by Aaron Gray
agray@digitalsports.com

(Video highlights here)

Adams Johnson scored a team-high 20 points to lift The Blue over the Rough Riders, 57-51, in ML Summer Basketball League action at the Annapolis Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday night.

The Blue (City) also got 13 points from Nardy Bogues, improved to 6-0 and stand atop the AIR Division. Darwin Drakeford had a game-high 25 points for the Rough Riders (Rossevelt), who have dropped two straight after starting the season 4-0.

Collin Beatty continued his tear through the league with 29 points to lead the Bengals (Duval) past the Patriots (Friendly), 67-41. The Bengals, the top team in the PUMP Divison with a 5-1 record, opened a 37-12 halftime score and didn't look back. The Patriots fell to 2-4.

Delmore Howard notched 13 points to pace the Cavaliers (Spalding) in their 66-22 victory over the Saints (St. Mary's). The Cavaliers improved to 4-2 while the Saints, who got six points from Neal Hercules, fell to 3-3.

The Colts (Coolidge) got 13 points from Derrick Washington and improved to 4-2 after their 64-32 win over the Admirals (Severn). The Admirals got 10 points from Alex Testoff, but it wasn't enough as they fell to 3-3.

In Tuesday night's action, the Bengals made another statement with their 54-41 victory over the previously undefeated Rough Riders. Beatty had 11 points and 11 rebounds while Dominque McNeal added 16 points for the Bengals.

Brendan Bald scored a game-high 17 points and Team Semper Fi (Severna Park) got into the win column with its 49-48 victory over the B-Ballers (Poly). Team Semper Fi (1-4) held a slim 28-26 advantage at halftime. The B-Ballers (1-4) got 15 points from Daryl Thompson.

The Saints got 13 points from Tyler Brady and maintained their four-point halftime lead to pull out a 34-30 win over the Admirals, who were paced by Ben Montgomery with 12 points.

On Monday, Kendell Smith had 20 points to lead Southern Maryland (Thomas Stone) to a 58-33 victory over Gunthers (Annapolis); The Blue tripped up the Cavaliers, 76-58; and the Colts got by the Patriots, 45-40.

Check back with DigitalSports for weekly recaps on all the league's games. For a master schedule of upcoming games, click here.

For more information, feel free to email Ed Meyers (Game Plan Sports, Inc.) or Henry Downs (Annapolis Boys & Girls Club).

ML Summer League Standings
AIR Division
The Blue (City)                 6-0
Cavaliers (Spalding)          4-2
Colts (Coolidge)               4-2
Gunthers (Annapolis)        3-2
Southern Md. (T. Stone)   2-3
Patriots (Friendly)             2-4
Eagles (AACS)                 1-3
Friars (Curley)                  0-4

PUMP Division
Bengals (Duval)               5-1
Rough Riders (Roosevelt)  4-2
Admirals (Severn)            3-3
Saints (St. Mary's)           3-3
Bays (Broadneck)            1-3
Kings (Parkville)               1-3
B-Ballers (Poly)                1-4
Semper Fi (Sev. Park)      1-4

This Week's Schedule
(all games played at Annapolis Boys & Girls Club)

Monday, July 7
Southern Md. at Kings, 6:30 p.m.
Gunthers at B-Baller, 7:30 p.m.
Friars at Bays, 8:30 p.m.
Eagles at Semper Fi, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 8
Gunthers at Saints, 6:30 p.m.
Friars at Admirals, 7:30 p.m.
Southern Md. at Bengals, 8:30 p.m.
Eagles at Rough Riders, 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 9
Patriots at Kings, 6:30 p.m.
Colts at Bays, 7:30 p.m.
Cavaliers at B-Ballers, 8:30 p.m.
The Blue at Saints, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 10
Colts at Gunthers, 6:30 p.m.
Friars at Southern Md., 7:30 p.m.
Eagles at The Blue, 8:30 p.m.
Cavaliers at Patriots, 9:30 p.m.
 
Friday, July 11
Semper Fi at Admirals, 6:30 p.m.
Rough Riders at Bays, 7:30 p.m.
Saints at Bengals, 8:30 p.m.
B-Ballers at Kings, 9:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, July 12
Bengals at Bays, 5:30 p.m. (Make-up game)
Patriots at Eagles, 6:30 p.m.
Gunthers at Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m.
Southern Md. at Colts, 8:30 p.m.
The Blue at Friars, 9:30 p.m.