November 20, 2009
Blazers Edge Shoremen, 58-55, in Pride of Maryland
Chambers Tallies 13 Points, 7 Rebounds as WC Drops Opener

FREDERICK, MD – Host Hood College led by as many as 14 points in the second half and held on for a 58-55 win over visiting Washington College tonight in the first round of the Pride of Maryland Championship presented by M&T Bank. The game was the season opener for both teams.

Hood built the biggest lead of the first half at 25-19 on a lay-up by Justin Stone with 1:32 left in the period. The Shoremen rallied to knot the score at 25-25 on a three-pointer by senior forward Alan Kines (Towson, MD/Towson) with 42 seconds on the clock before Stone gave the Blazers a 27-25 halftime advantage with a lay-up with 22 seconds to go.

The Blazers opened the second half with an 18-6 run to build a 45-31 advantage on two free throws by Reco Siler with 9:08 on the clock. Washington responded with an 18-6 run of its own to cut the lead down to 51-49 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Sal Schittino (Ellicott City, MD/Loyola Blakefield) with 1:58 to go.

A lay-up by Tory Wilson at 1:06, two free throws by Herb Bowen with 55 seconds left, and a one-for-two trip at the line by J'Air Brady with 43 seconds remaining gave Hood a 56-49 cushion. A lay-up and free throw by WC sophomore guard Doug Holcombe (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) on the next trip down the floor cut the advantage to 56-52 with 37 seconds remaining and a Schittino triple with 27 seconds to play pulled the Shoremen to within one with 27 seconds left. Brenden Straughn made one of two free throws for Hood with 20 seconds to go to make it 57-55. Washington came up empty on the next possession and Brady made one of two free throws with one second to go to provide the final margin.

Wilson finished with a double-double for Hood, tallying 12 points and a game-best 11 boards. Straughn netted 12 points of his own along with a game-best four steals. Bowen added nine points and seven rebounds.

Senior guard/forward Andrew Chambers (Williamsport, MD/St. Maria Goretti) led Washington with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Schittino added 12 points off the bench. Kines and sophomore forward Adam Naymick (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) chipped in nine points a piece.

The Shoremen will play Stevenson tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in the consolation semifinals of the tournament at Goucher College. Hood will play Johns Hopkins in the semifinals at 6:00 p.m., also at Goucher.

BOX SCORE