Hammond

Boys basketball Hammond forward Brandon Bjerre is one basketball player who is absolutely, positively making the most of his senior year. At the same time, he's also making up for lost time. After a promising sophomore season in which he averaged nearly 10 points, Bjerre missed his junior season after fracturing his lower back playing in the fall of 2008 - ending up in a full body cast for much of last winter. After extensive rehabilitation - spending countless hours in a swimming pool, the weight room and on the court - Bjerre, 6 feet 4, is back at full speed and the Golden Bears, 13-3 overall and 11-2 in Howard County, are benefiting.

The Hammond boys basketball team had some anxious moments trying to protect a fourth-quarter lead at No. 14 Oakland Mills on Wednesday, but the Golden Bears were the poised team when it counted the most. With a nine-point advantage trimmed to two with under two minutes to play, Hammond scored the game's last nine points to pull away for a 70-59 win in Howard County play. Senior Avery Terry led four Bears in double figures with 19 points - including the key basket to start the final run - as Hammond (12-3)

Howard County police are investigating whether a fire that caused an estimated $50,000 in damage at Hammond High School this month is connected to four fires that were intentionally set at the school in November. The most recent fire, on Jan. 7, burned curtains in the school's auditorium and forced the evacuation of the school and an early dismissal. Sprinklers contained the fire, which was extinguished by firefighters and confined to the stage area, according to the county Fire Department.

A fire that burned curtains in the Hammond High School auditorium in Columbia forced the evacuation of the school Thursday and an early dismissal, fire and school authorities said. No one was injured. The school was evacuated about 12:30 p.m., according to Patti Caplan, school system spokeswoman. Students were allowed back inside later, but were allowed to leave close to the 2:10 p.m. dismissal time, she said. Battalion chief Eric Proctor said sprinklers contained the fire, which was extinguished by firefighters.

A fire that burned curtains in the Hammond High School auditorium in Columbia forced the evacuation of the school Thursday and an early dismissal, fire and school authorities said. No one was injured. The school was evacuated about 12:30 p.m., according to Patti Caplan, school system spokeswoman. Students were allowed back inside later, but were dismissed close to the 2:10 p.m. dismissal time, she said. Battalion Chief Eric Proctor said sprinklers contained the fire, which was extinguished by firefighters.

As Kacy Williams, she set a still-standing basketball assist record at Hammond and was named The Sun's Female Athlete of the Year in 1994 before going on to star at Georgetown. Now, as Kacy Valentine, she teaches seventh-graders at Cradlerock School in Columbia, using many of the lessons she learned in high school and college to excel as a classroom instructor and mentor. Valentine, 33, says she has always "loved things that are hard." It is the challenge that keeps her interested.