This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/meade-marches-past-annapolis-and-back-to-the-maryland-state-semifinals/2016/03/04/65a4f484-e25d-11e5-9c36-e1902f6b6571_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Meade marches past Annapolis and back to the Maryland state semifinals Meade marches past Annapolis and back to the Maryland state semifinals
(about 1 hour later)
Teammates since they were freshmen, Tristan Easton and Keith Duffin have a good idea about where to find one other on the court.Teammates since they were freshmen, Tristan Easton and Keith Duffin have a good idea about where to find one other on the court.
But with Meade trailing Annapolis in the final minute of the Maryland 4A East region final, the seniors had to take a gamble. After falling to the ground on a layup attempt, Easton returned to his feet and saved the ball from going out of bounds by batting it toward the paint. There stood Duffin, who went up for the shot and drew the foul before sinking the go-ahead free throws in the Mustangs’ 62-59 victory Friday night in Fort Meade.But with Meade trailing Annapolis in the final minute of the Maryland 4A East region final, the seniors had to take a gamble. After falling to the ground on a layup attempt, Easton returned to his feet and saved the ball from going out of bounds by batting it toward the paint. There stood Duffin, who went up for the shot and drew the foul before sinking the go-ahead free throws in the Mustangs’ 62-59 victory Friday night in Fort Meade.
“I got up, tipped the ball the best I could,” said Easton, who finished with 20 points. “I knew he was going to be in there trying to rebound. I just tried to tip it up toward the basket.”“I got up, tipped the ball the best I could,” said Easton, who finished with 20 points. “I knew he was going to be in there trying to rebound. I just tried to tip it up toward the basket.”
The win sends the No. 18 Mustangs (22-3) to Thursday night’s state semifinals, where they’ll play the winner of Saturday’s 4A West region final between Clarkburg and Whitman.The win sends the No. 18 Mustangs (22-3) to Thursday night’s state semifinals, where they’ll play the winner of Saturday’s 4A West region final between Clarkburg and Whitman.
Meade, the defending 4A champion, held the lead for most of the game and led by double digits in the first half. Easton and Duffin were largely responsible for building that advantage. They connected multiple times, including one play in the first quarter on which Easton found Duffin in the corner for a three-pointer and started backpedaling before the ball went through the cylinder.Meade, the defending 4A champion, held the lead for most of the game and led by double digits in the first half. Easton and Duffin were largely responsible for building that advantage. They connected multiple times, including one play in the first quarter on which Easton found Duffin in the corner for a three-pointer and started backpedaling before the ball went through the cylinder.
“I know he’s going to pop, I know he’s going to drive, I know he’s going to shoot it. I just know,” Easton said.“I know he’s going to pop, I know he’s going to drive, I know he’s going to shoot it. I just know,” Easton said.
Annapolis (17-8) went on a second-quarter run and cut the deficit to 32-29 on a Christian Jones three-pointer before halftime.Annapolis (17-8) went on a second-quarter run and cut the deficit to 32-29 on a Christian Jones three-pointer before halftime.
Paced by 19 points from Trey Gross, the Panthers erased Meade’s lead and went into the fourth quarter tied at 42. They took a 47-46 lead on a Jones three-pointer, the first of several lead changes in the closing minutes.Paced by 19 points from Trey Gross, the Panthers erased Meade’s lead and went into the fourth quarter tied at 42. They took a 47-46 lead on a Jones three-pointer, the first of several lead changes in the closing minutes.
But with the game on the line, Easton got aggressive. Meade’s leading scorer collected all eight of his fourth-quarter points from the line, helping his team regain the lead. With 45 seconds remaining, Duffin sank the two clutch free throws to put the Mustangs ahead 60-59.But with the game on the line, Easton got aggressive. Meade’s leading scorer collected all eight of his fourth-quarter points from the line, helping his team regain the lead. With 45 seconds remaining, Duffin sank the two clutch free throws to put the Mustangs ahead 60-59.
“My teammates, they got confidence in me. So I figured why be nervous if everybody else got confidence in me?” said Duffin, who had 16 points. “So I just shot the ball, focused on shooting my free throws like Coach told me in practice and they went in.”“My teammates, they got confidence in me. So I figured why be nervous if everybody else got confidence in me?” said Duffin, who had 16 points. “So I just shot the ball, focused on shooting my free throws like Coach told me in practice and they went in.”
After Meade hit another pair of free throws, Annapolis’s would-be game-tying three-pointer flew off the mark, and the packed bleachers emptied onto the floor as the fans celebrated Meade’s region championship.After Meade hit another pair of free throws, Annapolis’s would-be game-tying three-pointer flew off the mark, and the packed bleachers emptied onto the floor as the fans celebrated Meade’s region championship.
“All the dedication we put over the last four years. To go out the way we did and persevere through everything we went through throughout this season and this game — every game has been a fight for us,” Easton said. “We have a target on our back since we’re the back-to-back champions, so we have to work two times as hard to get what we want.”“All the dedication we put over the last four years. To go out the way we did and persevere through everything we went through throughout this season and this game — every game has been a fight for us,” Easton said. “We have a target on our back since we’re the back-to-back champions, so we have to work two times as hard to get what we want.”
• ELEANOR ROOSEVELT 59, BLADENSBURG 54: The No. 5 Raiders (22-3) survived a double-overtime thriller to win the 4A South region final. Roosevelt, seeking its first 4A title since 2013, is scheduled to play Perry Hall on Thursday in the state semifinals.• ELEANOR ROOSEVELT 59, BLADENSBURG 54: The No. 5 Raiders (22-3) survived a double-overtime thriller to win the 4A South region final. Roosevelt, seeking its first 4A title since 2013, is scheduled to play Perry Hall on Thursday in the state semifinals.
The game had two buzzer-beaters, one from Bladensburg’s Prince Obike at the end of regulation and the other from Roosevelt’s Trent Bishop, which sent the game into double-overtime. Roosevelt was led in scoring by Jaden Faulkner (15 points), Naji Marshall (13) and Delascio Dancy (10).
• PERRY HALL 62, SPRINGBROOK 60: The Gators knocked off the Blue Devils, who were seeking their third consecutive 4A North title. LaQuill Hardnett scored 19 points to lead Perry Hall. Springbrook’s Falu Seck, coming off a 47-point performance against Howard, was held to 16 points, while Darren Galvin and Marcus Boyd had 13.• PERRY HALL 62, SPRINGBROOK 60: The Gators knocked off the Blue Devils, who were seeking their third consecutive 4A North title. LaQuill Hardnett scored 19 points to lead Perry Hall. Springbrook’s Falu Seck, coming off a 47-point performance against Howard, was held to 16 points, while Darren Galvin and Marcus Boyd had 13.