For anyone that attended last season’s Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference championship game, seeing Gerstell and Severn at the top of the Black and Red division standings entering their first meeting since the Admirals cut down the nets was a shock to no one.
As expected, Wednesday the two teams once again put on a show. Severn coach Mike Glasby begged his team to dig deep and finish strong after Gerstell’s Victor Ray drove to the rim and hit a shot over three defenders, tying the game with just four minutes left.
After that shot, the Admirals didn’t give up a single point.
A 10-0 run followed as the defending conference champions turned up the intensity, made tough shots and got the key stops the needed, walking away with the road victory, 49-39, over Gerstell on Wednesday.
“Extremely proud of our guys,” Glasby said. “We knew they would present a challenge for us, but we came in talking about executing and playing to our ability the best we could.”
From the opening tip, it became very apparent the key to stopping the Falcons would be slowing down Ray on the outside and big man Colin Toms in the paint. Despite Ray finishing with a game-high 21 points, the Admirals made him work hard for everything, putting the pressure on and forcing the talented guard to defend as well.
“Severn is a very good team, they played well defensively tonight,” Gerstell coach Jeff Cheevers said. “We couldn’t score when we needed to tonight, but I thought we defended well enough to win, we just have to figure things out on the offensive end.”
After an even first quarter, the Falcons found themselves playing without Toms and Ray for a stretch in the second due to foul trouble and the Admirals pounced.
They began to move the ball, bringing the same intensity from the defensive end and putting it to use offensively. Undersized, several of the Severn guards drove to the rim fearlessly, kicking the ball out to open shooters and keeping the ball moving.
“We tell all of our guards to be aggressive,” Glasby said. “We tell them to let everything else set up your offense — your defense, your rebounding, your ability to attack the basket. When you do that, you get into a rhythm.”
When the ball found Sean Harvey, the junior made the most of every opportunity as he stepped into each shot with purpose and confidence, finishing with 14 points.
“I was aggressive,” Harvey said. “With Jacob [Randall] out, I knew I had to step up as a leader today. “
Once Harvey got going, the Severn offense opened up. Fellow guards Daniel Growney and DJ Lee each hit tough shots as the Admirals responded every time it looked like the Falcons picked up momentum.
Late in the third, the ball found Harvey in the corner as he looked two flying Falcons defenders in the face and drilled a 3-pointer , converting a four-point play and showing the resolve and toughness synonymous with the championship winning program.
“Sean’s game has been growing these past couple of weeks,” Glasby said. “We’re starting to see him make the right plays regardless of if the defensing is keying on him, I’ve been extremely proud of him.”
With the Falcons looking to make one final push, the Admirals turned to another program staple: scrappy, tough defense.
Holding Gerstell scoreless for the final four minutes of the game, Harvey smiled as he, Ben Hilburn, Grayson Skeeter and many others took turns sticking to shooters and pressuring ball handlers, forcing turnovers that led to easy baskets down the stretch.
“We may not be the biggest, but we’re definitely the grittiest team in the league,” Harvey said. “It’s why we have the best defense and will continue to have the best defense.”
After a final steal from Hilburn and a free throw from Growney to seal the deal, Harvey was all smiles, clapping and receiving a standing ovation from the well-traveled section of Admirals fans and parents.
Glasby knows the celebration will be short lived as the Admirals are set to get right back to it Friday, looking to once again put their stamp on the conference en route to another championship.
“We got a ton of respect for Gerstell, but we know we need to take things one day at a time,” Glasby said. “After the win, you feel happy getting on the bus, but we’re instantly focused on out next opponent.”
Severn 49, Gerstell 39
S- Sean Harvey 14, Daniel Growney 11, DJ Lee 10, Ben Hilburn 9, Jayden Thomas 5
G- Victor Gray 21, Colin Toms 10, Grant Ray 6, Emre Tari 2
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