Double Digits

House hunters in the Baltimore metropolitan area paid no heed to signs of the slumping stock market or a sluggish U.S. economy as sales of existing homes in March rose 15.66 percent over the same period last year. The rise in sales capped a first quarter in which sales soared 27.77 percent over sales in the first three months of 2000, according to statistics released by the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc., the multiple-listing database used by real estate brokers. "Looking at the numbers and talking to people, the market is strong.

Marcus Neal completed an incredible week with 37 points and his team's defense stifled the Southern boys basketball team in the second half as No. 2-ranked Annapolis rolled to a 73-52 victory in Harwood last night. The visiting Panthers (19-1) extended their winning streak to 18 games, and to 37 against Anne Arundel County regular-season opponents since 1999. Last night's triumph also put coach John Brady within one victory of his 20th, 20-win season at Annapolis with at least four games left.

The Orioles have notified roughly half the stadium's skybox tenants that they will have to pay as much as 32 percent more to retain their perches for the next three seasons. Orioles vice chairman and chief operating officer Joe Foss said the new prices are not uniform but he acknowledged all were "double-digit increases." Foss said the team makes a distinction between ordinary ticket holders, who were promised no price increase this season, and renters of luxury suites, who are guaranteed the same premium location year after year.

COLLEGE PARK -- The Maryland Terrapins have been taking much more than they've been giving this holiday season. Last night -- against overwhelmed Chicago State -- was no exception. To say the No. 18 Terps started quickly simply wouldn't do it justice. They scored the game's first 22 points and needed only 4:30 to do it, getting a game-high 24 points from junior guard Juan Dixon and plenty of balance from the rest on their way to a feel-good, 117-55 win over the visiting Cougars before 13,506 at Cole Field House.

Archbishop Spalding girls basketball coach Deb Taylor knew her team could score. The dilemma was finding the sources. Last night, the No. 10 Cavaliers took advantage of a stifling defense and double-digit contributions from four players to defeat 14th-ranked and visiting Catonsville, 54-30, in Severn. Ten Archbishop Spalding players scored as the Cavaliers had little trouble improving to 3-1. The victory helped relieve Taylor of any concerns about scoring, which wasn't a problem last season with second-team All-Metro standout Carlisa Howard and leading scorer Lauren Schaech.

Passenger growth reaches double digits for 23rd month in row For the 23rd consecutive month, Baltimore-Washington International Airport's passenger growth reached double digits. More than 1.5 million travelers used BWI in September, a 16.8 percent increase over the same month a year ago. Southwest Airlines, BWI's leading carrier, served 559,094 passengers, a 38 percent increase over September 1999. US Airways, BWI's second-leading carrier, served 378,481 travelers, growing by 15.1 percent.

NEW YORK - Viacom Inc. said yesterday that it will buy BET Holdings Inc. for $2.9 billion in stock and assumed debt, adding the top cable channel aimed at black people to its stable of TV networks, including CBS, and big-city radio stations. Viacom, the world's No. 3 media company, said it will issue about 40 million Class B common shares worth $2.34 billion, based on yesterday's close of $58.50. The final purchase price will be based on the share price 20 days before the tax-free transaction is completed.

Lenora Howze has been named vice president of advertising at The Sun, the newspaper's publisher and chief executive officer, Michael E. Waller, announced yesterday. Howze, 40, an employee at the newspaper since 1990, was formerly the director of classified advertising. Waller said she was chosen for her accomplishments in the classified department as well as in her other positions, which included classified telemarketing manager, a sales manager in national advertising and division manager in advertising marketing.

A number of insurers are seeking double-digit premium increases from area employers as they renew contracts for providing health benefits to workers, with prices for some small employers climbing 20 percent or more, companies, consultants and agents involved in negotiating the rates say. The increases, which appear to be the highest in several years, come as health insurers struggle to meet soaring prescription drug prices, computer-system upgrades and...