by Derek Toney
After showing signs of promise last season, Oakland Mills High’s girls’ basketball team might be ready to take the next step this winter. The Scorpions got their regular season campaign off on the right foot, routing Howard, 56-27, in Columbia Thursday evening.
Miriam McKenzie scored 23 points for Oakland Mills, and Nicole Hill and Gabby Barnes each chipped in 11. Kelsey Katz had nine points to lead Howard (0-1).
“I was anxious to play,” said Scorpions coach Seth Willingham. “We had two scrimmages, one very good and the other didn’t go so well. I was wondering what team would show up.”
Four starters are back for Oakland Mills, which reached the Class 2A state South Region quarterfinals. Leading the way will be McKenzie, one of the area’s best players. Last season, she averaged 21 points and 13 rebounds.
The five foot, eight inch McKenzie, who has signed with Loyola College, is deft at using either hands to dribble and finish. Willingham expects McKenzie to switch into a greater leadership role this season.
“She brings it every night,” said Willingham. “She’s starting to realize what being a leader means, but I’m still looking for more.”
Barnes. a three-year starting senior guard, joins McKenzie in the backcourt, and Hill, a sophomore and sophomore forward/center Monet Nias are back in the starting lineup. Hill and Nias were teammates on the Baltimore Cougars 14-under AAU team that won the Maryland state title last summer.
Two other sophomores Katelin Haines and Bria Nichols will play significant roles. Nichols, a 5-4 guard, is a transfer from South River in Anne Arundel County, while Haines (5-9 forward) is a promotee from the Scorpions’ junior varsity.
Senior guard Jillian Montoya, junior guard Alex Deters and freshman guard Anna Kiely makes up the remainder of the nine-man roster. A year ago, Oakland Mills, which lost a late lead to Frederick Douglass from Prince George’s County in the region playoffs, had 10 players.
Despite the lack of numbers, Oakland Mills won 13 contests (12-6 in Howard County play) last season after going 9-13 in 05-06. After finishing fourth in the league standings, Oakland Mills is hoping to provide the likes of Atholton and River Hill a stern challenge this season.
“I truly feel if we come to play every night, we’re going to tough to beat,” said Willingham.
Oakland Mills 56, Howard 27
Howard: Bennett 2, Cocozza 8, Rau 2, Barnhouse 2, Katz 9, Williams 4. Totals 11 5-13 27.
Oakland Mills: Hill 11, McKenzie 23, Nias 6, Haines 2, Deters 2, Kiely 1, Barnes 11. Totals 22 8-16 56.
Halftime: Oakland Mills 31, Howard 10.
Howard 4 6 6 11-27
Oakland Mills 12 19 16 9-56
2007-08 Oakland Mills roster
Gabby Barnes, senior, 5-6, guard
Alex Deters, junior, 5-4, guard
Katelin Haines, sophomore, 5-9, forward
Nicole Hill, sophomore, 5-8, guard
Kristen Hise, senior, 5-10, forward
Anna Kiely, freshman, 5-7, guard
Miriam McKenzie, senior, 5-8, guard
Jillian Montoya, senior, 5-6, guard
Monet Nais, sophomore, 6-0, forward/center
Bria Nichols, sophomore, 5-4, guard
2007-08 schedule
Dec. 6 Howard, W, 56-27
Dec. 7 Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, 5 p.m.
Dec. 10 at Long Reach, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 at Reservoir, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 14 Marriotts Ridge, 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 at Hammond, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 Mount Hebron, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 4 at Glenelg, 7 p.m.
Jan. 9 Atholton, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 11 Wilde Lake, 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 River Hill, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 at Howard, 7 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Bel Air 7 p.m.
Jan. 30 Long Reach, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 1 Reservoir, 7 p.m.
Feb. 5 at Marriotts Ridge, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 Hammond, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Mount Hebron, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 Glenelg, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 20 at Centennial, 5:30 p.m.
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