Class 2A state titles and Carver took the Class 1A boys crown, they had a tougher time earning their championships.

Havre de Grace running back Michael Kelly put on a show that Brunswick would have rather missed. Kelly ran for 289 yards and three touchdowns to help host Havre de Grace break open a close game and roll to a 34-14 victory over Brunswick in a Class 1A state semifinal Friday night. Havre de Grace (11-2) will meet the winner of Saturday's other semifinal between No. 12 Dunbar and Fort Hill in the state title game at noon Dec. 4 at M&T Bank Stadium, the Warriors' first appearance in a state championship game since 1988.

Before Joppatowne's girls basketball team lost to Smithsburg by 21 points over the Christmas holiday in Hagerstown, the Mariners spent the day napping on their bus and walking around an outlet mall, because they entered the tournament late and raised enough money for only one night's hotel stay. Saturday night, the No. 13 Mariners were plenty rested and fully focused as they scored the first 15 points and avenged that loss, 63-46, for their first state championship, the Class 1A crown, at UMBC's RAC Arena.

- It took awhile for Dunbar's Derrell Edwards to get comfortable with the Comcast Center surroundings in Friday's Class 1A state semifinal against scrappy Allegany. Once the senior guard did get cozy - mostly behind the 3-point line - there was no looking back for the No. 8 Poets. After scoring his first basket with 2:50 to play in the first half, Edwards went on a 3-point bonanza - tying a state tournament record with seven 3s and finishing with 33 points - to send the Poets to today's state championship game with a 67-56 win over the previously undefeated Campers.

Dunbar High, rich in basketball tradition, added to the program's legacy at yesterday's Class 1A state championship against surprise Owings Mills, bringing a burst of fourth-quarter offense and a collective defensive effort throughout to come away with a 64-53 win at the Comcast Center. Junior guard Iakeem Alston came off the bench to score 13 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, enabling the No. 8 Poets to pull away in a game that remained close until the closing minutes. The Poets finish the season with a 19-5 mark, capturing their 12th state title and first under third-year coach Cyrus Jones.