Wise's Late Run Trumps E. Roosevelt

Just when it seemed Wise was about to suffer another painful end to the season, the Pumas found a way to seize the momentum. Junior guard Andre Makell and senior guard Melvin Barfield converted three-point plays, igniting a game-ending surge in the final three minutes that led Wise to a 71-58 victory over visiting Eleanor Roosevelt last night in the Maryland 4A South region championship game before 2,000 in Upper Marlboro.

Wise (20-5) advanced to Thursday's state semifinals against East Region champion Thomas Stone.

For a while, it looked like Roosevelt (18-6) would triumph. The Raiders had knocked Wise out of last season's playoffs with an 82-70 overtime victory, and they held a small lead much of the fourth quarter. A driving layup by James Smith gave the Raiders their last lead, 55-53 with 3 1/2 minutes left.

Then Wise took over as several players delivered key baskets. The three-point plays made it 59-55. Later, center Delonta Boyd (game-high 21 points, 10 rebounds) scored off an offensive rebound, and David Golladay scored on a fast break, part of an 18-3 run to close the game.

Phil Wood added 18 points while Golladay and Makell added 11 for the Pumas.

"Finally," Golladay said as he walked off the court clutching the regional championship trophy. "I've waited three years for this. I love this."

It has been quite a year for the Wise athletic program. This past fall, the third-year school won its first regional championship in football and advanced to the state semifinals. Three members of that team also play football, including Makell, and they have been talking to their teammates in recent weeks about their success.

"They tell us how good it feels," said Golladay, who has signed with Mount St. Mary's. "Now, we know it, too. We're going to the same place [the state semifinals], but we're trying to go further."

Springbrook Improves to 25-0

Jamal Olasewere hit a three-pointer at the first-half buzzer to put an end to a Quince Orchard rally and then scored five of his game-high 25 points in the final two minutes to help No. 2 Springbrook pull away for a 65-51 victory in the Maryland 4A West region final at Blair.

The victory extended Springbrook's area-best winning streak to 34 games and kept alive the Blue Devils' hopes of becoming the first repeat 4A champion in 41 years. They will meet Walbrook (22-3) Thursday at 9 p.m. in the 4A state semifinals at Comcast Center.

Springbrook (25-0) got out to a 25-10 lead midway through the second quarter, but Quince Orchard (17-8) responded with an 11-2 run to seize momentum. Springbrook held for the final shot of the half. Olasewere stood on the right wing with four seconds left, took one dribble and hoisted a three-pointer that banked in as the buzzer sounded.

"Nothing was going for us," Olasewere said, "and we needed to do something about it, so I just put it up."