(Enlarge) Tiffany Padgett (in white) goes up for a shot in a win against Chapelgate Christian Academy of Howard County last month. She had 12 points at home Jan. 29 as the Panthers lost to Severn, 50-49, in overtime. (Photo by Anthony Castellano)

The Pallotti girls basketball team is at least 18 points better now than it was in December, at least against Severn. But it would have taken a 20-point turnaround for the Panthers to beat Severn at home Jan. 29, and Pallotti fell one point short.

"We had plenty of opportunities to win the game," said Josh Pratt, the first-year head coach for Pallotti. "We had some young mistakes, nothing we can't fix."

Severn won, 50-49, in overtime in Laurel as the visitors made 11 of 15 free throws while Pallotti was 12 of 22 from the line. Pallotti lost at Severn by 19 points in December.

"I think we will learn a lot from the game," said Pratt, whose team fell to 13-8 overall and 9-3 in the B league of the IAAM. "We are the third-best team in the league right now. We are in the thick of things." The first round of the IAAM playoffs is slated to begin Feb. 5 and Pallotti hopes to have a first-round bye. Severn had just one league loss as this week began.

Tiffany Padgett had 12 points for Pallotti against Severn, while Emily Faulkner had nine and Brittney Davis and Chizoba Ekedigwe had eight each. Severn led, 30-27, at halftime and the game was tied at 42 at the end of regulation. Faulkner had all three of the three-pointers for Pallotti while Severn made eight long shots.

Pallotti senior reserve Shelby Lyles did not play against Severn and is out for the season after surgery, according to Pratt. She is expected to be ready for the prep lacrosse season this spring.

Laurel grad aids ranked BSU

Brittney Jackson is direct and honest when discussing her role as a reserve for the women's basketball team at Bowie State, a Division II member of the CIAA.

"I don't like it. It's tough. I am trying to get used to it," said junior guard Jackson, a Laurel High graduate. Jackson, of course, like most players, would rather be a starter. She was a key starter for the Spartans in high school but has been a reserve for most of her college career.

"It is kind of hard. This was my hardest season," said Jackson, who provides a defensive spark off the bench or comes into the game when another guard gets into foul trouble. One of the positives, however, is the Bulldogs are among the top teams in the CIAA. BSU is ranked No. 25 nationally this week in the Division II poll. "We should win the CIAA championship this year," said Jackson, who is an accounting major. Bowie State won 11 of its first 13 league games. Jackson came off the bench in the first 15 games and averaged 11.7 minutes and 4.2 points per game.

Pallotti grads to meet in hoops

Leon Porter, a Laurel resident, was the top scorer for Division II Dominican College of New York in the first 20 games of the college basketball season. Ryan Cook, his former teammate at Pallotti, was the top scorer for Chestnut Hill of Philadelphia in the first 17 games.

Their teams are slated to meet Feb. 13 at Chestnut Hill. Porter averaged 34.7 minutes and 13.0 points in his first 20 games, with 19 starts. His team was 8-12 overall.

Cook, who is also from Laurel, averaged 28.2 minutes, 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and had 33 assists in his first 17 games, with 13 starts. His team was 7-10 overall.

Towson women host Drexel

The Towson Tigers host Drexel, the defending CAA champion, on Feb. 4 in women's basketball. Two of the top players for Towson are senior forwards Kandace Davis (Laurel High) and Haliena Snowden, a North Laurel resident and Seton Keough grad. Snowden was second on the team in scoring at 9.3 points and second in rebounds at 6.3 in games through Jan. 29. Davis was first on the team in rebounds at 6.6 and was averaging 5.4 points per game. Davis had a team-high 12 points Jan. 28 in a loss at Delaware. The Maryland women host Georgia Tech on Feb. 5.

Laurel High grads at Hampton

The Hampton men's basketball team includes two Laurel High grads: guard Chris Tolson and center Milade Lola-Charles. Tolson played in the first 19 games, with one start, and averaged 13.7 minutes and 3.8 points per contest. Lola-Charles played in 15 of the first 19 games, with 12 starts, and averaged 19.5 minutes and 2.4 points per contest.

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