The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Team effort propels No. 2 Allegany past
No. 7 Fort Hill 59-36 in AMAC contest
* Sentinels held to 4 points in third quarter
* Fort Hill shoots 8-for-8 from foul line in fourth period
* Campers bring six-game win streak into Huskies rematch

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Jan. 12 - Bring on the Huskies.

The Campers easily dispatched their crosstown rival Sentinels 59-36 in an Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference matchup at Fort Hill on Wednesday. Weather permitting, No. 2 Allegany's next game will be a rematch with No. 1 Northern Garrett in Cumberland.

When they last played the Huskies, the Campers lost 52-47. It remains the team's only conference loss of the season.

The Campers weren't about to overlook Fort Hill, however. Junior Stephanie Dawson said Allegany coach Jim O'Neal keeps them "motivated for every game. We treat every game as if it was a Northern Garrett or if it was like a championship game. We don't lay down."

But junior teammate Lindsie Linaburg said the team with "Northern" plastered on the front of jerseys is different.

Playing against the Huskies is "always a big game" but said the coaches have scouted Northern Garrett to prepare the team. Plus, the last matchup was at the Igloo in Accident. This time the Huskies are coming to Cumberland.

Linaburg said home court advantage will help a lot in the Jan. 18 contest.

But in a 59-36 drubbing against Fort Hill, Dawson said the team focuses on "not making any turnovers and making good passes."

O'Neal ensures every dressed player gets onto the court for extended minutes. It doesn't help the score of this particular game but allows each player extended minutes that enhances the value of their reserve roles later in the season.

On Wednesday, it didn't take long for the Campers to begin substituting. They led 16-8 after the first eight minutes and secured its first 14-point lead when Arnesha Conley hit a bucket with four minutes and 20 seconds to go in the second quarter. Fort Hill pulled within 11 points when Molly Mandell hit the second of two free throws and Allysia Twigg hit a short jumper with 2:57 left.

But the Campers rallied. Brooke Wharton hit two free throws and Leah Wormack, who dominated inside play on both ends of the court, hit a layup and completed the three-point play after drawing a foul to give Allegany a 31-15 lead with 1:39 to play.

Twelve seconds later, the foundation of the Sentinels' fortification cracked but no one knew it at the time. Kayla Hutson hit Fort Hill's only 3-pointer with 1:28 left before halftime. It was the Sentinels' last point for seven minutes and 51 seconds until Aleesha Jackson's field goal with 1:37 left in the third quarter.

Allegany, meanwhile, scored 13 points during the same span to open up a 44-18 lead. The rout was on.

No. 2 Allegany 59
No. 7 Fort Hill 36
ALLEGANY (9-2, 5-1 AMAC)
Wharton 2 7-8 11, Sivic 1 0-0 2, Hammersmith 2 0-0 5, Dawson 3 0-0 8, Linaburg 2 2-2 6, Landis 1 0-0 2, Eisentrout 1 0-0 2, Wormack 9 1-2 19, Ross 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 10-12 59

FORT HILL (4-5, 2-3 AMAC)
O'Neal 4 0-1 8, James 1 0-0 2, Twigg 1 2-2 4, Lindner 2 0-0 4, Mandell 0 1-4 1, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Hutson 1 2-2 5, Smith 1 2-2 4, Valentine 0 2-2 2, Koelker 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 9-13 36.

Allegany 16 20 12 8 -- 59
Fort Hill 8 10 4 14 -- 36
3-pointers: Allegany 3 (hammersmith, Dawson 2). Fort Hill 1 (Hutson)
JV--Fort Hill, 35-32.