Paint Branch

The Annapolis Panthers and Paint Branch Panthers had much more in common than just mascots coming into last night's first-round 3A playoff game. Both boasted strong defenses, powerful running games and seasoned coaches. The difference in Annapolis' 12-9 victory was simply Eric Venerable. The junior running back smashed, juked and sprinted his way for 167 yards through the hard-hitting Paint Branch defense. Venerable scored on an 11-yard scamper to give Annapolis the early lead in the second quarter, tying him with former Annapolis running back Rayvon Johnson for the county record for touchdowns in one season with 29."

COLLEGE PARK -- Randallstown took a little time to get on its feet in its Class 3A state semifinals victory against Northern of Calvert County Thursday. In yesterday's state boys basketball championship game against Paint Branch, the No. 13 Rams were knocked off theirs. The Panthers of Montgomery County put Randallstown in an early hole, and the Rams weren't able to recover as Paint Branch stormed to the title, 67-50, at University of Maryland's Cole Field House. In winning its first state championship since 1977, Paint Branch knocked off previously unbeaten and top-ranked Annapolis in the semifinal round on Thursday, then dispatched Randallstown to leave Baltimore County empty-handed in two title games.

COLLEGE PARK -- Top-ranked Annapolis' bid for an undefeated season and the Class 3A state boys basketball title vanished in a defensive quagmire at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House yesterday afternoon. Montgomery County's Paint Branch, using a quick, athletic defense and strong shooting, sent the Panthers home from the teams' state tournament semifinal with a 63-56 defeat and 25-1 season. Afterward, the Annapolis locker room was stone silent, the Panthers crushed emotionally.

COLLEGE PARK -- Top-ranked Annapolis' bid for an undefeated season and the Class 3A state boys basketball title vanished in a defensive quagmire at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House yesterday afternoon. Montgomery County's Paint Branch, using a quick, athletic defense and strong shooting, sent the Panthers home from the teams' state tournament semifinal with a 63-56 defeat and 25-1 season. Afterward, the Annapolis locker room was stone silent, the Panthers crushed emotionally.

Mandakova Clark and Shari Burgess combined for eight three-pointers last night to lead No. 8 Milford Mill to a 75-63 victory over Thomas Stone in a state Class 3A semifinal at UMBC. The Millers' victory sends them to the title game for the third straight year and into a rematch of last year's final. They will take on defending champion DuVal in the 8 p.m. final tomorrow. The Tigers, who beat Paint Branch in yesterday's other semifinal, cruised past the Millers in last year's final but only beat the Millers, 54-50, in January at the Mayor's Academy Tournament.

Leading his team into Cole Field House for the 14th time in 23 seasons, Annapolis coach John Brady is in the Class 3A semifinals for the first time, positioned to go undefeated for the first time, and has the "super team" label, also a first. Top-ranked Annapolis (25-0) makes its Maryland-record 25th appearance in the state tournament at College Park at 3 p.m. today against Montgomery County's Paint Branch (20-5). Annapolis won state titles in 1974 under the late Al Laramore and in 1990 under Brady.

All-Metros Bryant Johnson (City, wide receiver), Scooter Monroe (John Carroll, running back) and Hardy McSpadden (C. Milton Wright, defensive back) were among eight Baltimore area players chosen to play for Team Maryland in the July 11 Chesapeake Football Classic against Northern Virginia's All-Stars at Maryland's Byrd Stadium.Andrew Smith (Meade), Michael Crawford (Patterson), Stephon Watson (Aberdeen), Mike Rye (C. Milton Wright) and Mike MacIntosh (Edgewood) also were selected. The 35-player roster:DL -- Darnell Dockett, Paint Branch; Donte Lewis, Roosevelt; Mark McKee, Paint Branch; Maurice McKinney, Suitland; Savon McLemore, Suitland.

After a couple minutes in the second quarter of yesterday afternoon's Class 4A semifinal, Arundel's talented guards, Sherice Proctor and Megan Rollins, decided it was time to take over.The Paint Branch Panthers didn't know what hit them.By the time all the hassling was over with at UMBC -- Rollins finishing with 18 points, Proctor 17 and the two combining for 10 steals -- the No. 5-ranked Wildcats had a comfortable 65-44 win and their third trip to the state title game in four years.East region champ Arundel (24-3)

So much unfamiliar territory comes with an invitation to the state tournament -- unknown opponents from the different regions, the big gym at UMBC, and all the noise it can hold.Fifth-ranked Arundel, making its third state playoff appearance in four years, is very familiar with the unfamiliarity.At 3 p.m. today, the Wildcats (23-3) will start their try for a second Class 4A state title, taking on West region winner Paint Branch (17-9) in a semifinal contest.Arundel coach Lee Rogers will tell you he doesn't know a whole lot about his team's Montgomery County opponent.

It may be football season, but three Anne Arundel County baseball players have grabbed my attention.Davidsonville's switch-hitting outfielder Kevin Gibbs, who attended St. John's High and Old Dominion, was named to the Texas League All-Star team after batting .335 with 49 stolen bases and 89 runs scored for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Double-A San Antonio affiliate.Tim Giles, former Arundel High first baseman and the Sun's 1993 All-Metro Player of the Year, and Old Mill's All-County right-handed pitcher (1994)