Chesapeake-BC Girls Basketball Winning the Right Way

Chesapeake of Baltimore County's girls basketball team opens its postseason in a spot they expected to be in.

After being the #2 seed the last few seasons, the Bayhawks are the #1 seed in its section of the 2A North bracket and currently sport a 12-4 overall record. At the outset of this season, head coach Darryl Hunter was confident that this would be the group of girls to get the #1 seed.

"We feel that we are a very competitive team capable of winning against any opponent," Hunter said. "We are very happy with the seeding because it is the first time the girls' basketball program has been the #1 seed in Chesapeake's history."

As it has all season, Hunter expects the team's defense to take the Bayhawks far this postseason. The team is well-known for its uptempo, pressure style on that end of the floor.

Chesapeake had held opponents to 40 points or less in seven games this season.

"The strength of Chesapeake is our ability to play pressure defense which we do by having several defensive looks," Hunter said.

Leading the way for the Bayhawks has been senior duo Keishon Harrell (1st team all county) and Shamera "Angel" Taylor (2nd team all county). Chesapeake also has two all division selections in sophomores Tianna Fulmore and Victoria Thomas.

That group of players is going to have to play well in order for Chesapeake to win its division and region, goals which Hunter believes the Bayhawks can reach. The 2A North region is as deep a region as there is, with multiple teams which are capable of advancing from it. Hereford it one team Hunter is keeping an eye on as the Bulls have knocked Chesapeake out of the playoffs the past two seasons. He also thinks New Town is also talented, which will definitely make them a difficult group to eliminate.

Before the Bayhawks face either of those teams though, they'll have to find a way to beat Sparrows Point in today's game. Chesapeake beat the Pointers back in December, but Sparrows Point has been on a hot streak of late, winning their last three games.

"Sparrows Point played us very tough in our first game, we expect the same tough game," Hunter said. "We believe that our pressure defense will propel us to a victory."

Beyond this season, the future looks extremely bright for the Bayhawks. While the team loses Harrell and Taylor next season, the team will still bring back 10 players from this year's team.

This has Hunter excited not just because of how well the team has done this season, but the way they've acted while doing it.

"Our program also won the County Sportsmanship Award," Hunter said. "I am very proud that other teams see us as respecting them, us respecting each other and us respecting the game."