While the Howard County boys' basketball race is down to four teams, River Hill High at least appears to have fifth-place locked up. The Clarksville school defeated visiting Wilde Lake, 60-31, Thursday afternoon.

The Hawks (12-6 overall, 10-5 in Howard County) built a 29-8 halftime lead as seniors Zach Serleth and Jonathan Blasher each scored nine points. Dylan Chaney and Chris Cole each had eight to lead the Wildecats (2-15, 1-14).

River Hill, which reached the county championship game last season en route to the Class 3A state championship, will have a huge say in the stretch run, playing the three teams currently tied for second behind Marriotts Ridge to finish the regular season. The Hawks travel to Atholton Wednesday, before concluding in Clarksville against Howard Feb. 20 and at Long Reach Feb. 22.

Wilde Lake: Chaney 8, Elkhargigi 3, Martin 4, Thrower 2, Cole 8, Waters 6. Totals 12 5-15 31.
River Hill: Matsunaga 7, Asher 5, Singh 7, Ashtianie 5, Blasher 9, Serleth 9, McCarthy 8, Ames 5, Jones, Kane 4. Totals 20 13-21 60. Halftime: River Hill 29, Wilde Lake 8.


Atholton 64, Reservoir 53
Matt Robinson scored 15 points and Anthony Jones and Shane Brown each added 11 as Atholton stayed a game out of first with a victory in Fulton. Senior center Bill Reybold led Reservoir with a game-high 16 points, and Matt Whitmer contributed 11.

The defending county champion Raiders (16-3, 13-2) will travel to league-leading Marriotts Ridge Monday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. Atholton handed the Mustangs their only league loss, 75-65, in December in Columbia.
 
After Monday, Atholton has River Hill and Hammond remaining in the regular season. Reservoir hosts Wilde Lake Monday afternoon.

Atholton: Iscandari 5, Hart 4, Brown 11, Cook 3, Jones 11, Cortes 2, Settle 9, Hermina 4, Robinson 15. Totals 25 12-26 64.
Reservoir: Reybold 16, Matthews 10, Brooks 4, Summers 2, Whitmer 11, Godbout 8, Schuster 2. Totals 19 10-13 53. Halftime: Atholton 33, Reservoir 27.

Long Reach 65, Glenelg 33
Obi Ukwuoma had a game-high 19 points, and senior guard Deon Queen contributed 11, leading Long Reach past Glenelg on Dobbin Road. Allante Crenshaw had 10 for the Lightning (17-2, 13-2), who remained a game behind second-place Atholton and Howard.

Long Reach travels to Wilde Lake Wednesday. Bruce Richardson led Glenelg (7-12, 5-10) with 18 points. The Gladiators are at Centennial Monday afternoon.

Glenelg: Sones 5, Richardson 18, Osbourne 4, Felix 6. Totals 13 2-7 33.
Long Reach: Crenshaw 10, Queen 11, Ukwuoma 19, Lloyde 7, Devine 7, Fambro 7, Mercer 4. Totals 27 9-13 65. Halftime: Long Reach 24, Glenelg 18.

Oakland Mills 54, Hammond 53
Ryan Dunlap had 18 points and Gionni Williams added 10 as Oakland Mills (5-14, 5-10) held off Hammond on Guilford Road. Junior guard Chris Baker scored a game-high 29 points for Hammond (2-14, 2-13), which dropped its 10th consecutive decision.

The Scorpions travel to Glenelg Monday afternoon while Hammond visits Howard.

Oakland Mills: J. Williams 5, Dunlap 18, Striano 4, McMillan 2, Sturm 5, G. Williams 10, Pines 4, Lee 4, Whittington 2. Totals 19 14-23 54.
Hammond: Wenig 6, Johnson 4, Blossom 6, Rogers 8, Baker 29. Totals 19 12-12 53. Halftime: Hammond 28, Oakland Mills 23.