Arundel boys basketball knows it’s good. It knows it might be one of the best in the county. But the last two weeks have proven any given night could belong to any one of its neighbors.
Friday’s fiery, physical clash between the Wildcats and South River had the same quality. The Seahawks, supposedly rebuilding after losing four of five starters, entered the night unbeaten with significant wins over Meade and St. Mary’s on their resume.
Up nine early in the fourth quarter, it seemed South River was marching to its fourth win. Instead, Arundel flipped the deficit completely, securing its 79-69 victory in the final minutes to earn its fourth win.
“I feel like this game made a statement,” said senior Noah Frayer, who netted 21 points. “I give great props to South River; they’re a great team. I feel like this boosted our confidence 30% more.”
The final four minutes dragged out without little input from the Seahawks (3-1). South River players stepped to the foul line six times, sinking five throws. Arundel, meanwhile, nailed 18 of 18 with Frayer stacking eight of his own.
That, South River coach Darren Hall said, was the game changer. Arundel had its leash on the momentum. Players like junior Jay Reed quieted the Seahawks’ hopes with every made basket.
“We do need to learn how to handle pressure late,” Hall said. “It’s a process.”
South River mounted a double-digit lead in the first quarter over the team many picked preseason as county favorites. A fluid, social spread between the new Seahawks starters and their leader, senior James Crimaudo, keyed the surge. It wasn’t perfect by any means — players tripped into cheap fouls and passes were overthrown. But between the monopoly South River enacted on the boards and the frequency of made baskets, the Seahawks were running Arundel’s court.
Until the Wildcats turned the dial on its physicality.
First, Arundel bodied in rebounds and putbacks. Then, it forced turnovers. Then, defense crowded the court so South River’s shooters lost their freedom. On the other side, Wildcats like Frayer carved so willfully through the Seahawks defense that he not only landed his shots but drew fouls.
Arundel junior Samson Anjorin clipped the lead to one, 20-19, with a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer and assumed control with another one just after the second quarter’s start.
“Defense is what drives us,” Arundel coach Rodney Ramsey said. “Our defense helps us transition to offense — fast breaks and turnovers and things of that nature. It’s something we take pride in and something we work on each and every day.”
The teams took turns going on runs, swapping the lead back-and-forth before the game tied at 39. Emotions flared to a fever pitch in the third quarter. The two sides traded 3-pointers, jumpers, hard-hitting crashes on shooters, fouls and leads. Officials stopped action to chide players.
The tide shifted when Arundel could no longer will its way to the basket as it had before. Crimaudo and sophomore Jaden McDuffie widened the gap but the lead wouldn’t hold.
“The focus was making sure we help because we started going man,” Frayer said. “We started getting lost. They were breaking the press easily, so that dribble penetration, easy for them to kick out and there’s a 50% chance of them making it.”
“We know we’re never going to get too high, never too low. It’s all about the team. We play for each other, not for ourselves,” Frayer said. “We hold each other accountable.”
At halftime, Arundel celebrated its inaugural Inclusion Game, celebrating Special Olympics, the Polar Bear Plunge and the Wildcats participating in it — so beloved by the school community that the Special Olympics Maryland made Arundel the background of the 2024 Polar Plunge page. Cross country, indoor track and field and lacrosse coach Carolyn Plitt brought the event to Arundel years ago.
“We [Arundel] like to take credit and ownership over making it better every year,” Arundel student-athlete Dylan Scarborough said.