2022-2023 Anne Arundel County Girls Basketball Forum

[dj1804]

As the Regionals begin it should be important that people understand that to advance teams need to play Offense and Defense....and Severna Park provided everyone with an example of what good solid Defense can do to help your chances of victory!!

To that end, let's talk Predators!! Today I want to talk about #33 Rae Ogle of South River (The Jackal) and her partner in crime #4 Calen Norton also of South River. Together, Ogle and Norton have accounted for over 160 Steals or takeaways this season....112 by Ogle alone!! That's why I have labeled them as Jackals, because they hunt you as a pair and patiently wait for the opportunity to pick your pocket. South River primarily plays a Zone on defense and seldom gives teams a chance to match up on the super aggressive Ogle, but in doing so, this allows the equally aggressive Norton to lull the opposition into a false sense of security and suddenly here comes Ogle off side and you are either trapped or picked clean. It happens the other way if you focus as some teams do on placing Ogle in a compromising position....Norton tends to be forgotten, and suddenly there she is...in your face. South River has often this season been slow starting on the Offensive side of the ball....but from the start these two young ladies have been very aggressive on the Defensive side of the ball. Last year I labeled Ogle the "Energizer Bunny" because of her constant motion....this year she and Norton are the "Jackals" and clearly are defenders to deal with!

[dj1804]

AA County 695hoops 2023 All County Freshman Team

#10 Kiamyani Scott Annapolis

#23 Mckenzie Fuller Annapolis

#31 Kiera West South River

#4 Maria Bragg Severna Park

#1 Starr Munford Glen Burnie

Honorable Mention

S. Matthews Crofton
M. Singletary Old Mill
M. Parker Northeast

This season has been a breakout season for a number of AA County Freshmen, with Scott, Fuller and West all ending amongst the Top Five Leading Scorers in the County. On the other hand Bragg and Munford as Freshmen received lots of playing time and contributed to their respective teams on the other side of the ball, both impacting several key games. Congratulations to all of these wonderful players...the sky is the limit for this group!

Next up: All County Defensive Team!!

[dj1804]

As the 2023 Seasons enters the second phase of the Regionals several AA County teams have had their seasons come to an end. Northeast is one of those teams, but it is not too late to recognize my Fifth Predator of the season, #1 Caitlyn Cornwell of Northeast...the "Cheetah"! Caitlyn is a DI Softball commit to the University of Maryland, and by far the fastest player I have seen in AA County in many a year. Prior to Caitlyn that honor had belonged to Malea Sharps of Old Mill, who presently is running Track for the UMES, I think Cornwell even has her beat in the area of flat out speed. Caitlyn was the leading scorer for the Eagles, but what impressed me the most (along with being just a nice kid) was her 109 Steals over an 18 game stretch. She finished the season with upwards of 122 Steals tying Rae Ogle of South River for the County Lead in that Statistical Category. And if you are wondering how she did it....I will tell you, quick hands and flat out speed. She often used her speed to surprise an opponent or simply ran down a offensive player from behind. A true Predator she was constantly seeking the ball and once she got it, she was off to the races seldom being caught by the opposing team. I can't wait to see #1 Caitlyn Cornwell play Softball this spring, but for me she will always be remembered as the Cheetah, a true Basketball Predator!!

[dj1804]

If there is any doubt as to the quality of Women's Basketball Talent to be found in AA County Public Schools all one has to do is look at the State Wide End of Season Stat Leaders and your faith in AA County Public Schools should be restored!

Now keep in mind, the Stats I am providing are from MaxPrep and cover all High Schools, Public and Private in the State of Maryland. This information is available to College Coaches and Scout throughout the Country which is why I always encourage Coaches to input their stats into MaxPrep! I will normally use Five Categories to Rank Players:

Scoring
Rebounds
Assists
Steals
Double/Doubles

With that in mind you would be amazed at how many AA County Player rank in the Top Ten State Wide in each Category!!

Scoring

#32 Ava Wooster Southern (3rd)
#15 Amourie Porter Glen Burnie (10th)

Rebounds

#32 Ava Wooster Southern (3rd)
#30 Kasey Slade (10th)

Assist

#33 Rae Ogle South River (4th)
#1 Catilyn Cornwell Northeast (10th)

Steals

#33 Rae Ogle South River (3rd)
#1 Catilyn Cornwell Northeast (4th)
#5 Lilly Spilker Severna Park (6th)
#15 Amourie Porter Glen Burnie (8th)

Double/Double

#32 Ava Wooster Southern (2nd)
#15 Amourie Porter Glen Burnie (7th)

Again, these are State Wide Rankings according to MaxPrep! Outstanding job done by all this young ladies and guess what....Only Porter, Cornwell and Spilker are Seniors!!!

[dj1804]

That State Final Four has been decided in each of the State Classifications and AA County Girls Basketball has been guaranteed a spot in the State Final as both Glen Burnie and Severna Park won their Quarterfinal Matchups! They will now meet each other for the third time this season for spot in the State Final! Congratulations to both the Gophers and the Falcons!

But today I am here to announce the AA County 695hoops All Defensive Team!! These Five Players have been selected based upon their "Consistent" and "Impactful" Defensive Play throughout the Season!

#33 Rae Ogle South River

#4 Calen Norton South River

#1 Cailyn Cornwell Northeast

#4 Lilly Spilker Severna Park

#1 London Best Broadneck


Ogle and Norton combined for over 160 Steals during the regular season getting many off of double teams and traps as the Seahawks of South River used a variety of Zone Defenses and Presses to confuse its opponents. Working as team Ogle and Norton made South River a team to reckon with. Caitlyn Cornwell of Northeast used speed and determination to garner a season high 122 steals for the Eagles. Spilker for Severna Park though hampered by injury towards the end of the season had 108 Steals in an 18 game stretch and continues her determined defensive play into the State Semi-Finals. Best of Broadneck was the best individual "Lock Down" Defender in the County. Normally taking the opposing teams best player she held her opponent to an average 6.3 points a game and that included performances against some of the best scorers in the County (Harris St. Mary's 11pts, Fuller Annapolis 13pts, Nick Glen Burnie 11pts).

Other Defenders of Note:

Amourie Porter Glen Burnie (105 Steals)
Maria Bragg Broadneck
Layla Washington Glen Burnie