Scorer

STATE SCHOOLS MARYLAND Coach -- Dave Cottle (sixth season, 57-22; 25th season overall, 238-92) 2006 record -- 12-5, NCAA tournament semifinals Conference -- Atlantic Coast Top returning scorer -- Max Ritz, junior attackman (20 goals, 11 assists) Also back -- Michael Phipps, senior A (7, 14); Dan Groot, sophomore midfielder; Ryan Clarke, senior long-stick midfielder; Steve Whittenberg, senior defender; Ray Megill, senior D; Harry Alford, senior G. Key additions -- Brian Farrell, freshman D; Casey Creaney, freshman M; Brian Phipps, freshman G. The Sun's take -- The best team in College Park under Cottle lost for the third time in four seasons in last year's final four.

Player of the YearLauren Martin, Glenelg, Sr., G: Martin ended "a dream season" Saturday night at UMBC with the Class 1A state championship, a fitting way for Howard County's all-time leading scorer to finish her career. "It's definitely a great way to go out," Martin said. A three-time first-team all-county selection, Martin needed 391 points this season to break the mark of 1,676 points set by Mount Hebron 1982 graduate Doreatha Beck. The 5-foot-7 guard scored 477 points, including a game-high 22 in the championship game win over Allegany, to finish with 1,763.

Francis Scott Key Eagles1998 record: 6-9Coach: Bonnie GrauchTop players: Jen Robertson, Sr., G; Jessica Barley, Sr., MF; Emily Cyford, Sr., FB; Natalie Nicholson, Jr., wing.Outlook: Grauch, who takes over the varsity after seven years as JV coach, said the team has a lot of potential. Nine seniors return, including standout goalie Robertson. The defense, led by Cyford, appears to be the strong suit, though Grauch continues to look for a scorer -- possibly Nicholson. Better offensive production may be the key if the Eagles expect to move into the upper echelon of the Monocacy Valley Athletic League.

Maryland's Steve Blake recorded one of the quietest games of his young collegiate career. But more importantly, so did Iowa's Dean Oliver, compliments of Blake.The Terrapins freshman held Oliver scoreless for nearly the first 17 minutes of the game and limited the Hawkeyes' leading scorer to nine points, half his average. Oliver, considered the third-best point guard in the Big Ten, missed eight of 10 shots and finished with his worst scoring output of the season."When you have a good point guard on the other team, it's your job to shut him down," Blake said.

Never mind that junior Thomas Hawkins' scoring average is down five points and he's not the Annapolis Panthers' leading scorer.Hawkins is a better player than he was last season, and Annapolis is a better team despite his lower points.What?In 1997-98 Hawkins, a 6-foot-3 swingman, led the Panthers to the Class 4A state semifinals and became the first sophomore named The Sun's Anne Arundel County boys basketball Player of the Year. The Panthers finished 21-7 behind his 20.2 scoring average.

Opponent: Buffalo BlizzardSite: Baltimore ArenaTime: 3: 05 p.m.Radio: WJFK (1300 AM)Outlook: The Blizzard is coming off a pair of losses to North Division rival Edmonton on the road, but has split its past 10 games and is rested. Doug Miller of Buffalo is the league's second-leading scorer (130 points) and leads in total goals with 61. He had a nine-point game in Thursday's loss to Edmonton. Today is the last Blast home game for nearly a month. The team goes on the road for five games as the circus comes to the Arena.

Alone at a dead-end street in Timonium, 4-year-old Greg Patchak picked up his two-wheel bike for the first time while his father went inside to take an hourlong phone call.On one try, Patchak lost his balance and scuffed up his elbows. The next attempt, he toppled over again and grazed his knees.Another try another fall. And when his father returned, he cringed at the bloody arms and legs before staring in amazement as his son successfully rode the bike all by himself."I remember he still had a big smile," Patchak's father, Richard, said.

LeVar Folk scored a career-high 17 points as host Boston University coasted to a 73-43 win over Towson last night in men's college basketball.The win ended a four-game losing streak for the Terriers (7-11, 3-7 America East), whose offense was powered by 9-for-19 shooting from three-point range.Towson (5-14, 4-7) trailed 40-19 at the break after Boston University jumped out to a 19-4 lead capped by Mike Costello's three-pointer with 11: 10 remaining in the first half. The gap widened to 60-27 with 9: 18 left.

Bruins: Ray Bourque moved past the Panthers' Paul Coffey as the NHL's all-time leading scorer for defensemen Saturday night with his 386th career goal.

Erica Hayes knows exactly when her love affair with basketball began.She was 10 when her family moved from New Orleans to the Cajun stronghold of Lafayette, La., two years after her father died."

A week of rest was all Carmelo Anthony needed to rediscover his scoring touch. Playing the defenseless New York Knicks probably helped, too. Anthony (Towson Catholic) scored 32 points after missing three games with a bruised right elbow, and the visiting Denver Nuggets sent the Knicks to their sixth straight loss with a 117-110 victory yesterday. It was just the third 30-point game this season for Anthony, who has been bothered by the elbow since he was originally hurt in a win over the Houston Rockets on Nov. 30. The Nuggets decided to give their leading scorer a break after he averaged just 11.5 points on 8-for-27 shooting in losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns on consecutive nights.

PROJECTED NCAA SEEDS 1. Duke Atlantic Coast Conference (17-3, NCAA tournament finals) Coach: John Danowski Second season 26th season overall, 236-142 TOP RETURNING SCORER MATT DANOWSKI Senior A (44 goals, 52 assists) ALSO BACK Zack Greer, senior M (67, 27) Ned Crotty, junior M (25, 8) Dan Loftus, senior G Nick O'Hara, senior LSM Tony McDevitt, senior D KEY ADDITIONS Zach Howell, freshman A Mike Manley, freshman D Tom Montelli, freshman D THE SUN'S TAKE Reigning Player of the Year Matt Danowski is not fully recovered from offseason surgery to repair a ligament in his right foot, and junior A Gibbs Fogarty is out for the season with an undisclosed injury.

STATE SCHOOLS Johns Hopkins American Lacrosse Conference (12-8, NCAA quarterfinals) Coach: Janine Tucker 15th season, 169-68 TOP RETURNING SCORER LAUREN SCHWARZMANN Senior M (30 goals, 10 assists) ALSO BACK Sarah Gallion, senior D Kadie Stamper, senior M (26, 5) Sam Schrum, sophomore A (30, 9) Katie Dumais, senior D Kirby Houck, senior M (22, 4) Danielle Ensley, sophomore A KEY ADDITIONS Brooke Foussadier, freshman A Brianna Cronin, freshman M THE SUN'S TAKE The Blue Jays have huge shoes to fill after graduating Mary Key (234 career goals, 149 assists)

Fallston girls coach Vern Brown smiled weakly when asked about his team's performance minutes after the Cougars hung on for a 44-43 victory over visiting Aberdeen in an Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference game last night. "It wasn't pretty," he said. "But I'll take it." Fallston (13-3, 4-2) ended a two-game losing streak and did it without top scorer Jess Harlee, who has missed most of the past three games with an eye injury that required corrective laser surgery. Brown is hopeful she can play more extensively next week.

Digital Harbor point guard George Jackson led the Rams in scoring last season, but he wasn't content with the team's 11-10 finish. "It was hard for me last year," said Jackson, a junior. "We had a winning season, but it was kind of tough. I needed another scorer." There was a sharpshooter lying in wait on Digital Harbor's junior varsity team. A scorer that was scoring more than 30 points a game. A scorer that torched Lake Clifton's JV for 48 points last season. A scorer named Justin Jackson, George's younger brother.

With three games to go in his senior year, Francis Scott Key's Brandon Eckard suffered a broken elbow and is done for the season. The team's leading scorer (13 points a game) and rebounder (7.0) had played two games with the injured elbow, thinking it was a bruise. Although the 6-foot-2 forward did not get to play on a winning team, there were some rewarding moments in a four-year varsity career, including the two free throws he hit with one second left to beat Liberty by a point last month.

Johns Hopkins Coach -- Janine Tucker (157-60, 14th season) 2006 record -- 12-4 Conference -- American Lacrosse Top returning scorer -- Mary Key, senior attacker (60, 41) Also back -- Kadie Stamper, junior midfielder; Lauren Schwarzmann, junior M; Sarah Gallion, junior defender; Cherie Michaud, junior D The Sun's take -- The Blue Jays are still stinging from missing out on the NCAA tournament last season for the first time in three years, giving them the motivation to go with the talent to earn a berth this time.

STATE SCHOOLS MARYLAND Coach -- Dave Cottle (sixth season, 57-22; 25th season overall, 238-92) 2006 record -- 12-5, NCAA tournament semifinals Conference -- Atlantic Coast Top returning scorer -- Max Ritz, junior attackman (20 goals, 11 assists) Also back -- Michael Phipps, senior A (7, 14); Dan Groot, sophomore midfielder; Ryan Clarke, senior long-stick midfielder; Steve Whittenberg, senior defender; Ray Megill, senior D; Harry Alford, senior G. Key additions -- Brian Farrell, freshman D; Casey Creaney, freshman M; Brian Phipps, freshman G. The Sun's take -- The best team in College Park under Cottle lost for the third time in four seasons in last year's final four.

Best of the outsiders PRINCETON Coach -- Bill Tierney (20th season, 208-73; 23rd season overall, 242-80) 2006 record -- 11-5, NCAA tournament quarterfinals Conference -- Ivy League Top returning scorer -- Peter Trombino, senior attackman (22, 18) Also back -- Scott Sowanick, senior A (20, 18); Mark Kovler, sophomore M (18, 8); Tommy Davis, sophomore A (15, 1); Dan Cocoziello, junior D; Zachary Jungers, senior D; Alex Hewit, junior G. Key additions -- Paul Barnes, freshman M; Ryan Morrell, freshmanA; Jeremy Hirsch, freshman D. The Sun's take -- When you have the game's top goalie, you're in every contest, and Hewit is widely acknowledged as the best.

No. 1 SYRACUSE Coach -- John Desko (ninth season, 97-30) 2006 record -- 10-5, NCAA tournament semifinals Conference -- Independent Top returning scorer -- Mike Leveille, junior A (31 goals, 21 assists). Also back -- Pat Perritt, sophomore M (17, 4); Dan Hardy, sophomore A (11, 10); Steve Panarelli, senior LSM; Kyle Guadagnolo, junior D; Peter Coluccini, sophomore G. Key additions -- Junior Bucktooth, junior D; Max Bartig, freshman M/A; Matt Tierney, freshman D. The Sun's take -- The Orange proved to be the most resilient team in the game last year, when season-ending injuries occurred early to outstanding midfielders Greg Rommel and Steven Brooks and sent Syracuse into a 1-4 start.