Paint Branch

Long Reach lost several athletes from last year's girls track and field team that finished second in the Class 3A state meet. But the Lightning still has plenty of talent, something it showed in a big way yesterday at the Gator Invitational. Long Reach got good performances from several performers, including senior Timisha Gomez, to edge out Paint Branch, Mount de Sales and Mount Hebron for the championship in the meet at Reservoir. Gomez, who is headed to Saint Joseph's this fall on a basketball scholarship, scored 16 points by herself, taking second in the triple jump and 100-meter hurdles.

Once No. 5 Western fell behind Paint Branch by 12 points early, the Doves spent the rest of the time playing a game of catch-up - a game that fell short in last night's state Class 3A girls basketball semifinal at UMBC's RAC Arena. Although the Doves (23-4) rallied to within three points with 1:25 to go, they could not hold off the Panthers from Montgomery County. Amy Dodd, a 6-foot-2 center, sealed a 51-42 victory for Paint Branch on a three-point play with 28.9 seconds left. The Doves rallied from 43-29 down to within 45-42 when Bethany Sloat fed Zhondria Benn for a layup.

LANDOVER - Championship track and field meets are often close, but last night's Class 3A-2A state indoor meet took that concept to a different level. Fourth-ranked Milford Mill's girls trailed first-place Douglass of Prince George's by four points with one event left in the meet at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex. Then the Millers, led by Novia Brown and Dominique Washington, rallied to win the 1,600-meter relay and repeat as team state champions. The top-ranked Annapolis boys weren't as fortunate.

A diminutive, freckle-faced junior with a pleasant smile, Annapolis' Kelsey Mays looks the harmless sort. But a lacrosse stick in hand, coupled with her speed and athleticism, transforms the 5-foot, 115-pounder into the opposition's worst nightmare. Mays needed only seven shots to match the number of goals scored by visiting Paint Branch in yesterday's 19-5, Class 3A-2A state semifinal victory. She finished with five goals and four assists, doing most of her damage in the first half. "She's a strong scorer and moves her stick beautifully under pressure," said Panthers coach Dave Gehrdes.

Paint Branch warmed up in T-shirts with "Unfinished Business" printed on the back, but no team in the girls state basketball tournament had more unfinished business than No. 8-ranked Milford Mill. The Millers went into last night's state Class 3A championship game with three straight title-game losses. They came out with four. Against Paint Branch's man-to-man defense, the Millers did not execute well, and that sparked the Montgomery County team to a 61-42 victory at UMBC for their first state crown in 11 years.

Bryan Hamper avenged an earlier loss to Kenwood's Jason Laubach in the 140-pound final and earned his second straight state wrestling title, 9-4. That victory helped South Carroll (82 points) finish second to Paint Branch (98.5) last night at the Class 4A-3A state tournament at Western Maryland College. The Cavaliers' runner-up position was solidified by several high finishes: Kellen Weber (125) and Dan Patterson (135) were third; and Travis Mohlhenrich (152) was fourth. Hamper (32-6)

Fourth-ranked South Carroll yesterday moved Kellen Weber (125), Dan Patterson (135), Bryan Hamper (140) and Travis Mohlhenrich (152) into today's 4A-3A semifinals and leads Paint Branch, 43-31, in the tournament at Western Maryland College. On the 2A-1A side, Atholton moved Doug Ramsey (103), Bryan Radik (130), Adam Roth (145) and Mark Carbone (171) into the semifinals, and Hammond has Jimmy Davis (125), Ryan Mackin (135) Scott Wallace (171) in the next round. Northern Garrett leads the 2A-1A team standings with 45 points.

South Carroll left Paint Branch last night wondering just what it would have taken to defeat the unbeaten, defending Class 3A state champion Panthers, who stretched their winning streak to 31 games. A little better free-throw shooting? The No. 14 Cavs (20-5) were only 14-for-31 at the foul line in the 79-72 Class 3A West Region semifinal loss against the Panthers (23-0), the Washington area's No. 2-ranked team. The Cavs, whose 12-game winning streak was broken, couldn't have asked for better performances from their premier players, point guard Marshall Strickland and 6-foot-6 center Josh Boone.

SALISBURY -- River Hill's Scott Cannon used what resembled a standing Peterson roll to break 3-all tie for a pin of St. Michale's previously unbeaten Victor Passwater, winning the heavyweight title at the sixth annual Del-Marva Classic last night. River Hill (192.5 points) finished second to Paint Branch of Montgomery County (235.5) in the overall team scoring, but the teams were 3-3 in matches vs. each other. "I knew he was undefeated, and I was probably the underdog by records. But my two losses ... one was to a state champ," said Cannon, who improved to 20-2 with his 20th fall.