Riverdale Baptist

ROCKVILLE -The end of Seton Keough's remarkable season came down to the final 18.7 seconds in Sunday's championship game of the inaugural ESPN RISE National High School Invitational against No. 1 seed Riverdale Baptist. The second-seeded Gators were clinging to a one-point lead, and Riverdale Baptist had possession on Seton Keough's baseline. The Crusaders had three shots under the basket that clanked off the rim before the Gators came up with a loose ball amid a mad scramble. Rianna Frazer then made one of two free throws with two seconds left to give Seton Keough the title, 44-42.

ROCKVILLE -Seton Keough and St. Frances were the top two girls basketball teams in the Baltimore metro area this season, and in Saturday's inaugural ESPN RISE National High School Invitational, the Gators and Panthers showed they can also compete with some of the best programs in the nation. In the first game, No. 4 seed St. Frances led No. 1 seed Riverdale Baptist for more than three quarters before the Crusaders made a late run and escaped with a 57-51 victory at Georgetown Prep's Hanley Center.

It's two weeks into spring, but the winter sports season is still going for three area basketball teams. The No. 2 St. Frances boys and the No. 1 Seton Keough and No. 2 St. Frances girls will polish off their seasons with appearances in the ESPN Rise National High School Invitational this weekend at Georgetown Prep's Hanley Center. St. Frances is one of only two schools with boys and girls in the tournament; the other is Virginia's Oak Hill. Jerome Shelton, the Panthers' athletic director and girls basketball coach, welcomed the chance to play in such a high-profile event, the first of its kind.

Boys basketball No. 1 Mount St. Joseph at No. 7 Mount Carmel Today, 7 p.m. Outlook This game pits the two best teams from the MIAA conferences. Mount St. Joseph of the A Conference is led by center Henry Sims and sophomore guard Eric Atkins. Mount Carmel guard Troy Franklin drives hard to the basket. The Cougars lead the B Conference. THE SUN'S PICK: MOUNT ST. JOSEPH Girls basketball Riverdale Baptist at No. 1 Seton Keough Monday, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL RIVERDALE BAPTIST AT NO. 1 SETON KEOUGH MONDAY, 5:30 P.M. Outlook The Crusaders, from Upper Marlboro, already have beaten No. 2 St. Frances twice and No. 3 Arundel, but they likely will have a harder time with the Gators and their tough defense.

After St. Frances' girls basketball team lost to Riverdale Baptist yesterday, the No. 2 Panthers' second loss this week, guard Shatyra Hawkes said players know the answer to getting back on the winning track: teamwork. There wasn't enough of it yesterday in the 69-48 loss to Riverdale Baptist at the 12th annual Basketball Academy at Morgan State's Hill Field House. There wasn't enough of it Monday in a 62-40 loss to No. 1 Seton Keough. "There's a lot of individuality," Hawkes said. "We just need to come play together every day. Every day's not going to be easy, like we can go out there and do whatever we want.

Arundel girls basketball coach Lee Rogers said Thursday that his team was young, and, though improving, would have to play better to defeat elite teams. Rogers' words proved prophetic last night. The fourth-ranked Wildcats fell, 50-43, to Riverdale Baptist of Prince George's Country in the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials tournament semifinals. "I expect more from them," Rogers said. "I'm disappointed. I think we should play better than we're playing. We're not stepping up, and I don't know where we're going to go from here."

During the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) 25th Annual Girls Invitational Christmas Tournament at Prince George's Community College last night, Arundel was sitting comfortably on an early 14-point lead. The Wildcats were getting solid offensive production in the paint, and their 1-2-1-1 full-court press defense was causing loads of turnovers by their opponent, Largo of Prince George's County. But Largo chipped away at the lead - even tying the game late - before a furious fourth quarter, with Arundel slipping away with a 67-57 victory.

The Bel Air football team didn't get a lot of breaks in 2006. The Bobcats lost several close games under new coach Tony Belcastro, and he saw a lot of good things from his team despite its 3-7 finish. That's why he's not too surprised that Bel Air turned in strong performances in a 2-0 start this season. The Bobcats shut down John Carroll in a 20-7 victory in the opener and came back the following week to outlast Riverdale Baptist, 12-6, in overtime. "There's more confidence this year," Belcastro said.