🏀🏀 ROAD TO UMBC MPSSAA 3A BOYS STATE QUARTERFINAL 
🆚 Frederick vs Marriotts Ridge
📍Marriotts Ridge HS, Marriottsville, Maryland

📝 Kmillz (MFVAllSportsNetwork) 

MFV arrived to what looked like to be a sold out Mustangs arena at Marriotts Ridge High School in Marriottsville, Maryland. (SHOUTS to CSZScores, as I met their student ambassador. Hope you are successful in your new opportunities on the rise!!!) The cheerleaders for Frederick traveled down to support their Cadets joining alonside a big crowd of Cadets’s fans.  BUT, the Mustang fans packed out the house as well. The Marriotts Ridge Student section arrayed in American colors as their theme for the night.  It looked like a never ending cycle as the Ridge staff directed numbers of them over to the student section. What I didn’t expect was the intense and loud atmosphere on the horizon. 

The Cadets team came out clapping and showing they were ready to play 32 minutes of basketball. Mustangs had a cool vibe and the team was rocking some old school warm up uniforms. They looked completely focused and locked in. A huge battled was brewing in the midst of a western Howard County high school.

1ST HALF – The beginning quarter was a knock down drag out fight for some points to get on the board. Both teams displayed excellent defense, causing their offenses to really struggle getting open lanes to drive the ball closer inside for points. By the second quarter things started to pick up as the Mustangs held a fair lead of 7 going in to the half, 23-16. 

2ND HALF –  The Cadets began to fight back pulling the score between 3 points at one point. HOWEVER, it was last minutes of the 4th period that became critical. After listening to the echoes of loud voices all around, cheerleaders having their own little summersault routine wars, and student sections yelling at one another; this game was decided in the last two minutes being tied at 42-42. The Mustangs had put up quite a fight to stay in front. It was Frederick’s guard, #10 AJ Spencer who scored the final basket, leaving the Ridge only 5 seconds to either tie, or hit a long ranged three for the win. I gave Spencer the name Tricky Fingers, because he was creating critical turnovers leading up to these moments. Marriotts Ridge just didn’t see AJ coming at those pivotal times. 

CONGRATULATIONS to the FREDERICK CADETS, who pulled off an awesome 44-42 victory, and they advanced on to the Semifinal round in states. SO EXCITED FOR YOU CADETS. Keep that flame burning.  MUCH LOVE to the MARRIOTTS RIDGE MUSTANGS, you guys played with fire, intensity, and passion. Proud of you guys. You are awesome.

MFV MVP – #10 AJ Spencer, 8 points, and the go-ahead basket in the final seconds of the game.