Paint Branch

Ryan Lambert threw a four-hitter and drove in the winning run in the eighth inning to lead Paint Branch (13-6) past Westminster (13-4), 2-1, in a Class 4A, Region I semifinal.Westminster left-hander Chris Archambault allowed seven hits. Brad Gibson hit a 400-foot home run in the top of the seventh for Westminster. Second-seeded Paint Branch, which is seeking its third state title in four years, plays at No. 1 Gaithersburg in the regional championship today at 1:30 p.m.* Edgewood 8, North Caroline 7: Senior Timmy Hughes scored the winning run on a North Caroline (14-5)

Even after watching her team surrender a 14-point lead in Wednesday's Class 4A North Region semifinal, Poly coach Kendall Peace-Able never lost faith in the No. 3 Engineers. "When you don't want to see it end," Peace-Able said, "you find a way. " Facing Paint Branch, host Poly did just that. Sophomore Teira Pendleton celebrated her 16th birthday with 16 points and 10 rebounds, including seven points during a four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter that ultimately made the difference in a 52-45 win. "Sometimes it's other people's day, but today was my day," Pendleton said.

COLLEGE PARK -- With more than double the number of turnovers (17) as field goals (eight) at halftime, it seemed the magical mystery tour of Old Mill's No. 13 boys basketball team was just about over.The taller fourth-seeded Patriots (16-10), making their first Final Four appearance, were eventually dismantled, 64-50, by top-seeded Paint Branch's opportunistic defense, and the shooting of 6-foot-2 Division I prospect Riley Inge (26 points), although the Panthers' did not have a player taller than 6-3.Despite trailing by as much as 18 in the second and third periods, however, Old Mill made a game of it down the stretch.

Life savers respond on Catonsville High turf On Sept. 27, Perry Hall junior varsity field hockey player Breanna Sudano collapsed on the Catonsville High stadium field and stopped breathing. In full cardiac arrest, Sudano received immediate CPR from Catonsville JV coach Christina Erlichman. Sudano was revived as Erlichman was aided by Perry Hall JV coach Chastin Crook and nurses Beth Beautz, Shelly Hunt and Melissa Law. "I just took over for the coach doing compressions," said Beautz, a cardiology nurse since 1989.

COLLEGE PARK -- Kenny Avent scored nine of his game-high 21 points to spark a fourth-quarter High Point surge, as the second-seeded Eagles defeated top-seeded Paint Branch, 65-53, in the Class 4A state title game last night at Cole Field House.

Atholton's girls basketball team had everything going for it in last night's state Class 3A final - five senior starters, tournament experience and the drive to win two in a row. But that wasn't quite enough to end Paint Branch's undefeated season. With their superior inside-outside game, 23 points from Tarik Hislop and some added incentive, the Panthers finished off a 25-0 season, beating the Raiders, 74-39, at UMBC's RAC Arena to win their first state crown since 2001. The Panthers (25-0)

Paint Branch had a good season, but coach Becky Clark said rebounding was her team's Achilles' heel -- and No. 17-ranked Westminster found it last night in a Class 4A West region quarterfinal game.Jill Ibex scored 21 points, and nearly half of host Westminster's rebounds were on the offensive end to help the Owls come up with numerous second chances in a 62-41 victory over Paint Branch.Westminster (18-7) will play (home vs. Quince Orchard or at Watkins Mill) tomorrow at 7 p.m. in a region semifinal.

A defense that would not budge, coupled with a safety the home team had to take in the final 1: 11, enabled No. 10-ranked Annapolis to hold off Paint Branch, 12-9, at Al Laramore Field in Annapolis last night.Annapolis (2-0) stopped the visitors from Montgomery County inches shy of a first-down at their 3-yard line with 3: 39 left. The home team then played it safe, keeping the ball on the ground with a light rain falling.After taking a delay of game penalty on fourth down at the nine, Annapolis coach Roy Brown ordered Donnell Foote to take the intentional safety by running out of the end zone.

COLLEGE PARK -- With more than double the number of turnovers (17) as field goals (eight) at halftime, it seemed the magical mystery tour of Old Mill's No. 13 boys basketball team was just about over.The taller fourth-seeded Patriots (16-10), making their first Final Four appearance, were eventually dismantled, 64-50, by top-seeded Paint Branch's opportunistic defense, and the shooting of 6-foot-2 Division-I prospect Riley Inge (26 points), although the Panthers' did not have a player taller than 6-3.Despite trailing by 18 in the second and third periods, Old Mill made a game of it down the stretch.

During the luncheon for the state semifinals on Tuesday Southern coach Meredith Smith said he was surprised to be playing Paint Branch instead of Springbrook or Montgomery Blair.It didn't make a difference last night.The No. 3 Bulldogs overwhelmed the Panthers of Montgomery County, ranked No. 20 in the Washington area, 74-35, in a state 4A semifinal at the University of Maryland. John Hemsley led all scorers with 22 points for Southern (23-3) and Dedric Galloway added 20. Larry Williams led Paint Branch (14-9)

A meeting to allow community input on the planned design to close Little Paint Branch Trail's gap between College Park and Fairland Regional Park will be held next month. Hosted by Parks and Recreation staff of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the community meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Beltsville Community Center, 3900 Sellman Road. Representatives from M-NCPPC's Park Planning and Development Division will provide an overview of the proposed trail, review the completion schedule and answer questions.

Women's college basketball Terps get commitment from Paint Branch's Moseley Throughout the five years Heather Podosek has known Brene Moseley , the Paint Branch athletic director and former girls basketball coach has seen just about every emotion displayed by the Panthers' star point guard. Most of the time that emotion has been elation, thanks to the 5-foot-7 senior's many successes on the court. But on Thursday, Podosek saw Moseley — nicknamed Bones by a former youth coach because of her wiry frame — take that feeling to another level.

The No. 1 Westminster Owls never let Paint Branch breathe in their MPSSAA Class 4A state semifinal at Broadneck on Monday night. Playing smothering defense, the Owls scored their 12th shutout of the season and won, 4-0. Owl Meghan Macera scored three goals and her teammate Nicole Hodiak scored the other. The defense, led by Michelle Hodiak, Kara Evans and Carlyn Thompson, allowed Paint Branch just two shots and midfielders Jordan Wilkins, Melanie Solomon and Lindasy Nichols kept the ball moving between the defense and the attack.

Severna Park junior Madison Thomas seemed almost to be dancing, as she weaved down the field in the 27th minute of the first half of the Falcons' Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association's Class 4A state semifinal match against No. 13 Dulaney on Monday night.. Dulaney's Lions had held their ground and played tough for the first 15 minutes, but then Thomas had broken through, and with the Falcons now leading by three goals, No. 3 Severna Park was well on its way to a 5-0 victory and a 24th appearance in the state championship finals.

Fallston's undefeated girls basketball team knew that Largo, its opponent in last night state Class 3A semifinal, liked to run, so the No. 11 Cougars showed they could, too. Largo went into the game at UMBC's RAC Arena averaging 83 points, but it was the Cougars who set the fast pace, executed their offense, controlled the boards and hit their free throws en route to an 80-65 victory. "They play a high-pressure defense, but we like to run, too," said Fallston coach Mike McTeague. "We knew they like to run ... so it was all about how well we handled the ball and how well we limit our turnovers and put the pressure on them and that's what we did very effectively."

(All games at RAC Arena, UMBC) Class 4A No. 5 Arundel (22-4) vs. Eleanor Roosevelt (23-1) When: Today, 3 p.m. Outlook:The Raiders, ranked No. 2 by The Washington Post, are out to tie the state record of five consecutive titles. They edged Arundel in the final last season by two points. Both teams have solid senior leadership and good inside-outside games, as the Wildcats are led by 6-foot-3 All-Metro C Simone Egwu (16.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg) and 5-9 G Ashley Davis (13.2 ppg) and the Raiders are led by 5-10 G Elashier Hall (15.2 ppg)

This was vintage South Carroll girls basketball.Soften up the defense with a couple of Amber Clutter three-point missiles, then take it inside to an overpowering Nicole Spencer for 28 points and garnish it all with another superb all-around performance by sophomore Lindsey Vosloh.Spencer, Clutter and Vosloh were too much for Paint Branch to overcome last night, as the Cavaliers cruised to a 56-40 victory in the state Class 3A West Region semifinals at South Carroll.It was the 22nd straight victory for the Cavaliers (22-1)

Hammond's girls basketball team has yet to lose a game, but one might not realize it by listening to Golden Bears coach Joe Russo.During the first month of the season, Russo has fretted about mental lapses that have plagued the Bears. He has worried about how the Bears would perform against a quality team with an inside height advantage.Russo rested a bit easier Friday night after the host Bears beat Paint Branch of Montgomery County, 56-47, to win the Bear Invitational Basketball Tournament.