La Plata

BOYS BASKETBALL Long Reach @ River Hill WHEN -- Today, 5:30 p.m. OUTLOOK -- Look for much of the same from the state champion Hawks -- tough defense, swift ball movement and plenty of three-pointers. Senior G Zach Serleth, who hit 42 three-pointers last season, will lead a balanced Hawks offense, with Kevin McCarthy supplying strong inside play. The Lightning have good size and athleticism, led by versatile senior F Obi Ukwuoma, but will need time to come together with four of last year's five starters lost to graduation.

Charles County crash kills four teenagers Four high school students were killed when their car went out of control and veered into the path of another vehicle in Charles County. The crash occurred Tuesday in Dentsville as two of the students at La Plata High School were heading home from basketball practice, authorities said. A fifth student was injured, along with the woman driving the other vehicle. The victims were 16-year-old Jonathan Chapman, who was driving the car; Tavonne Alston, 16, and Dionnte Swinson, 15, both of La Plata; and Donte Segar, 14, of Hughesville.

COLLEGE PARK -- While much of yesterday's focus in the Class 4A-3A state wrestling championships was on Arundel 103-pound Nicole Woody's bid to become the first female state champion, the Old Mill Patriots quietly went about their usual business. With two state champs in Greg Saumenig (125) -- his second straight -- and Ethan Brown (189) leading a group of six wrestlers that all scored points, the No. 4 Patriots claimed the program's eighth state tournament title beating runner-up La Plata, 108.5-99.

Event data What -- 38th Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament. Where -- Cole Field House, College Park. Format -- Double elimination. Schedule -- Today, 2:30-6:30 p.m., preliminaries on eight mats; 6:30-8:30 p.m., quarterfinals on eight mats; 8:30-10:15 p.m., consolation preliminaries on eight mats. Tomorrow, 9:30-11 a.m., consolation first round on eight mats; 11-1:15 p.m., championship semifinals on four mats; 1:15-2:15 p.m., consolation quarterfinals on eight mats; 2:15-3:30 p.m., consolation semifinals on eight mats; 4-6 p.m., consolation finals on four mats; 6:30-9 p.m., championship finals on two mats.

Hereford 135-pounder Jeremy Keil best summed up the results of yesterday's state duals at New Town, during which all four Baltimore-area semifinalists lost. "You could say that a lot of things could have or should have happened," said Keil, a junior whose No. 6 Bulls (15-3), runners-up last season, lost the most spirited of the semifinals, 35-33, to Northern of Garrett County in Class 2A-1A. "It was a great effort on our part but not enough to pull it off." Keil, Kevin Abel (160), state champ Josh Asper (171)

Pilot who crashed helicopter is charged A pilot who crashed-landed a helicopter at the port of Baltimore in November was charged yesterday with two counts of reckless endangerment and several drug offenses, according to Maryland Transportation Authority police. Medical tests showed that the pilot, Kenneth Trivett, 34, of Fredericksburg, Va., was using an opiate-based drug while he was flying, said Cpl. Jonathan Green, a spokesman for the police. Officers who searched the damaged helicopter said they found a small toiletries bag containing methamphetamine, amphetamines and oxycodone.

COLLEGE PARK -- Josh Eure of South River and Lauren Smith of Arundel know each other because both often play golf at the Crofton Country Club. They now have one more thing in common - they're state champions. Both sophomores led after their first day of competition Monday at the University of Maryland and played well again yesterday to wrap up their first state titles. The Glenelg boys did the same thing as a team, pulling away after being tied for first to become the first Howard County squad to win a state championship.

COLLEGE PARK -- A broken wrist kept Josh Eure out of last year's state golf tournament. The South River sophomore got a much better break this fall. Eure made an impressive debut in the state tournament, braving cold and windy conditions to shoot a 1-under-par 70 yesterday at the University of Maryland course for a one-shot lead after the first day of competition for Class 4A-3A players. Class 2A-1A golfers are scheduled to play their first round today, and those who qualify from all four classes return for a second and final round tomorrow.

La Plata -- The Maryland Department of Transportation has allocated $25 million toward acquiring and refurbishing a Baltimore maintenance yard now owned by CSX Corp. - a move that eventually could help it expand and improve its often overcrowded MARC train services. The money was the largest single addition to the department's six-year Consolidated Transportation Program released yesterday in Charles County. The 2007-2012 draft update unveiled yesterday includes $79.7 million in new projects added to the $13 billion, six-year plan.

On Friday, July 14, 2006, JEANMARGARET RIDGELY of La Plata, MD. Wife of Humphrey D. Ridgely, Jr. Mother of Barbara Varvaglione, Debbie Tyner, Joseph P. Ridgely, Mary D. Altemus, Sharon Blankenship and John C. Ridgely; sister of Francis Lauer and Richard Fowler. Also survived by 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Friends received on Wednesday, July 19 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. with Prayers at 3 and 7 P.M. at Raymond Funeral Chapel, La Plata, MD and Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday at 10:30 A.M. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, La Plata, MD. Interment at church cemetery.