Indian Creek boys basketball hit a court wreathed in gold and green decorations, a newly-bustling student section and life-size posters with a dream.
Ever since missing the 2020-21 season after two straight years of being in the playoffs, the Eagles have fallen short of clinching a ticket to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference postseason. The seniors whose winters always ended when the regular-season schedule did wanted to experience what it would be like to compete for a title.
Severn, the two-time B Conference champion, had no reservations about spoiling their best shot.
But after a promising showing by the Eagles in the first half, the Admirals stuffed their hosts defensively and unloaded on the other end, bookending their own regular-season slate with a 67-41 victory. As the top team in the conference Black Division standings, they’ll rest with a bye until Thursday with sharp eyes on the following Sunday’s final.
Indian Creek, meanwhile, needed to beat Severn to ensure their spot, per school athletic administration.
“It was Indian Creek’s senior day; they were playing for a lot. I know a lot of people like to say we already have a spot as far as the playoffs go, but I felt like we were playing for a lot as well, too,” Severn coach Mike Glasby said. “Momentum, to be sure we were doing the correct things, and not taking anything for granted. And at the beginning, we weren’t living up to our standards.”
Severn struggled to generate any of that momentum in the first quarter.
The Admirals’ commitment to triple-teaming senior Kyle Harvin did limit the Eagles’ leading scorer, who entered averaging over 20 points per game, for a time. But funneling all that attention into one shooter left an open field for the others.
Indian Creek senior Ethan Jeffers practically frolicked in it, hitting two 3-pointers while senior Caton Crowder carved out space under the net to put three rebounds back in.
The Eagles’ first-quarter lead, though only 14-10, alarmed the Admirals. When they weren’t committing fouls or turning over the ball, their shots ricocheted off the rim.
“We came out with no energy,” Severn’s Sean Harvey said. “We had to play harder.”
Show Caption1 of 13Indian Creek’s Kyle Harvin puts up a deep shot over Severn’s defense during the game between Indian Creek and Severn Schools at Indian Creek School in Crownsville, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance)Expand
Rebounds had to come first. Once Severn successfully gained control of the glass, it was able to limit Indian Creek to one shot attempt while giving itself more opportunities to try again on the other end.
Admirals junior Taylor Jones broke loose, churning six points from inside and the foul line to give Severn the slightest two-point edge late in the second frame. But then, Harvin had escaped as well.
“The more we understand the importance of rebounding the basketball, having possession and going down to execute on the other end,” Glasby said, “good things will happen.”
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Just as Jones flipped the lead initially, Harvin whirled to the other end to fire a tying basket moments before the shot clock expired. Then, as Harvey and Jones assumed control for Severn, Harvin battled to the final second of the half, scoring as the buzzer sounded.
An Indian Creek trailing only 24-22 was still dangerous.
Harvey, Jones and junior DJ Lee made sure to neutralize the threat. The three mostly took turns scoring as the Admirals’ advantage topped 20 points.
“We were taking a lot of jump shots in the first half,” Harvey said. “They couldn’t stop us when we attacked the basket. And all of us are great rebounders; we just needed to level that up.”
Harvey remembered what it was like to look up to the seniors that reigned before him, like All-County and All-Conference titans Kingston Price and Jacob Randall. He treated his responsibility today as he intends to over the next week.
“I had great leaders, and I want to lead the charge now,” Harvey said.
Have a sports tip? Contact Katherine Fominykh at kfominykh@baltsun.com or DM @capgazsports on Instagram.
SEVERN – 10 14 16 27 – 67
INDIAN CREEK – 14 8 7 12 – 41
Scoring
SV: Harvey 24 points, Jones 17, Lee 17, Grayson Skeeter 6, Ryan Cowell 3
IC: Harvin 12, Caiden Bell 8, Crowder 6, Jeffers 6, Collin Bell 4, Kiko Oyugi 3, Bryce Teagle 2
