Junior Guard

BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR Andrew Engel Old Mill A three-year starter, the 6-foot-2 senior point guard was the key player in the No. 9 Patriots' second straight run to the Class 4A state semifinals, as well as county and regional titles. Engel led Old Mill in scoring (14.9 points), assists (4.5) and steals (66) in addition to averaging 3.5 rebounds and blocking 22 shots. Named to the Charm City Challenge, Engel shot 54 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range and 87 percent from the line.

GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR Corey Donohoe North Harford The point guard often carried the Hawks' offense. She led the county and the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference by averaging 20.1 points per game. Donohoe also averaged 4.4 steals and 3.1 assists. The junior scored over 30 points three times and was the team's go-to player all season. She also is an outstanding lacrosse player and is being recruited for that sport by schools such as Syracuse, Duke and Northwestern.

The junior guard, an All-Metro second-team selection last year, averaged 24 points to lead No. 2 Mount St. Joseph to two Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference wins last week. In the Gaels' 74-63 win over McDonogh on Wednesday, Booth finished with 18 points. On Friday, he scored 30 in a 78-61 win over Calvert Hall. Booth, in his third season as a starter, is averaging 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists as Mount St. Joseph entered this week with an 11-2 mark.

Last season was the worst of times for the Atholton boys basketball program. The team went 2-20 and forfeited two games for using an ineligible player.It was only the second time in 12 years under coach Jim Albert that the Raiders failed to make the playoffs.This season is filled with uncertainty. All five starters from last season graduated, and among the five returning players none saw appreciable playing time.On the plus side, several players up from last season's junior varsity team bring the quickness Atholton has lacked for several seasons.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jaclyn Nucci South River The 5-foot-9 junior forward had a major breakthrough in her second full season on varsity, averaging 20.3 points and 9.6 rebounds to lead the Seahawks to a 15-9 record. Nucci, who averaged 13 points last season, took on the responsibility of being the team's go-to player and thrived, also averaging three assists and 2.7 steals per game. Her ability to consistently hit outside jumpers and get to the basket caused matchup problems for opponents.

The season's first matchup of Top 10 teams -- Walbrook vs. Lake Clifton -- was filled with questions as the teams took the court at Lake Clifton yesterday as part of the three-day Tip-Off Tournament. Both teams had lost the bulk of their scoring because of graduation.At times yesterday, the No. 6 Lakers showed their inexperience. But like last season, they were able to come through in the clutch, overcoming fourth-period turnovers to hold off the No. 10 Warriors, 69-55.Four players scored in double figures for Lake Clifton (2-0)

Maryland (13-1, 3-0) at N.C. State (8-3, 0-2)Site: Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, N.C.Time: 1 p.m.TV/Radio: Chs. 54, 9/WBAL (1090 AM)Outlook: The Terrapins have won two straight and three of the past four on the Wolfpack's home court, including an 86-84 victory last season. In that game, Rodney Elliott had 13 points in 15 minutes and drew a key charge in the final minute. Junior guard Sarunas Jasikevicius has scored 46 points in three ACC games and could figure prominently if the Wolfpack tries to shut down Keith Booth (20.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg)

No. 3 Arundel cranked up the defense early in the final quarter to help build a manageable margin and then closed the game effectively in the final minute for a 73-70 win over No. 9 South River in a girls basketball game last night in Edgewater. Junior guard Alex McGuire finished with a game-high 25 points, nine rebounds and six steals with junior forward Janae Butler holding her own down low to finish with 17 points and 17 rebounds as the Wildcats improved to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in Anne Arundel County play.

Oakland Mills' six-year reign as county champion ended last season, when the Scorpions fell to 9-14 overall and 7-7 in the league.Coach Dave Appleby hopes this year's team can show significant improvement. He bases much of that hope on the return of his two best players -- junior forward Mike Hill and senior forward Antoine Barnes.Hill, 6 feet 2, 180 pounds, averaged 17.0 points. "He's a good scorer and one of the top area players," Appleby said.Barnes, a 6-2 second-year player, averaged 12.0 points and showed the ability to score inside or outside.