Severna

The River Hill boys basketball team cut down its nets last night, celebrating the program's first regional title with a win that typified its season to this point. Relentless in their zone defense and unselfish on offense, the Hawks stayed a step ahead of visiting Severna Park all game and then counted on senior captain Tommy Brenton's near-perfect work from the foul line to close out a 48-37 win in the Class 3A East final. Brenton hit 13 of 14 free throws in the final 2:37 to take game-high honors with 19 points.

Severna Park junior Victoria Vidal missed her chance of becoming valedictorian when she decided to take a sociology class. Sociology is "a general," an increasingly derogatory term for electives that have no added value when calculating grade-point averages. Vidal's A in that class was worth only four points, versus the five she could have earned in an Advanced Placement course, or the 4.5 in an honors class. Vidal said the race for valedictorian or salutatorian is "a numbers game" to squeeze in as many high-point classes as possible within the six-hour, 40-minute school day. The honors student has revived the effort in Anne Arundel County to use a cum laude system that would recognize the top 1 percent to 5 percent of a class, instead of rewarding just the top two students, and has quickly garnered support from at least two school board members.

Severna Park's No. 1 field hockey team loses so rarely that even a 1-0 setback in a 25-minute preseason scrimmage sticks with the Falcons. Yesterday, they called upon that loss to Bethesda-Chevy Chase at Pocomoke's playday to fuel a 6-0 victory over the Barons when it counted - at Roland Park's annual Sally E. Nyborg Invitational. Not far away in Annapolis, No. 5 Broadneck and Chesapeake-AA scored similarly big victories over No. 7 Archbishop Spalding and St. Mary's, as public schools ruled the day at the St. Mary's Tournament.

FOOTBALL North County @ Meade WHEN -- Friday, 6:30 p.m. OUTLOOK -- The Knights (5-4) are hoping to gain the fourth and final playoff berth in the Class 4A East regional, but they have to defeat Meade (1-8) and hope No. 15 Severna Park loses at No. 7 Broadneck on Saturday. North County is coming off a 20-7 win in Ferndale over South River and needs another fine defensive effort by Desmond Johnson, Dibo Quaye and Demetrio Fleet. Severn vs. St. Mary's WHEN -- Friday, 7 p.m. WHEN -- Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium OUTLOOK -- St. Mary's (6-3)

After two inept offensive efforts that led to an 0-2 start for Severna Park, a flea flicker jump-started the Falcons' triple option last night as they routed Annapolis, 42-15, in the renewal of Anne Arundel County's oldest football rivalry. Played at Al Laramore Field in the Cap City, the game left both teams at 1-2. Severna Park had scored only eight points in its first two games and was shut out, 6-0, by Southern last week. In what was the 49th game in the 48th year of the series, with the host Panthers now leading 24-22-3, the Falcons scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass from halfback Sam Jones to Austin Lewis on the game's first play from scrimmage.

Kenneth William Keeney, a retired federal budget analyst and World War II veteran, died of a cerebral hemorrhage Friday at Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie. The Severna Park resident was 92. Born in Baltimore and raised in Lansdowne, he attended Glen Burnie High School and left school during the Depression to work with his father, who was blind and owned a grocery store known as Keeney's Corner near Hollins Ferry and Nursery roads. Mr. Keeney later received a General Education Development diploma and also studied accounting at American University.

Within hours of yesterday's 13-9 victory at eighth-ranked Severna Park, Severn junior Mark Staines was discussing the effort with his eldest brother, Ronnie, on the telephone. "He gets on me sometimes about footwork, position defense, waiting for checks - but he's generally supportive," said Mark Staines, the last of four siblings who, along with their father, Ron Sr., will have played for the 10th-ranked Admirals (5-4). At Severn, Ronnie Jr., 24, and, Billy, 23, starred on defense, as did Ben, 21, at midfield.

KEY QUESTIONSCan Dunbar reclaim its glory?Last year's Poets, of then first-year coach Ben Eaton, missed the postseason for the first time since city schools joined the state association in 1993. Dunbar's run under then-coach Stan Mitchell included five straight state semifinal berths and two state titles in three title game appearances.After a season of adjustment and a 5-5 finish, Eaton appears to have the players' attention. The Poets will have to hurdle such formidable opponents as Patterson, the defending City East Division champ, along with City, Poly and Mount St. Joseph.

County schools will begin a campaign next week to get parents involved in finding solutions to enrollment shifts and crowded classrooms.Starting Wednesday, school planning and construction officials will hold public briefings to answer questions and take suggestions on a consultant's report that recommends redistricting 3,500 students and expanding several schools.The recommendations are intended to accommodate the population shifts that, unchecked, would cause severe crowding at schools during the next 20 years, officials say.All forums will begin at 7 p.m. in the auditoriums of these schools: April 7 -- Arundel High School, 1001 Annapolis Road, Gambrills.

This is the principal's honor roll for the first marking period at Severna Park High School:Ninth grade:Laura Anderson, Amanda Bast, Jonathan Behrens, Rachel Bielitz, Scott Cuthbert, Beth Franklin, Megan Freienmuth, Michael Hall, Lauren Hawkins, Ryan Hoffmaster, Jesse Krohn, Andrea Krzystan, Jessica Mullins, Alexander Nealey, Kathryn Petty, Kimberly Pytel, Sarah Schaffer, Abigail Swartz, Kelly Townsend.10th grade:Elizabeth Bergstrom, Thomas Davis, Christina Fitzgerald, Rachel Gordon, Carrie Horne, Jeremy Hsieh, Gregory Janis, Melissa Pittman, Johanna Robinson, Rebecca Schoen, Marie Sepe, Jennifer Taylor, Erin Tush.

Christi Laite had a great season last year, leading Severna Park to an 18-3 record in volleyball. The only problem was that all three losses came against county rival Broadneck, with one in the county championship and another in the regional championship. Broadneck went on to win the state Class 4A title. Severna Park went home. Last night, Laite and her teammates got a measure of revenge, as the host and fifth-ranked Falcons (5-1) defeated the No. 3 Bruins, 25-27, 25-21, 27-25, 25-14, in a key match.

The top-ranked Loyola boys and the No. 3 Severna Park girls scored easy victories at Thursday's Knights Invitational cross country meet at Baybrook Park. Despite competing without top runner Matt Jablonski, the Dons (49 points) had little trouble beating No. 8 Chesapeake-Anne Arundel (85). Will Neal of Chesapeake won in 15:41.71, beating Loyola's Matt Erford by almost 7 seconds. The Dons put four runners in the top 10. The Severna Park girls were more dominant. Christina Patrick won the race in 18 minutes, 54.55 seconds, leading the Falcons to an easy victory.

In such a low-scoring game as Tuesday night's state Class 4A-3A girls lacrosse final, it would be easy to pick out a handful of critical moments. For No. 5 Severna Park, none was more important than a short second-half stretch in which goalie Sarah Lloyd made two terrific saves to preserve a tie and put the Falcons in position to win their third straight title, 7-5, over No. 15 Westminster at UMBC Stadium. After the Owls' Ashleigh Rohrback tied the score at five minutes into the second half, Lloyd, a converted midfielder who finished with 10 saves, made two big ones and the Owls hit the post once.

At UMBC Stadium Boys Class 2A-1A NO. 15 PIKESVILLE (14-3) VS. QUEEN ANNE'S (13-3) Time: 6 p.m. Outlook: The Panthers stunned defending state champ Glenelg, 8-7, in the semifinal round, with Eric Bass scoring the game-winning goal with 31 seconds left. Bass (47 goals, 20 assists) and Ned Scher (40, 28) lead the Pikesville attack, while goalie Erick Zarzecki (11 saves against Glenelg) anchors the team's defense with a .697 save percentage. Pikesville will have to contend with a versatile Queen Anne's attack that features four players with 30 or more goals.

Severna Park's girls lacrosse team reminded No. 3 Broadneck on Monday night of something the Bruins probably already knew - never count the Falcons out. Even though the Falcons had faded to No. 13 in The Baltimore Sun's poll after losing three regular-season games, including one to Broadneck, they were hardly finished. Smart shooting, stingy defense and a terrific game from rookie goalie Sarah Lloyd fueled a 17-9 regional semifinal victory for two-time defending state Class 4A-3A champ Severna Park, which advances to Wednesday night's East regional final against the winner of the other semifinal between No. 10 South River and Leonardtown.

Party and silent auction fundraiser to be held Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, in Arnold, will hold its 5th annual Holiday Party and Silent Auction fundraiser at noon Saturday at the institute, 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, #6, Arnold. The event will begin with a traditional Chinese Lion Dance performance and end with the silent auction. Appetizers and beverages will be provided. Donations for the silent auction will be accepted through Friday . The fundraiser will support the Severna Park Assistance Network (SPAN)

Severna Park's No. 1 field hockey team trailed for the first time all season yesterday, but the deficit lasted just 54 seconds. Led by two goals from Hannah Balleza, the host Falcons went on to beat No. 3 Broadneck, 3-1, before a crowd of more than 500 as Green Hornets Day drew dozens of players and coaches from area youth programs. Early in the second half, Broadneck's Meghan Eshleman scored on a penalty stroke, but the Falcons answered with 21:25 to go when Balleza deflected in a free hit from Casey Pohlmeyer.

A 26-year-old Baltimore man was sentenced yesterday to 16 years in federal prison for helping to rob two banks in Baltimore and Anne Arundel County, according to the Maryland U.S. attorney's office. The man and three others were arrested in Severna Park after a pursuit, prosecutors said. Gregory Eason pleaded guilty to charges of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, prosecutors said. When he is released, he will have to serve five years of probation.

Performing artists are reaching out to mural artists in an exchange of talents to help a Severna Park nonprofit enhance a section of the B&A Trail. ASPIRE, or the Association for Severna Park Improvement Renewal and Enhancement, is raising money for its Centennial Murals project, commissioned artworks depicting the community's history that will be painted along the commercial section of the trail. The only completed murals are behind the Carr Building at Riggs Avenue and B&A Boulevard, where artist Cindy Fletcher-Holden has created a stunning rendition of the railroad that once ran through Severna Park, and around the corner is her tranquil beach scene.

All games at UMBC. Girls Class 3A-2A No. 11 Winters Mill (16-2) vs. Towson (13-4) Time -- 4 p.m. Outlook -- This final has a new look after Mount Hebron missed the state tournament for the first time. Since the tournament expanded to three classifications in 2001, the Vi kings had won every 3A-2A title. This time, Winters Mill is looking for its first state championship while the Generals aim for their second, hav ing won in 1997. Winters Mill held on to beat Centennial, 11-10, in the state semifinal after Centennial edged Mount Hebron in the regional final, thus ending the Vikings' 11-year run as state champs.