Sports
HCC Battles Back, Defeats CCBC Catonsville
Dragons overcome a rough first half to beat the Cardinals, 72-66.
In a game of two distinctly different halves, the Howard Community College men's basketball team battled back to defeat the Community College of Baltimore County's Catonsville campus, 72-66, Wednesday night.
Catonsville dominated the first half and led 39-31 at the break, but the Dragons responded by controlling the second half, outscoring the Cardinals 41-27.
In the first half, CCBC dribble penetration was effective and allowed the Cardinals to control the tempo and build the 8-point lead they enjoyed at halftime.
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Howard Coach Mike Smelkinson challenged his team at the break to pick up the intensity and play a more physical game in the second half.
HCC responded with a different attitude.
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"Catonsville has some good guards who are quick enough to create and get into the paint and they were very effective in the first half," Smelkinson said.
Catonsville had a difficult time getting into the paint in the second half and HCC defensive pressure held the Cardinals to just 27 points.
In HCC's past eight games, only one team has scored more than 70 points and that was conference leader Hagerstown, which managed 76 points against the Dragons.
"Aaron (Bellamy) sets the tone in our defense and with him in foul trouble in the first half Catonsville controlled the tempo," Smelkinson said of his team's temporary defensive lapse.
On a night when HCC was honoring its sophomores, Leo Rogers (Hammond) was the leader.
Sophomores Sean Sullivan (Reservoir), Andrew Moore (Hammond), Aaron Bellamy (Howard) and Rogers, all of whom had their family and friends in attendance, were honored at halftime.
Rogers led all scorers with 26 points and added 10 rebounds.
He was the only "bright spot" in the first half, allowing the Dragons to stay close, according to Smelkinson.
"Leo played his best game of the season, hitting big shots when we needed them," the coach said.
Bellamy had 12 points; Dolapo Ougbile (Reservoir), 9; Andrew Moore, 8; and Shane Bryant (Southwestern) added 5 points.
While James Peters was held to 4 points, he had eight rebounds and four assists to be a strong factor in the second half turnaround for HCC.
The Dragons (10-11) travel to face Garrett Community College at 5 p.m. Saturday.
