Category: Poly
Daniels, Frederick denies No. 4 Poly for three-peat in 3A state girls basketball; Townes and Lilly combine for 27
Frederick's Makayla Daniels (center) tries to get to a loose ball as Poly's Janya Lilly (left) and Tenea Robinson closes in during Saturday evening's Class 3A state girls basketball championship game. Daniels scored 26 points as the Cadets won their third straight title with a 58-44 victory over the No. 4 Engineers at SECU Arena.
by Demetrius Dillard
Special to VSN
The wait continues for Poly High girls’ basketball. The fourth-ranked Engineers fell short in a bid for their first state championship, dropping a 58-44 decision to Frederick in the Class 3A final at Towson University’s SECU Arena Saturday evening.
Makayla Daniels had a game-high 26 points along with seven rebounds and six steals for Frederick. Dasia Townes led Poly with 15 points.
The Cadets (24-3 overall) pulled away in the second half, claiming its third straight 3A title. Frederick, which defeated Long Reach in last year’s final and Thursday’s semifinals, is the first program to three-peat since Eleanor Roosevelt ran off five straight 4A titles from 2005 to 2009.
It’s wait until next year again for Poly (22-5), which left its seventh state Final Four empty handed. Saturday was the Engineers’ fourth loss in the final round.
“I think we missed some assignments, and I think overall I wouldn’t rather be here with any other group of kids than the ones that I’m here with,” Poly coach Kendall Peace-Able said. “The state tournament is an interesting dynamic to me, and we learned something new every time we come… I know the final outcome is not necessarily what they want, but I saw a lot of character in my team and I saw a lot of growth in my team, individually and as a group.”
Poly was even at Frederick at halftime (tied at 25), but Daniels, arguably the state’s best player, began imposing her will. The 5-foot-8 University of Arkansas recruit ended the third quarter with a 3-pointer and a buzzer-beating putback, giving the Cadets a 41-34 advantage.
Daniels kept the pressure on, connecting on shots all over the floor and making defensive stops. Forwards Rose Bubakar and Jalynn combined for 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Cadets.
Poly, which defeated Aberdeen in Thursday’s semifinals, led 15-12 after the opening quarter Saturday, shooting nearly 60-percent. The Engineers cooled off slightly in the second, but was in prime position entering the second half.
But Poly couldn’t get into an offensive rhythm in the second half, shooting 6-of-24, including 1-of-15 from 3-point range. Janya Lilly finished with 12 points and four rebounds for the Engineers.
“We all worked as a team today,” Townes said. “I think everybody played their hearts out. I think everybody contributed with rebounds, and box outs, and defense, and offense.”
Townes, Jada Gross and Cache’ Wilson are set to return to Poly’s starting lineup next season. The Engineers won their second Baltimore City championship during the season.,
“We had a lot of obstacles, but I feel like in the end I had a great team throughout all my four years and we worked hard throughout the whole season,” Lilly said. “I feel like we left it all out on the court. Sometimes things just don’t go your way.”
CLASS 3A STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY
Frederick 58, No. 4 Poly 44
Frederick - Dorsey 5, Hall 7, Daniels 26, Bubakar 9, Montgomery 11. Totals 19 15-19 58.
Poly - Wilson 6, Gross 8, Ferguson 1, Lilly 12, Rice 2, Townes 15. Totals 18 7-10 44.
Frederick 12 13 16 17 - 58
Poly 15 10 9 10 - 44
