Zamaria Jones scored a game-high 19 points as No. 3 Joppatowne defeated No. 10 Roland Park Country School, 49-39, to take the Orange Division bracket crown at the inaugural Vernon Brown Memorial Tournament at Fallston Tuesday evening.
The defending Class 1A state champ Mariners went on a 27-14 run between the second and third quarters before holding off a Roland Park surge to remain perfect on the season. Despite the victory, Joppatowne coach Michael Harris said his team is far from perfect.
“We have to do the fundamentals, we have to swing the ball, we have to stop the street ball,” said Harris, whose team has won 24 consecutive decisions dating back to last season. “Ultimately, we got to make our lauyups. If we make our layups, it’s a completely different game and we’re not scratching and clawing at the end.”
The Mariners were taken to the limit Monday against No. 8 South River before emerging with a 60-55 decision. Harris has been pleased with his team’s mettle especially in back-to-back contests against Top 10 squads.
“We played three really tough games in a row. Now I feel like we have some things to work on, but they played hard,” said Harris.
With Jones scoring seven points including a three-pointer, Joppatowne outscored Roland Park (7-4), 18-9, turning a 15-13 halftime advantage into 33-22 heading into the final eight minutes. The Reds made things interesting in the fourth quarter, but coach Scott Buckley said sloppy play cost them.
“We just turned the ball over too much and you can’t beat like that and turn it over,” said Buckley. “They’re like the old St. Frances, you turned the ball over and let them run layup lines, you’re going to struggle.”
Junior guard/forward Daisy Alaeze led Roland Park Country with 15 points. Alaeze and Beth Kelly (10 points) were selected to the All-Orange division squad with Jones, Shakara Head and TroiQuay Malloy from Joppatowne. Domonique Hagins from South River and Fallston’s Rachael Holehouse were also selected.
The inaugural two-day tournament, named in honor of the late Fallston girls’ basketball coach who died in November, 2009, was a rousing success. A check for $1,000 will be given to the Jimmy V Cancer Foundation.
