Howard County school gives Ducks a challenge; Strong and Simms combine for 36.

Atholton's Shane Brown pushes the ball upcourt as Douglass' Omar Strong gives chase. The Ducks eased by the Raiders from Howard County in a non-league match Monday on Gwynns Falls Parkway.
 
Senior guard Omar Strong scored 19 points and senior forward Brandon Simms added 17 as No. 6 Douglass High held off Atholton, 68-63, in a boys' basketball non-league contest in west Baltimore Monday afternoon.

Senior guard Justin Berry scored 15 points for the Ducks (6-3), who converted 26 of 32 free throws. Devon Cook tied Strong for game-high honors with 19 points to lead Atholton (6-3).

Coming off its victory over last season's state Class 3A champion River Hill Friday evening in a rematch of the Howard County championship game, the Raiders weren't intimidated by the perennial Baltimore City power. Atholton, which has lost in the past two 2A South Region title games, is looking to breakthrough this season in the 3A East Region. Anthony Jones (five points), Aziz Iscandari (eight) and Deyon Cook are returning starters.

The Raiders will be home for Oakland Mills Wednesday and Friday against Mount Hebron before a two-week break for exams. Douglass' next action will be at the Basketball Academy at Morgan State University. Thursday evening, the Ducks will face Prince George's County power Largo, ranked fourth in the Washington metro area. Friday, Douglass renews its rivalry with defending 2A state champ and No. 5 Randallstown.   

Douglass 68, Atholton 63
Atholton: Iscandari 8, Hart 8, Brown 8, Cook 19, Jones 5, Curtis 11, Settle 2, Hairston 2, Robinson 6. Totals 24 7-11 63.
Douglass: Garner 3, Eubanks 8, Strong 19, Simms 17, Berry 15, McCray 6. Totals 19 26-32 68. Halftime: Douglass 32, Atholton 31.