Public vs. Private Challenge again brings out area girls basketball elite

The Public vs. Private Challenge, the biggest event on the area’s girls basketball calendar, brought 12 of this week’s Baltimore Banner/VSN Top 15 teams to McDonogh School.

Top-ranked Poly pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 60-49 victory over Southern Maryland’s St. Mary’s Ryken. Norfolk State University-bound guard Da’Brya Clark scored 21 points for the Engineers (13-1 overall).

The defending Class 3A state champs went on a 14-2 run to start the fourth quarter. Senior guard Taylor Addison scored seven of her nine points in the fourth.

“We settled in, being more responsible about what they had to do,” said Engineers coach Kendall Peace-Able. “They’re maturing, they’re 17 not 15 anymore, even though we have a mix of seniors and some juniors.”

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No. 3 McDonogh scored the first 12 points en route to a 67-34 rout of Montgomery County’s Stone Ridge. Freshman guard Autumn Fleary finished with 19 points and post Kennedy Umeh added 17.

The Eagles (15-2) led, 32-23, at halftime then went on a 22-7 run in the third to expand their lead to 54-30. Ava McKennie had 12 points.

No. 8 St. Timothy’s rallied for a 71-65 victory over Old Mill. LaSalle recruit Aryss Macktoon scored 25 points and Karmen McDuffie added 16.

Trailing 12-3 after the opening quarter, St. Timothy’s (9-3) outscored the Patriots, 47-27, over the second and third periods to claim a 50-39 lead. Macktoon scored her 25 points over the final three quarters.

Nevaeh Brown Watts had 17 points and senior post Amani Watts added 15 for Old Mill (8-6), which lost to Anne Arundel County rival and No. 6 Glen Burnie Friday evening. The Patriots have lost six straight to the Gophers, dating back to last season.

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No. 12 St. Mary’s continued its perfect season with a 57-33 victory over Harford Tech. Freshman Bailey Harris finished with 21 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Alexandra Vandiver added 15 points and seven rebounds.

The Saints (18-0) led 33-11 at halftime and 47-17 after three quarters. Amya Goodsell finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, and junior Jordan Strang had eight points and 14 rebounds for Harford Tech (8-5).

No. 11 Western and 13th-ranked Pikesville fell to their private school foes. The defending Class 4A state champion Doves (6-4) lost, 44-43, to St. Andrews Episcopal from Montgomery County.

McDonogh's Ari Benjamin shoots over Stone Ridge's Mary Hollensteiner during Saturday's girls basketball contest at the Public vs. Private Challenge at McDonogh. (Derek Toney)

After a close first quarter, Pikesville was distanced by Maret from the District, 47-30. Junior guard Tykeisha Hill led the Panthers (10-4) with seven points.

The defending 1A state champs trailed 13-12 after one, but managed 11 points over the next two quarters to trail, 35-23.

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PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE CHALLENGE

at McDonogh

Archbishop Spalding 49, Friendship Collegiate (D.C.) 40

Bryn Mawr 41, City 34

Catonsville 38, Severn 37

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Concordia Prep 65, South River 31

Eastern Tech 43, Friends 37

Gerstell 53, Chesapeake-Anne Arundel 38

Loch Raven 59, Rosedale Christian 35