The Great Mills Hornets entered their tilt with the Laurel Spartans with seven consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with eight. Great Mills walked away with a 57-50 victory over Laurel on Monday. Given Great Mills' advantage in MaxPreps' Maryland basketball rankings (they are ranked 47th, while Laurel is ranked 137th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Great Mills' win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Vontez Culpepper, who scored 13 points along with eight rebounds and five steals. Culpepper continues to roll, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. Jermaine Davis was another key contributor, scoring 13 points along with five assists and three steals.
Laurel's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jermaine Taylor, who scored 15 points. Taylor is absolutely dominating the point category: he's posted at least 15 every time he's taken the court this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Amadou Kaloga, who scored 13 points.
Great Mills pushed their record up to 8-1 with that victory, which was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 66.2 points per game. As for Laurel, they are on a four-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 3-4.
Great Mills will be playing at home against McDonough at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. That game will pit two of the most dominant guards against one another: Tyrik Petway and DeAndre Dorsey. As for Laurel, they will head out on the road to square off against Eleanor Roosevelt at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday. Eleanor Roosevelt is coming into the contest on a four-game losing streak.
