Shane, visibly upset, returned to the huddle as her teammates comforted her. Such a play could have lingered for previous Hawks teams — or even this squad earlier in the season. But this group’s ability to overcome is a key reason it will face Baltimore Polytechnic with a berth in the title game on the line early next week. This is the program’s first trip to the state semifinals since it claimed the state title in 2019.
“They helped me … not have a mental lapse,” Shane said of her teammates. “I need them. They need me.”
River Hill (23-2) had a distinct size advantage and took advantage of it, pressuring in the backcourt and swarming to force turnovers. But that aggression also resulted in a flurry of fouls, which helped Damascus (22-3) end the first half down just five. Hawks Coach Teresa Waters adjusted by switching to a 3-2 zone. Her team gave up just 14 points in the second half.
River Hill lost in this round last year. County foe Howard claimed the state title and entered this season on a 58-game winning streak against county opponents. But the Lions were severely diminished by offseason losses, giving the Hawks a prime opportunity to snap the streak and grab local authority.
Instead, they lost by five in their first matchup with Howard. They now see that disappointment as a necessary step.
“I feel like we needed that loss early in the year,” Shane said. “… It was like a checkpoint for us, and it helped us grow and helped us become the team we are now.”
Shane highlighted a lack of aggression as an issue in that loss. No such passivity existed Saturday. Junior Dylan Watson, who led all scorers with 21 points, repeatedly drove to the basket to finish or draw fouls. She scored the last seven River Hill points of the third quarter, which ended with the Hawks holding a 10-point cushion.
The lead grew in the final quarter. With the clock dwindling, each whistle became an opportunity for Waters to sub out a key player.
Shane, who turned 18 on Saturday, was one of the departing players. She walked to the bench — Waters greeted her with a long hug — having celebrated her birthday by displaying a resilience that helped her high school career continue.