The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Wormack's triple-double leads Allegany as
No. 2 Campers handle No. 1 Huskies in rematch
* Wormack's line: 41 points, 16 rebounds, 10 blocks
* Huskies held to season-low 46 points
* Brosnihan shines with 13 points for Northern Garrett
* Campers have just eight turnovers - had 28 in Dec. 20 loss to NG

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Jan. 18 - The printed season schedules for both the Northern Garrett and Allegany girls basketball teams show the Huskies and Campers have two games against each other.

Both teams almost automatically pencil in the series as a best-of-three matchup.

Campers senior center Leah Wormack acknowledged just that Tuesday night after second-ranked Allegany manhandled No. 1 Northern Garrett, 65-46, in the teams' second look at each other this season.

In essence, this game means offers nothing but bragging rights. The Campers and Huskies both feel they'll see each other a third time in the state Class 1A playoffs.

"When we were up at home, we were physical," said Northern Garrett coach Steve Fratz, of the Huskies' 52-47 win over Allegany on Dec. 20. "We didn't bring our physical game tonight. It's a tough place to play. We'll face 'em again. Hopefully, we'll have a brand new plan."

Fratz also realized that, on this night, Wormack - listed at 6-feet, 1-inch but on Tuesday stood about 10 feet tall - couldn't be stopped. Nor should she have been, he said.

"If I get the ball three feet from the hoop (and I'm) 6-2 ... I better score, too," Fratz said. "You better score, or you shouldn't be on the floor. Our biggest girl is 5-6.

Allegany coach Jim O'Neal said it wasn't size that mattered so much as execution. On Dec. 20, the campers turned the ball over 28 times. On Tuesday, Allegany compiled only eight turnovers.

Wormack, who finished with 41 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks, said the coaching staff's scouting and preparation made the win much easier. And despite published reports to the contrary, Allegany is intent on stopping the other team instead of outlasting its opponents.

"We focus on our defense," Wormack said. "People want to focus on offense. We know that defense is the thing that's going to win game."

O'Neal said his team is now more experienced and - with the return of Bailey Ellsworth, who played in her first game since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament - should be even better moving forward.

Ellsworth, O'Neal said, is "the best athlete" on the Campers' roster. "She can slice and dice as well as shoot."