South boys, girls teams reign supreme in 33rd Anne Arundel County Senior All-Star Basketball Classic

The southern boys basketball players of Anne Arundel County committed crimes on Severna Park’s court with smiles on their faces. James Crimaudo needed that.

The weeks since the South River senior’s dreams of playing for a state title melted away in the Class 3A South I Region semifinal game haven’t made that disappointment any easier. But during Wednesday’s night Anne Arundel County Senior All-Star Basketball Classic, he couldn’t help grinning as much as a person could — or shooting as much as a person could.

From the tipoff, the Seahawk pelted baskets from every direction, racking up more than half of his 21 points in a knockout first half for the South team, which went on to stave off a North rally and pull away, 125-111. Crimaudo sang on the bench, slapped hands with players on the opposing team as well as his own. He, like so many of the other players on the floor Wednesday night, was a kid on a playground court again.

“It’s definitely huge to finish my high school career on a win,” said Crimaudo, who was named the South MVP for his efforts, which also included 10 rebounds, two steals and two assists.

Zamar Jones, the North MVP, could understand that. The Mustangs fell to eventual Class 4A state champion Frederick in the state quarterfinal, but long before that, Jones didn’t really put forward the season he’d hoped for.

But on Wednesday, his mind lifted and became “free” — as did six 3-pointers, most of which came when his squad needed him the most.

“I went out there to try my best and there was nothing I could regret,” Jones, who also had three steals, rebounds and assists, said. “Just, let it fly. I feel like I accomplished something, like all the work paid off. Even if I couldn’t get what I wanted during the season.”

For two quarters, the South boys team rained destruction on their northern counterparts. When it wasn’t Crimaudo letting loose, it was Southern’s Brian Griffin, Arundel’s Noah Frayer and Broadneck’s Jordan Brown taking turns with the rocket launcher.

“It felt pretty nice coming off fresh legs, not having any practices, and it was nice to see a lot of the guys again and come and hoop again,” Crimaudo said.

St. Mary’s coach Trey Quinn isn’t unaccustomed to having a supply of shooters at his hands, but to possess so many of the county’s best for a night as the South coach was a treat nonetheless.

“All of these guys are talented and can play. Have as many possessions as we can so as many guys to have a chance to shine as possible,” Quinn said, “and they shared the ball. A bunch of different guys had time where they were making plays and got to show the crowd a little something.”

The boys on the floor and crowd laughed as Northeast’s Jadyss Fifer missed two glass-rattling slam dunks and hit his third. Frayer took turns with Jones for 3-pointers before Severn’s Kingston Price opened up, hoping to seal the first half from the perimeter. Teammate, Northeast’s Cam Albury did him one better, tossing in his own 3 just before the buzzer to make it 64-50.

Their work pushed the North forward. In the third, Jones, Archbishop Spalding’s Jalin Sykes, Chesapeake Science Point’s Oluwagbotemi Ogungbile and Glen Burnie’s Greg Pittman flipped the switch. The Tiger drilled a pair of 3s, Pittman followed up his own with a layup that snapped South’s once-mammoth gap to 74-71 until the South sped away again.

Then in the fourth, Jones rattled off another pair of triples and Northeast’s Shamar Johnson struck two, shrinking South’s lead to 94-90.

And then, “close” became a distant memory. Defense was used as an accessory to the fun. By the time Severn’s Kingston Price (20 points) spoke up again, South had more than secured its victory.

“Just play fast, play defense every now and then — but just try and go out and have fun,” Crimaudo explained. “We’re not obsessed about getting a dub. We’re just trying to have as much fun as we can with our buddies.”

South rolls in girls game, 76-52

St. Mary’s senior Baily Walden didn’t want to keep the ball all to herself in her final high school game. It’s why she ended up with four times as many assists as anyone through Wednesday’s victorious girls all-star game for the South, 76-52.

“In a normal game, I might’ve had that dog in me,” Walden said,” but I just wanted everyone to be able to shoot — win or lose.”

But it didn’t hurt for the South MVP to take over for a moment, early in the fourth quarter, when the South team needed a spark. Spurred by Meade’s Kennedy House, the eventual North MVP, the northern players closed a 35-16 gap to 49-44 at the end of the third.

“I’m just thinking it’s all in my bag and to go out and have fun,” House said. “I know during my season I didn’t get to do the things I know I could do, so I was like, I gotta leave it all out here today, to the best of my ability.”

Walden silenced the comeback with five straight points before delivering the ball back to her temporary teammates to have their say, too. Southern’s Sidney Shaw (15 points, three steals, three rebounds) scored five, and when North’s Ryn Feemster of Severna Park hit back with four, Shaw drained another triple.

House lashed in her final basket of the night, followed soon by Mustangs teammate Evhan Smith, but North still trailed, 69-52. The damage from beyond the arc was too great. And yet, Walden flung another anyway and let the cheers from her new friends fall like confetti.

Then, when she had one more chance to shine at the perimeter in the final seconds, she chose to assist Wharton — a beautiful, behind-the-back dish to the corner.

“I think it was a really huge moment because I knew this was going to be the last one,” Walden said. “I knew I didn’t want to come into this game being too selfish. I wanted everyone to have fun tonight. It’s not just about one individual, it’s about the whole team. And I think everyone could say they had fun tonight.”

Out of all the South’s scorers on Wednesday, it didn’t surprise the team’s coach, Juan McKinney of Broadneck, that most of the all-star squad’s leaders were his four Bruins on the court: Wharton, Samantha Miller (10 points), Ginger Kerdock (six points) and Liberty Chenault-Randall. It did, however, twinge bittersweet in his heart.

“I was crying on the way here because I didn’t want it to end,” McKinney said. “It’s very emotional, but I was glad to coach their last high school game.”

House felt the same having Meade’s Cat Harmon as her all-star coach.

“It meant a lot. Every time I’m around her, it’s always jokes and laughs and it was just great,” the Mustangs senior said.