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Montgomery basketball notebook: Dondrell Whitmore brings winning ways to Blake; B-CC girls start fast Montgomery basketball notebook: Dondrell Whitmore brings winning ways to Blake; B-CC girls start fast
(35 minutes later)
By day, for the last nine years, Dondrell Whitmore has been overseeing Blake’s campus as a security assistant. By night, he’s been going to other school gymnasiums — first with a seven-year coaching stint at Sherwood that started with a Maryland 4A boys’ basketball title in 2007, then with Montrose Christian as an assistant.By day, for the last nine years, Dondrell Whitmore has been overseeing Blake’s campus as a security assistant. By night, he’s been going to other school gymnasiums — first with a seven-year coaching stint at Sherwood that started with a Maryland 4A boys’ basketball title in 2007, then with Montrose Christian as an assistant.
Upon learning last spring that the Rockville private school was shutting down its powerhouse basketball program, Whitmore thought he’d be taking a break from the sport. But when Blake’s junior varsity coaching position opened up, he jumped at it. A few months later, when Coach Marcus Wiggins stepped down, Whitmore was promoted to take over the varsity team.Upon learning last spring that the Rockville private school was shutting down its powerhouse basketball program, Whitmore thought he’d be taking a break from the sport. But when Blake’s junior varsity coaching position opened up, he jumped at it. A few months later, when Coach Marcus Wiggins stepped down, Whitmore was promoted to take over the varsity team.
“There’s a lot of talent,” Whitmore said. “We’re just trying to do some different things at Blake.”“There’s a lot of talent,” Whitmore said. “We’re just trying to do some different things at Blake.”
And that they have. After dropping their season opener to Georgetown Prep, the Bengals (7-1) are on a seven-game winning streak, including two wins in the Governor’s Challenge. Whitmore’s first season coaching for his longtime school couldn’t be going much better.And that they have. After dropping their season opener to Georgetown Prep, the Bengals (7-1) are on a seven-game winning streak, including two wins in the Governor’s Challenge. Whitmore’s first season coaching for his longtime school couldn’t be going much better.
“I think coming in here with a new coach, we knew where he was coming from,” junior Kobe Colston said. “So knowing that, that pushes us to want to get there.”“I think coming in here with a new coach, we knew where he was coming from,” junior Kobe Colston said. “So knowing that, that pushes us to want to get there.”
Colston has been filling up box scores; he averaged 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and 4.5 steals in the Governor’s Challenge. He’s joined by senior Jack Tempchin in a deep backcourt that’s driven the Bengals’ early season success.Colston has been filling up box scores; he averaged 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and 4.5 steals in the Governor’s Challenge. He’s joined by senior Jack Tempchin in a deep backcourt that’s driven the Bengals’ early season success.
But as Whitmore likes to remind the team, “We haven’t done anything yet,” Tempchin said. “He really has a lot of good teams that he’s been with. He compares them to us all the time . . . he’s seen them and we’re not there yet and we have a ways to go to be a great team. It really makes us want to work harder and reach our ultimate goal.”But as Whitmore likes to remind the team, “We haven’t done anything yet,” Tempchin said. “He really has a lot of good teams that he’s been with. He compares them to us all the time . . . he’s seen them and we’re not there yet and we have a ways to go to be a great team. It really makes us want to work harder and reach our ultimate goal.”
The Barons were jumped by the Vikings, falling behind 20-4 en route to a 58-39 loss, their first and only setback of the season.The Barons were jumped by the Vikings, falling behind 20-4 en route to a 58-39 loss, their first and only setback of the season.
As part of the 4A West region where all roads lead to Whitman, it was the type of game B-CC needed. The Barons hadn’t been challenged up to that point, and while they were dominated by Montgomery County’s top team early on, the final three quarters were played evenly.As part of the 4A West region where all roads lead to Whitman, it was the type of game B-CC needed. The Barons hadn’t been challenged up to that point, and while they were dominated by Montgomery County’s top team early on, the final three quarters were played evenly.
“Afterwards we realized we could beat this team but we would have to play our game and just focus on our defense and do what we do best,” senior Daisy Leahy said.“Afterwards we realized we could beat this team but we would have to play our game and just focus on our defense and do what we do best,” senior Daisy Leahy said.
The Barons (7-1) bounced back in the Magruder tournament, beating the host Colonels, 45-44, then beating Severna Park, 51-36. They have an experienced lineup that’s bolstered by a few transfers, including twin sisters Bailee and Bianca White from Carroll. After winning just six games two seasons ago, B-CC improved to about .500 in 2014-15 and is looking to make a deep playoff run in Coach Ryan Ingalls’s second season.The Barons (7-1) bounced back in the Magruder tournament, beating the host Colonels, 45-44, then beating Severna Park, 51-36. They have an experienced lineup that’s bolstered by a few transfers, including twin sisters Bailee and Bianca White from Carroll. After winning just six games two seasons ago, B-CC improved to about .500 in 2014-15 and is looking to make a deep playoff run in Coach Ryan Ingalls’s second season.
“It does feel like a continuation from last year because we’ve been working hard in the offseason,” Leahy said. “The team chemistry is there because it doesn’t really feel like we have new players. It kind of just feels like we’re ready to go.”“It does feel like a continuation from last year because we’ve been working hard in the offseason,” Leahy said. “The team chemistry is there because it doesn’t really feel like we have new players. It kind of just feels like we’re ready to go.”
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