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Vikings are dominant in a match-up of Howard County unbeatens.
Coach Scott Robinson dispenses strategy as his Mount Hebron team huddles during a timeout.
by Tim Brackney
The notion, �Defense wins games,� proved to be true as the Mount Hebron girls basketball team (11-0, 8-0) stifled the high powered offense of the visiting Atholton Raiders (8-3, 8-1), 48-28, in front of a packed house Friday night. The Vikings were led by senior forward Deanna Dydynski and junior guard Brittany Bowen, who scored 14 points each.
Both teams came into the game with undefeated county records and tied for first place in the league. Needless to say, it was the biggest game of the season for both teams.
Several college coaches were in attendance, alongside family, friends, and a rowdy student section. The home court advantage was a definite factor as the Vikings came out with resounding intensity that lasted the entire night.
Mount Hebron ran its half court flex offense to perfection, getting open threes and uncontested layups the majority of the game, while Atholton found the going a bit tougher. Defense was the key.
The Vikings have held their opponents to an incredible average of only 32 points per game this season. The Raiders were averaging 65 points a game. If two teams could ever have completely different styles of play, this was a prime example. In this case, strong team defense outplayed a high powered offense.
Atholton�s run and gun style of play was held in check as the Vikings forced many turnovers with intense full court pressure. The Raiders senior backcourt duo of Elie Snyder and Britany Coughlan contributed 14 and nine points respectively, but found it very difficult to get open shots. The rest of the Raiders lineup scored a total of five points.
Bowen�s excellent defense on Coughlan was a key factor all night, forcing Coughlan to take deep contested threes and keeping the athletic guard from driving to the basket.
The Vikings started the game and ended the game very strong, holding the Raiders to only four points in both the first and fourth quarter alone. The Viking defense allowed only ten points in the entire first half.
Late in the third quarter, with the Raiders clawing their way back into the game, Dydynski responded by scoring five straight points, one of which was a baseline jumper at the buzzer, killing any momentum the Raiders were trying to gather and giving the Vikings a comfortable 40-24 lead.
The momentum shift at the end of the third quarter seemed to be the nail in the coffin as the Vikings made sure that Atholton wouldn�t make another run.
Coach Scott Robinson�s Viking squad now sits alone atop the County standings and its record remains undefeated. With the type of defense that was displayed Friday night, it�s no wonder why.
The notion, �Defense wins games,� proved to be true as the Mount Hebron girls basketball team (11-0, 8-0) stifled the high powered offense of the visiting Atholton Raiders (8-3, 8-1), 48-28, in front of a packed house Friday night. The Vikings were led by senior forward Deanna Dydynski and junior guard Brittany Bowen, who scored 14 points each.
Both teams came into the game with undefeated county records and tied for first place in the league. Needless to say, it was the biggest game of the season for both teams.
Several college coaches were in attendance, alongside family, friends, and a rowdy student section. The home court advantage was a definite factor as the Vikings came out with resounding intensity that lasted the entire night.
Mount Hebron ran its half court flex offense to perfection, getting open threes and uncontested layups the majority of the game, while Atholton found the going a bit tougher. Defense was the key.
The Vikings have held their opponents to an incredible average of only 32 points per game this season. The Raiders were averaging 65 points a game. If two teams could ever have completely different styles of play, this was a prime example. In this case, strong team defense outplayed a high powered offense.
Atholton�s run and gun style of play was held in check as the Vikings forced many turnovers with intense full court pressure. The Raiders senior backcourt duo of Elie Snyder and Britany Coughlan contributed 14 and nine points respectively, but found it very difficult to get open shots. The rest of the Raiders lineup scored a total of five points.
Bowen�s excellent defense on Coughlan was a key factor all night, forcing Coughlan to take deep contested threes and keeping the athletic guard from driving to the basket.
The Vikings started the game and ended the game very strong, holding the Raiders to only four points in both the first and fourth quarter alone. The Viking defense allowed only ten points in the entire first half.
Late in the third quarter, with the Raiders clawing their way back into the game, Dydynski responded by scoring five straight points, one of which was a baseline jumper at the buzzer, killing any momentum the Raiders were trying to gather and giving the Vikings a comfortable 40-24 lead.
The momentum shift at the end of the third quarter seemed to be the nail in the coffin as the Vikings made sure that Atholton wouldn�t make another run.
Coach Scott Robinson�s Viking squad now sits alone atop the County standings and its record remains undefeated. With the type of defense that was displayed Friday night, it�s no wonder why.
A packed house enjoyed Mount Hebron's home win over Atholton, on Friday, in a meeting of Howard County unbeatens.
Mount Hebron 48, Atholton 28
Atholton: Snyder 14, Chapman 2, Conroy 2, Coughlan 9, Cook 1. Totals 10 6-14 28.
Mount Hebron: Dydynski 14, Bowen 14, Zabel 10, Wallpher 4, Coleman 4, Stafford 2. Totals 17 11-14 48.
Half: Mount Hebron, 23-10.
