Montgomery Lifts Springbrook

Alyssa Montgomery wanted a second chance to redeem Springbrook's inconsistent regular season. She wound up getting a whole bunch of chances in the Blue Devils' playoff opener.

Six of Montgomery's 10 field goals came on offensive rebounds as she scored a game-high 20 points and made a clinching steal in the final seconds in Springbrook's 51-48 home victory over Northwest in a first-round Maryland 4A West Region playoff game.

Following three consecutive 20-victory seasons, Springbrook dipped to 11-11 this season. The Blue Devils' reputation took a few dings, and Montgomery, a tri-captain, didn't take too kindly to that.

"I just had that extra hustle in me, that extra fire," said Montgomery, who scored nearly double her season average last night. "It comes from being tired of being the underdog. We got that from having an on-and-off season. People said we were very beatable and we wanted to show that we're not."

Montgomery led a Springbrook front line that attacked the offensive glass. Seventeen of the Blue Devils' 24 field goals came in the lane, including nine on offensive rebounds.

"The difference in the game was rebounding," Northwest Coach Marc Waldman said. "Montgomery was a terror inside."

Springbrook Coach Oliver Riggs said he had to persuade his players to make sure to look inside for offense.

"I've been trying to get the team to get the big girls involved," Riggs said. Montgomery "hit the glass very hard. When she's determined to hit the glass, there's no one better in Montgomery County."

Montgomery's layup with just under three minutes to go in the first quarter started a 7-0 Springbrook run to give the Blue Devils the lead for good, 13-9. Northwest (12-11) -- relying on its high-scoring, inside-outside duo of senior Nikki Day (17 points) and junior Deven Green (18) -- kept Northwest close, drawing even four times but never getting the go-ahead basket.

After Northwest's Amber Mitchell made a steal in the back court and a quick layup with 1 minute 1 second left in the game, Springbrook's lead was cut to 49-48, and the Blue Devils had gone more than three minutes without a field goal. They couldn't convert on the ensuing possession and, after a timeout with 28 seconds left, Northwest tried to hold for the final shot.

But Montgomery saw the Jaguars trying to find Green inside. She stepped in front of the pass with just under 10 seconds left and stole the ball. She took a couple of dribbles downcourt and fed Ferin Richardson for a game-sealing layup.

Springbrook 51 Northwest 48 Up Next: Springbrook will play at Whitman on Monday at 7 p.m. in a Maryland 4A West quarterfinal. Good Help: With leading scorer Alyssa Montgomery in foul trouble in the third quarter, sophomore Sunny Conway-Flores scored nine of her 17 points to keep Springbrook ahead. Springbrook 51 Northwest 48 Up Next: Springbrook will play at Whitman on Monday at 7 p.m. in a Maryland 4A West quarterfinal. Good Help: With leading scorer Alyssa Montgomery in foul trouble in the third quarter, sophomore Sunny Conway-Flores scored nine of her 17 points to keep Springbrook ahead.