Hawks

As John Wall ripped off his warm-ups and went from the Washington Wizards' bench to the scorers' table, a roar filled the Verizon Center . Wall received a standing ovation as he stepped onto the court for the first time this season - the first time since last April - because of a left-knee injury and commenced his third season with the organization he was drafted to lead back to respectability. After using the first three quarters to get his "jiggly" legs under him, Wall gave the Wizards and the fans a reminder of the speed, excitement and flash they've been missing in a 93-83 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

It's awfully early in the basketball season for a league game to have this much meaning, but No. 10 River Hill's 44-35 victory at No. 14 Howard on Monday gave the Hawks a little extra room to breathe. Coming into the game, the River Hill (9-2) was the only team undefeated in the Howard County league. The win over the Lions boosted the Hawks to 8-0 in the league and gave them at least a two-game edge on every other county team. The Lions (9-2), who lost before Christmas to Atholton, dropped to 6-2 in the league.

Connecticut's Ryan Boatright and Omar Calhoun combined for 43 points - almost as many as the entire UMES team - and the host Huskies stayed unbeaten athome with an 84-50 win Monday in the schools' first meeting in men's basketball in 25 years. It was an emotional night for the Huskies and the announced 8,841 in the building, as the victims of Friday's mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., were remembered before the game. Players, cheerleaders, band and dance team members gathered in a circle, holding 26 candles.

Sha-Kiyla Finney scored 18 points and the UMES women's basketball team cut a 17-point deficit to two points at the half, but the rally fell short as Campbell won, 77-72, in the opening round of the Lady Osprey Tournament on Friday in Jacksonville, Fla. The Fighting Camels improved to 7-2, and the Hawks fell to 2-5. Campbell opened with a 12-2 run over the first 4minutes and 25 seconds of play and never trailed. Finney made a layup with 50 seconds left in the first half to bring UMES within 39-37.

Elon used a late run to pull away from Morgan State, 74-54, Thursday night in Elon's final home game of the 2012 portion of the women's basketball season. After the Bears (4-6) pulled within 48-45 with 9:14 left in the second half, the Phoenix (4-4) went on a 26-4 streak. Bianca Jarrett led Morgan State with 15 points and five steals, Tracey Carrington (Dundalk) added 13 points and Whitney Southerland had 12. Freshman Jessica Farmer recorded her first career doubledouble (10 points, 10 rebounds)

After a first half in which just about everything that could go wrong did for No. 2 River Hill, the Hawks regrouped behind a strong defense and a big performance from Justin Arn to win their second straight state Class 3A football championship and finish off a 14-0 season. Arn, a running back and linebacker, rushed for two second-half touchdowns and had an interception as River Hill came from behind for only the second time this season to defeat Huntingtown, 18-14, Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium.

No. 2 River Hill (13-0) vs. Huntingtown (12-1) When: Thursday, 7 p.m. TV: Ch. 54 Internet radio: SFMSports.net Where: M&T Bank Stadium Coaches: Brian Van Deusen, River Hill; Brendan Galligan, Huntingtown Last meeting: Huntingtown won, 10-7, in the 2009 state semifinal Outlook: The Hawks take the area's longest winning streak — 23 games — into the Class 3A title game against the team that ended their last significant streak...

After twisting a knee in the fourth week of last season, River Hill quarterback Austin Altman watched most of the Hawks' run to the Class 3A state football championship from the sideline. By the time he was ready for action again, five weeks after the injury, the Hawks had settled into a steady running game behind Raamah Vaughn, with whom Altman shared reps early. Altman and his passing game were grounded, but he understood coach Brian Van Deusen's reason for sticking with what was working.

Late in the second half of Thursday's Class 3A girls soccer state title game, River Hill junior defender Callie Allen had a chance to score the goal that would win the championship for the Hawks, but her shot was turned away by C. Milton Wright sophomore goalkeeper Stacy Venanzi. When Allen had another chance in front in overtime, she converted for her fourth goal of the season and first game-winner. Haily Emrick's free kick from the left side eventually found its way to Allen, who finished off the chance with 3:47 left in the first 10-minute overtime period that gave the No. 1 Hawks a thrilling 1-0 win over the No. 5 Mustangs at UMBC Stadium.

Just 14 minutes into Thursday's Class 3A state championship at UMBC Stadium, No. 9 Reservoir was caught off guard when Urbana's Austin Thames quickly scored off a direct kick before the Gators could set their wall of defenders. Reservoir, however, entered the game battle-tested, having avenged regular-season losses to Howard County foes Centennial and River Hill in the playoffs, so there was no panic after the early goal. The Gators eventually scored twice to take the lead, but Urbana answered with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime.