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Jao Ituka powers Gaithersburg past Seneca Valley - The Washington Post

As Montgomery County's lengthy, prerecorded announcement before Wednesday's game between Seneca Valley and Gaithersburg played on the loudspeaker, the Trojans' <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/allmetsports/gaithersburg/jao-ituka/?utm_term=.0a827ea049a9" >Jao Ituka</a>
 alternated tugging at the jersey and mussing the hair of the teammate in front of him. He then turned around and blew in another teammate's ear, greeting him with a smile when he looked up.

As soon as the game began, that version of Ituka was nowhere to be found in Germantown. The all-business version took over, ripping down rebounds on both ends of the court and absorbing contact while finishing at the rim. 

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/this-division-i-hoops-hopeful-is-taking-an-increasingly-rare-path--through-public-school/2017/11/27/084b69ee-d383-11e7-9461-ba77d604373d_story.html?utm_term=.fda50b570368"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">The 6-foot-1 Cameroon native's</a> energy sparked Gaithersburg to an early lead, and the freshman finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 74-56 win.

"When that buzzer goes and we walk onto the court for the jump ball, it's game time," Ituka said. "Everything is serious." 

Coming off a 67-63 loss to Richard Montgomery, Gaithersburg (14-4) responded by jetting out to a 19-3 advantage against Seneca Valley (13-4), forcing turnovers and capitalizing on offense.

"We were pretty devastated after the loss," Ituka said. "I had to just come out here and get the momentum going."

With leading scorer Triston Price sidelined with a torn medial collateral ligament, the Screamin' Eagles fought hard, trimming Gaithersburg's lead to single digits before the end of the first quarter.

The deficit hovered there until the closing minutes of the second, when Jordan Hawkins cleaned up a missed shot with a layup and then drained a three-pointer on the following possession to spark a 7-0 rally that put Gaithersburg up 39-23 at the half.

The 6-4 Hawkins, also a freshman, had some growing pains adapting his game to the high school level, but they weren't evident on this night. He scored 21 points, connected on three three-pointers and grabbed 11 rebounds.

"I had to adjust my jump shot because I used to bring it down below my knees," Hawkins said. "I had to get stronger. The game's way faster, too, so I had to adjust to that."

Mazae Blake got hot in the second half, leading one last push by Seneca Valley with a 15-point third quarter.

"He throws it in from everywhere," Gaithersburg Coach Jeff Holda said of Blake, who scored a game-high 27 points. "Everybody's thinking, 'Oh, they don't have Triston.' Yeah, but they've got Mazae. This kid's incredible."

But the Trojans returned to the things that led them on their initial run to start the game, forcing turnovers and capitalizing in the fourth quarter. They pulled away from there, punctuating the win with a fast-break dunk by Hawkins, assisted by Ituka.

Dan Roth covered high school sports and contributed to The Early Lead and D.C. Sports Bog for The Washington Post. He left The Post in March 2018.

Dan Roth

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High School Sports

This is your source for info on DC, Maryland, and Virginia high school sports. Get the latest schedules, scores, and rankings for local high schools. Stay updated on the latest Washington area high school sports news!

The Washington Post Sports section provides sports news, video, scores, analysis and updates about high school, college, and pro sports teams, including the Capitals, Nationals, Redskins, United and Wizards. Post Sports also offers blogs and discussions about the latest sports news.

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Abbey Green sweeps distance events at Montgomery County championships - The Washington Post

With the 1,600-meter meet record already in hand, Walter Johnson senior Abbey Green pushed ahead of the 3,200 field as soon as the starting gun fired at Tuesday's Montgomery County indoor track championships.  

Green held a six-second lead just 400 meters into the race. Before finishing her sixth lap, Green had already lapped her first competitor. She eclipsed the remainder of the field before 10 minutes had elapsed, eventually breezing across the finish line in 10 minutes 45.75 seconds — eight seconds under the meet record. 

"I definitely had the 3,200 record on my mind," said Green, who had broken her own 1,600 record in 5:01.37. "One of the big goals of the day was to be able to get that."

Green finished her day in the 800, in pursuit of the elusive distance triple: She edged Blair's Morgan Casey down the stretch in 2:23.59.

Northwood senior Eldon Phillips knew early on in the boys' 800-meter run that he couldn't follow his usual strategy of pushing the pace throughout.

"After that first lap, I realized I was tired from the [4x800 relay], so I had to do just as much as I could to still have enough for a kick," Phillips said. "I know [Poolesville's] Ryan Lockett and Garrett [Suhr of Richard Montgomery] — all of them — they have kicks, and I had to be prepared for that."

Sure enough, Suhr shifted into high gear and took the lead with about 300 meters to go. Lockett then spent his energy reserve and bolted ahead with just over 100 meters remaining. But Phillips pulled even and edged Lockett in 1:57.15; both ducked under the meet record. 

Northwest had won three consecutive boys' team titles entering the meet, and senior Khaloni Mganga wasn't going to let that streak end under his watch. He kicked things off in the 300, focusing on starting well in a race that he hadn't run on a flat track in over a month. 

"I had to make sure I got out," said Mganga, who won the 300 in 35.61 and the 55 in 6.47 seconds. "When I reached about 150 meters, I had to kick my stride in with a nice big stride. I got the back curve, and I had to kick it back in gear again."

The Northwest boys secured the team title with 108 points, ahead of Springbrook (46) and Paint Branch (42). 

Junior Taylor Wright led the Jaguars on the girls' side with wins in the 55 (7.20 seconds) and the high jump (5 feet 6) as Northwest won its third straight girls' county championship with 98 points, ahead of Walter Johnson (76) and Paint Branch (56).

One of the area's best high jumpers, Wright bowed out after clearing 5-6 to conserve energy for the 4x200 relay. 

"It's always good to help out for the team," Wright said. "It's always good to know your hard work paid off."

Faith Meininger won the 1,600 (5:17.64) and the 3,200 (11:26.65) to lead River Hill to the girls' team title at the Howard County championships Monday with 111 points. Atholton (107.33) was second at Prince George's Sports and Learning Center, followed by Mount Hebron (96).

<b>More high school sports coverage:</b>


<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/edison-girls-basketball-upsets-no-9-tc-williamsin-a-prove-yourself-victory/2018/01/30/e0de7efc-0521-11e8-b48c-b07fea957bd5_story.html?utm_term=.6eb6fe44ecb9"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">Edison girls' basketball upsets No. 9 T.C. Williams</a>


<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/recruiting-insider/wp/2018/01/29/cool-belt-dude-long-reach-player-and-special-needs-student-visit-wwe-royal-rumble/?utm_term=.d4f0647a92f2"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">'Cool belt, dude': Long Reach player and special needs student visit WWE Royal Rumble</a>


<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/boys-basketball-top-20-bullis-rises-as-playoffs-near-while-paul-vi-remains-no-1/2018/01/29/201b4b42-046c-11e8-ae28-e370b74ea9a7_story.html?utm_term=.c99739f06ae1"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">Paul VI remains atop The Post's boys' basketball rankings</a>


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Douglass stays hot, turns back Annapolis at DMV Winter Classic - The Washington Post

After showing promise by taking down several ranked opponents early in the season, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/allmetsports/2017-winter/douglass/boys-basketball/?utm_term=.23970b61f2cf"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">Douglass</a> showed a tendency to take a step back with a loss soon afterward. A little inconsistency was to be expected with just one starter and three total players returning from last year's team.  

But after Saturday's <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/allmetsports/2017-winter/games/boys-basketball/94807/"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">74-63 victory</a> over <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/allmetsports/2017-winter/annapolis/boys-basketball/"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">Annapolis</a> (11-6) at the DMV Winter Classic, a slate of six games held at Parkdale, the Eagles' identity seemed as solid as the five-game winning streak they've compiled over the past 10 days. 

"Aggressive, defensive-minded," senior <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/allmetsports/douglass/kaylen-vines1/"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">Kaylen Vines</a> said without hesi­ta­tion when asked how the team defines itself. "We're starting to get our rhythm and learn about each other. We're just trying to use that and take it all the way."

The Eagles (11-4) set the tone early by outhustling Annapolis on defense and on the offensive glass. It was no coincidence that they entered with a defensive message drilled home by Coach Tyrone Massenburg. They would need every bit of effort to slow Annapolis's <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/allmetsports/annapolis/christian-jones/"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">Christian Jones</a>, one of the area's top scorers who was coming off a 31-point effort Friday.

Massenburg used a combination of Vines, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/allmetsports/douglass/eric-isler/"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">Eric Isler</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/allmetsports/douglass/darnell-snowden/"  title="www.washingtonpost.com">Darnell Snowden</a> to match up with Jones, partly to keep his players fresh and partly to throw different looks at Jones.

"They all have different body types," Massenburg explained. "Kaylen has the long arms. Darnell is quick and plays the dribble better, while Kaylen is more of a deny-type player. Eric is a physical player. [Jones] still scored, though. He's a tough player."

While Vines settled in on one end, adroitly navigating to the elbow and sinking several pull-up jumpers for nine first-quarter points, Jones went to work on the other. After sinking a pretty floater down the left side of the lane, he stepped back for a deep three-pointer that rang true. 

The Eagles led 22-13 after the first quarter, but the Panthers clawed back to within five early in the second. For a time, the Panthers kept the Eagles' offense at bay with a standard 2-3 zone. But Douglass forced the zone to expand with ball movement and feeding sophomore Chris Smith in the low post. By halftime, Douglass  expanded its lead to 11. 

Isler found his groove after the break, pacing the Eagles with 14 points in the second half. Though Douglass made it as hard, Jones continued to find ways to score for Annapolis until suffering an injury in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers trailed by eight with 4:23 to play when Jones went slashing to the basket, drew contact and appeared to fall headfirst into a defender's knee. After several minutes down on the court, Jones (20 points) was assisted out of the gym. Annapolis Coach Dan Smalley said after the game that he went to the hospital with an apparent concussion.

 Jabraun Shingler helped seal the win for Douglass with eight fourth-quarter points. When the clock turned to zeros, Douglass was upbeat, but there was no discernible celebration either on the court or in the locker room. 

"This is business," Isler said. "We're trying to win a state championship."

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Wilson completes sweep of DCIAA indoor meet; Dunbar’s Lenea Johnson stars - The Washington Post

Controversy ensued after runners burst from their blocks before the starting gun fired in the 55-meter dash Wednesday at the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association championships. 

McKinley Tech's Melady Brown appeared to be the first to jump. Two other runners followed, while Brown's teammate, Ahmya Mc­Keithan, didn't appear to move. Both Brown and McKeithan were disqualified.

As emotions erupted in the stands and officials, who ultimately stood by the decision, tried to sort things out, Dunbar junior 8ea Johnson stood by her blocks at Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex visualizing one thing. 

"I was thinking about the MVP trophy," she said. 

Johnson clocked 7.41 seconds to win the 55 before taking gold in the triple jump (34 feet 9 inches) and high jump (4-10). She also placed second in the long jump (16-½ ), behind teammate Aiona Green (16-2¼ ). 

"I never did high jump before, and I came out and won," Johnson said. "That was a personal goal."

McKinley's Caliyah McKeithan entered the meet in Landover planning to get out faster in the 500. She did just that to win in 1:18.08 before doubling back to take gold in the 300 in 41.40 seconds. She brought home two more gold medals as part of the Trainers' 4x200 (1:46.64) and 4x400 (4:15.19) relay teams.

Wilson captured its third consecutive girls' city title with 134 points on the strength of the Tigers' distance runners. McKinley Tech (94) and Dunbar (94) tied for second. 

<i>[Oxon Hill boys, Wise girls take team titles at Prince George’s indoor championships]</i>


By his own admission, Wilson senior Isaac Frumkin wasn't "out to break any records" on the boys' side. He conserved energy in the 1,600 until the home stretch, where he made his move to win in 4:42.72. 

He followed the same approach in the 800, this time taking the lead with 200 meters to go and vastly outpacing the field from there to cross in 2:06.07. 

"We really want to get first place overall, so we have to be strategic about how we run," Frumkin said after winning the 800. "I ran the mile the same way earlier, just to ensure that I could get the highest possible point total for my team. 

Frumkin helped seal Wilson's sixth straight boys' city title as part of the winning 4x400 relay, which crossed in 3:35.31. The Tigers finished with 126.5 points, followed by McKinley Tech (114) in second. Theodore Roosevelt (89) finished third, with junior Taahir Kelly winning both the 500 (1:09.56) and the 300 (35.65).

Severna Park claimed the girls' team title at the Anne Arundel County championships Tuesday with 137.5 points, ahead of South River (88) and Meade (63). 

Junior Emily Knight contributed 40 points to the Falcons' winning effort at Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex with wins in the 300, 500 and 800 and as part of the 4x400 relay team. 

South River secured the boys' team title with 129 points ahead of Severna Park (97) and Arundel (71).

Dan Roth

Washington, D.C.

Jao Ituka powers Gaithersburg past Seneca Valley

Abbey Green sweeps distance events at Montgomery County championships

Douglass stays hot, turns back Annapolis at DMV Winter Classic

Wilson completes sweep of DCIAA indoor meet; Dunbar’s Lenea Johnson stars

Bullis girls break national 4×200 relay mark as part of record-setting day

Oxon Hill boys, Wise girls take team titles at Prince George’s indoor championships

Jermaine Harris helps Rock Creek Christian ‘relax’ in win over Douglass

Loudoun Valley wins national boys’ cross-country championship

Loudoun Valley boys qualify for Nike Cross Nationals after winning regionals

Battle-tested Tuscarora closes out Princess Anne to win Virginia Class 5 volleyball title