Both Varsity basketball teams played exciting games.
Girls on Track for State.
The Lady Raiders saw eighteen points flashed on the scoreboard for them before the Parkdale Panthers registered a single point. Although Parkdale had been Roosevelt’s stiffest county competition this season, the Lady Raiders were never seriously threatened after their torrid start. Roosevelt’s pressure defense forced the Panthers into a slew of early turnovers, leading to easy baskets on the offensive end thanks to the height of junior center DJ McFarlane and smooth shooting senior guard Leah Mayo. While the Panthers made a few runs to energize their fans, the only thing more consistent than the Raiders’ lead was the smile on senior guard Ashia McCalla’s face. Whether she made a jumper or committed a foul, the Lady Raiders’ leading scorer constantly flashed a smile – and with reason, as she led the team in its next step along the road to a possible first state championship since 2015.
McCalla and senior forward Nia Scott are the only players on the current roster to have earned a state title. The team will play Charles County’s North Point on March 8 at Towson’s SECU Arena in the state semi-finals. A victory in this game will bring Coach Delton Fuller a chance at his third state championship on Saturday at 3 p.m. Before blitzing Parkdale for the region championship, the Lady Raiders downed the Oxon Hill Clippers 55-46 for the county championship on February 22.
Boys Show Their Mettle.
Although the Roosevelt boys squad has finally bowed out of the state tournament, Coach Brendan O’Connell’s team delivered a thrilling week of basketball. Led by a formidable set of guards, the Raiders overcame a 22-point deficit to defeat their arch-rival Bowie Bulldogs in their playoff opener. The Raiders entered the game with two wins over the Bulldogs this season, but Bowie’s lead surged into the third quarter amid a barrage of three-pointers. The tide turned as Roosevelt forced the Bulldogs into turnovers, highlighted by an emphatic transition dunk by senior Jaden Faulkner that elicited an eruption from the packed home crowd. Juston Bailey’s three free throws capped off the Raiders’ comeback. It was Bailey’s leadership that willed the Raiders to victory two nights later as Roosevelt visited the county champion Wise Pumas – one of only two county teams to defeat the Raiders this season.
After sprinting to an 18-2 lead, Roosevelt appeared ready to avenge last year’s season-ending loss but Wise slowly climbed its way back in. After the Pumas regained the lead junior Cameron Brown knocked down a huge three-pointer to resuscitate the Raiders. Wise’s Sherwyn Devonish nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Between Bailey’s will and junior guard Isaiah Gross’ grit, the Raiders ended the game on a 13-0 run, exiting the gym with skips of adolescent exuberance. In the region final against the Bladensburg Mustangs, the Raiders finally ran out of comebacks, although their performance didn’t lack in excitement. Trailing by nine with just over 50 seconds remaining, the Raiders forced multiple turnovers and pulled to within two after a patented three-point play from Gross. After a missed Mustang free throw, Faulkner drove the length of the court, just missing a chance to send the game to overtime. Time had finally run out on their season, but the Raiders’ performance didn’t lack in the effort and heart they exhibited throughout another impressive season as a team that annually contends for the state championship.