Gwynn Park

The opening minutes of Friday's Class 2A state semifinal gave the North Carroll boys basketball team an early indication of what it was up against in dealing with talented Gwynn Park. The Yellow Jackets from Prince George's County showed quickness with an immediate steal, strength and athleticism underneath the basket, and good aim from the perimeter. For the Panthers, who played hard and never backed down, it was simply too much. Mike Hemsley scored 16 points and Brandon Ford added 15 as the Yellow Jackets rolled to today's title game with a 69-36 win over the Panthers.

The opening minutes of Friday's Class 2A state semifinal gave the North Carroll boys basketball team an early indication of what it was up against in dealing with talented Gwynn Park. The Yellow Jackets from Prince George's County showed quickness with an immediate steal, strength and athleticism underneath the basket and good aim from the perimeter. For the Panthers, who played hard and never backed down, it was simply too much. Mike Hemsley scored 16 points and Brandon Ford added 15 as the Yellow Jackets rolled to Saturday's title game with a 69-36 win over the Panthers.

For most of the game, the Liberty girls basketball team refused to let Gwynn Park pull away. In the end, however, the Lions gave it away. The Lions weren't used to dealing with the smothering defensive pressure applied by the Yellow Jackets, as they committed 31 turnovers en route to a 64-51 loss in a Class 2A state semifinal Friday at UMBC's RAC Arena. Liberty (21-6), making its first state semifinal appearance since 1983, stayed close until the final five minutes, when the Prince George's County team forced eight turnovers.

Girls basketball state semifinals (All games at UMBC's RAC Arena) TODAY Class 2A Liberty (19-6) vs. Gwynn Park (20-3) Time: 3 p.m. Outlook: Only the third Carroll County team to reach the state semifinals in 26 years, the Lions are in for the first time since 1983 and are looking for their first crown and the county's third. Balanced in scoring and height, with four 5-11 starters, the Lions are led by G Maggie McCormick (16 ppg)

Six players from Florida and three from Maryland highlight coach Rob Ambrose's second recruiting class for Towson. Of the Tigers' six recruits from Florida, two are transfers: defensive back Jordan Dangerfield from Hofstra, which discontinued its program in December, and quarterback Chris Hart from Georgia Military. The Marylanders are linebacker Trey Jackson of Howard, defensive back Thomas Bradley of Richard Montgomery and cornerback Everett Weldon of Gwynn Park. Towson's class Player Pos. Hometown Thomas Bradley DB Gaithersburg x-Jordan Dangerfield DB Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Justen Davis WR Tampa, Fla. LaTrayon Fagins CB Bradenton, Fla. Corey Ford CB Harrisburg, Pa. y-Chris Hart QB Bradenton, Fla. z-Trey Jackson LB Ellicott City Kyle Polk LB Piscataway, N.J. Arione Scott WR Lauderhill, Fla. Derek Soven P-PK Weston, Fla. T.C. Sweeney OT Ramsey, N.J. Bryce Thompson PK-P Matthews, N.C. Daniel Vaughan TE Chesapeake, Va. Everett Weldon CB Brandywine Derek Wright LB Suffolk, Va. x-transfer from Hofstra University y-transfer from Georgia Military College z-attended Howard High

Six players from Florida and three from Maryland highlight coach Rob Ambrose's second recruiting class for Towson. Of the Tigers' six recruits from Florida, two are transfers: defensive back Jordan Dangerfield from Hofstra, which discontinued its program in December, and quarterback Chris Hart from Georgia Military. The Marylanders are linebacker Trey Jackson of Howard, defensive back Thomas Bradley of Richard Montgomery and cornerback Everett Weldon of Gwynn Park. Towson's full class: Thomas Bradley, DB (Gaithersburg)

Friday Class 4A North Patterson vs. Thomas Johnson at Poly, 7 p.m. Class 4A East Old Mill at Arundel, 7 p.m. Class 4A West Paint Branch at Sherwood, 7 p.m. Class 3A North Franklin at Hereford, 7 p.m. Class 3A East Atholton at River Hill, 7 p.m. Class 3A West Linganore at Quince Orchard, 7 p.m. Class 3A South Westlake at Huntingtown, 7...