Hammond girls basketball surges late, wins Class 2A state championship, 65-46, over Francis Scott Key

Mar. 15—By Jacob Steinberg — jsteinberg@baltsun.com

PUBLISHED:March 15, 2024 at 8:26 p.m.| UPDATED:March 19, 2024 at 12:26 p.m.

COLLEGE PARK — Buy-in and belief.

Hammond girls basketball is a quintessential example of why you can't underestimate the power of both.

Two years ago, Ayanna Jones took over a program that was consistently at the bottom of the Howard County standings. Since the program's last state championship game appearance in 2002, the Golden Bears had just one winning season before her arrival.

Jones had a clear vision of how she wanted to turn the program around when she took the job. That culture centered on hard work, defense and competitiveness. The early signs of that cultural shift were displayed last season despite an early playoff exit. But that loss only strengthened their belief and laid the foundation for a drastic turnaround.

The culmination of the process Jones started two years ago came Friday night at the University of Maryland's Xfinity Center in the Class 2A state championship game. The top-seeded Golden Bears finished off an undefeated season with a 65-46 victory over No. 6 seed Francis Scott Key.

It is the program's fourth state title and first since 1995. Senior Asia Mitchell had a game-high 16 points and 12 rebounds, while senior Nia Green and junior Sara Yarnell each added 14 points.

"I think it just speaks a lot to their character," Jones said of the veteran trio. "It speaks a lot to their leadership role, buying in to what their role is on the team. Everybody knows what they're supposed to be doing. Whether it's facilitating and giving it up when we need to, getting the rebounds and the putbacks, playing defense. ... They all bought into what their specific role was and that's what got the job done."

Hammond (27-0) outscored opponents by an average of 30 points per game with 24 wins coming by double digits. The Golden Bears are the only MPSSAA high school basketball team to finish undefeated this year.

Throughout that dominant run, defense has been the Golden Bears' calling card. Entering Friday night, they gave up an average of 29.3 points per game. That defense proved to be a difference-maker when it mattered most. With 90 seconds remaining in the third quarter and the score tied at 35, Green came soaring in for a chase down block. Green then found Delani Thomas inside for the go-ahead bucket.

Sequences like that exemplified Hammond's commitment to defense, something consistently preached in practice.

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Francis Scott Key assistant coach Justin Rieger slides between his players as he takes the court for a pep talk with his playersin the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key assistant coach Justin Rieger slides between his players as he takes the court for a pep talk ahead of the Eagles' Class 2A state championship game against Hammond at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff)

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Francis Scott Key players warm up before their Class 2A girls basketball state championship game against Hammond at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. The game did not end in time to be included in this edition. For coverage, read Sunday's Carroll County Times or go to baltimoresun.com. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's Kensi Bancroft has difficulty getting a pass off with Hammond's Asia Mitchell defending in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's Summer Brooks draws contact from Kayley Washington with Hammond's Sara Yarnell, left, also in on the play in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's Summer Brooks takes aim at a 3-point shot with Hammond's Kayley Washington defending in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond's Nia Green sends a pass to a teammate against Francis Scott Key defenders in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's Drew Watkins tries to make a move to the hoop past Hammond's Sara Yarnell in the 2A girls state championship game at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff)

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Hammond's Sara Yarnell, right, tries to dribble away from pressure by Francis Scott Key's Summer Brooks in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond's Alexis Wright gets past Francis Scott Key's Abby Rieger to put up a layup in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's Drew Watkins puts up a shot against Hammond in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's Abby Rieger defends against Hammond's Sara Yarnell. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond's Sara Yarnell, left, tries to force a turnover against Francis Scott Key's Drew Watkins in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond's Nia Green gets off a shot in the middle of a trio of Francis Scott Key defenders in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's Caroline Kohr puts up a shot over Hammond's Kayley Washington and Asia Mitchell, right,. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's Kensi Bancroft defends against a pass attempt by Hammond's Delani Thomas. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond's Asia Mitchell puts up a shot with Francis Scott Key's Kensi Bancroft defending in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key's bench celebrates a foul called against Hammond in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond's Alexis Wright powers past Francis Scott Key on her way to a bucket. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond players celebrate as time expires in their win over Francis Scott Key in the Class 2A girls state championship game at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond players celebrate as time expires in their win over Francis Scott Key in the Class 2A girls state championship game at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key head coach Mitchell Walther accepts the finalist trophy following their loss to Hammond in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond's Asia Mitchell embraces head coach Ayanna Jones as they accept their championship medals after their win over Francis Scott Key in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Hammond head coach Ayanna Jones accepts the championship trophy after their win over Francis Scott Key in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Francis Scott Key players console each other following their loss to Hammond in the 2A girls state championship game at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff)

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Hammond's girls basketball team poses with their championship trophy following their win over Francis Scott Key in the 2A girls final game during the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships at University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Friday. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

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Earlier in the third quarter, Mitchell went down hard after a collision and needed help off the court. However, the veteran wasn't out for long, coming back late in the third quarter and connecting on a pair of baskets that gave the Golden Bears a four-point lead entering the fourth quarter.

"I just felt like I had to finish the game for the team," Mitchell said. "Since it's the last game, I really put my heart into this game. I had to execute. They were expecting a lot from me, rebounds, putbacks, so, helping them, I had to just wipe my brain of the injury and act like it didn't happen for a second to be able to push through for the last two quarters."

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Stymied for much of the first half, Yarnell stepped up early in the fourth quarter. She scored five points in the opening two minutes, answering each of FSK's early baskets. With each possession, Hammond's defensive intensity increased, forcing several turnovers that became transition opportunities.

Green thrived in that area with a game-high 11 assists. She delivered dimes to teammates, including a highlight no-look pass to Alexis Wright in the post that extended the lead to nine with 4:55 remaining. The veteran floor general proceeded to throw pretend goggles over her eyes, letting everyone in the arena know about her passing prowess.

"Basketball is a game of runs," Green said. "We're a great team in transition. So, just being able to stop them on defense and then convert that on offense by finishing in transition, it felt really good. That's what got us going and that's what gets us going."

Those transition opportunities were hard to come by in the first half. Hammond struggled early on to diagnose the Eagles' 1-3-1 zone as FSK's active hands forced several turnovers. That took the Golden Bears offense out of its typical flow, instead running back on defense after turnovers. Despite some of the early struggles, Hammond led by two at the half in a hard-fought defensive battle.

After trailing early in the third quarter, Green's emphatic block proved to be a turning point. Hammond outscored Francis Scott Key 30-11 the rest of the way, with deafening chants of "undefeated" eminating from the Golden Bears crowd.

Fittingly, the final buzzer blared with the ball in Green's hand one final time. Hammond's collective belief propelled it to an accomplishment no other team could achieve this season: perfection.

"I think that because we're underdogs as some would put it, that it shows what our community and school can be," Yarnell said. "People need to buy in and believe. The last two years, all we have done is buy-in and believe. We lost the first game in the playoffs last year and then we come back, we rebound and have this amazing season. So, anyone can do anything that they put their mind to."

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Hammond — 16 11 14 24 — 65

Francis Scott Key — 14 11 12 9 — 46

HA: Asia Mitchell 16, Nia Green 14, Sara Yarnell 14, Alexis Wright 9, Delani Thomas 6, Kayley Washington 6

FSK: Drew Watkins 13, Kensi Bancroft 12, Summer Brooks 8, Caroline Kohr 8, Abby Rieger 3, McKenna Lanza 2

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