Hawks

C. Milton Wright's girls basketball team scored the last 10 points of the third quarter and then held off every North Harford rally for a 51-46 regional playoff victory Friday that denied North Harford coach Lin James her 600th career win. The Hawks (14-9) won the teams' regular-season meeting, but Friday, the host Mustangs (18-6) used their perimeter game and pressure defense as well as timely shooting during the last five minutes to advance past the first round of the Class 3A North regional.

The No. 19 Bowie State men's basketball team avenged a loss earlier this season to Virginia Union, rallying to defeat the Panthers, 101-82, on Monday and clinch the top spot in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Northern Division. This was the largest margin of victory against Virginia Union this season, the most points scored against the Panthers this season and the first 100-plus-point game this season for the Bulldogs (20-5, 12-5 CIAA). Darren Clark led all scorers with 23 points in the win for Bowie State.

Hartford achieved a pair of firsts last season, capturing the school's first America East Tournament crown and qualifying for its first NCAA Tournament. The No. 19 Hawks appeared to take another step in that direction when they took a 5-4 lead on Maryland in the third quarter Saturday. But the No. 10 Terps responded with a four-goal run and ended the contest with another four-goal spurt. Hartford coach Peter Lawrence said the players proved that they can compete with top-10 opponents.

Hartford graduated just two starters from last year's squad that went 11-7, knocked off Stony Brook in the America East tournament final, and advanced to its first NCAA Tournament. On the flipside, Maryland bid farewell to five starters - including its entire starting defense - from the group that reached the national title game. But when the No. 19 Hawks visit the No. 10 Terps Saturday in the season opener for both teams, Hartford coach Peter Lawrence said a win would qualify as an upset.

Hartford stunned many observers last season by upending Stony Brook in the America East Tournament final and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The unanimous preseason favorite to repeat as league champions, the No. 19 Hawks - who open the season Saturday at No. 10 Maryland - are expected by many to repeat that path in 2012. Contrary to conventional wisdom, coach Peter Lawrence said the team accepts that expectation. “I think we should [repeat]

No. 10 River Hill played defense early in the Class 4A-3A East Region dual championship Thursday night and came from behind to beat Stephen Decatur, 39-27, to advance to Saturday's state dual meet semifinals. "We were a little nervous when we were down 18 points or something," River Hill sophomore Cory Daniels said. "I knew we had to get back up. " After fighting just to stay close in the early matches, Daniels started the rally with a 16-0 tech fall at 170 pounds that got River Hill on the board with five points.

After suffering their first loss of the season on Friday night, the Havre de Grace Warriors rebounded during Tuesday's tri-meet at Magnolia Middle School for victories over the North Harford Hawks and Harford Tech Cobras. The Warriors came out on top of their matchup with North Harford, 113-75, and topped Harford Tech, 131-57. North Harford also beat Harford Tech, 102-86. Havre de Grace began the meet with a victory, with Hunter Infeld, Robbie Orzewicz, Renz Amato and Daniel Schoeberlein teaming up to win the boys 200-yard medley relay.

Timothy Picciotti, a computer engineer who worked in defense systems and was active in Howard County youth athletics, died of cancer Dec. 27 at his Highland home. He was 46. Born in Akron, Ohio, he was the son of an electrical engineer and a homemaker. He earned a mathematics degree at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, and was hired by Westinghouse. He then came to Baltimore and worked in software systems engineering and technical management of airborne radar programs. He later earned two Bachelor of Science degrees, in mathematics and computer science, and a Master of Science degree from the Johns Hopkins University.

— John Wall was dribbling up the court at a frenetic pace, with defenders backpedaling helplessly and teammates gasping to catch up. Wall whirled the ball behind his back to juke Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague and open what appeared to be a clear lane to the basket. But as Wall elevated for a dunk, Hawks forward Josh Smith tracked him down, smashing his shot attempt and sending Wall crashing to the floor. Wall rolled on the ground, holding the back of his head and grimacing.

UMES' play in the first half against No. 23 Virginia gave Hawks men's basketball coach Frankie Allen hope that his team might give the Cavaliers a game. But it vanished quickly in the second half. Mike Scott scored 10 of his 17 points during a 12-point spurt early in the second half, and host Virginia overcame a sluggish start to beat the Hawks, 69-42, on Tuesday night. “We did feel good about that,” Allen said of the halftime deficit, which UMES cut to 30-23 on Hillary Haley's 3-pointer to start the second half.