Three ACL tears striking three of South River girls basketball’s best players had already hindered what could’ve been an outright monopolizing season for the Seahawks in Anne Arundel County.
A fourth ACL injury just seemed cruel. But, the sports medical gods looked unkindly upon the Seahawks again when it stole their leading scorer in Ryleigh Adams for the season during the holiday tournaments.
What South River demonstrated on Friday in its 54-21 win over Old Mill Friday is the twofold result of its misfortunes. For one, the Seahawks possess such talented depth that capable players can file in and beat almost anyone.
Juniors Skylar Woodyard and Karlee Hawkins, surviving vestiges from that potential-laden young starting pool last winter, took the call with 23 points and 17 points, respectively.
“I told Skylar and Karlee it has to be on a consistent basis,” South River coach Michael Zivic said. “It can’t be one game here. We need them. They stepped up big tonight and that was good to see.”
But such unrelenting hits to the roster — and experience — will lead to mistakes.
Most of South River’s offense started slow. Early turnovers let Old Mill keep pace through much of the first quarter, with freshman Layla Anderson fueling the back-and-forth.
“It’s silly mistakes and it’s all fixable,” Zivic said. “As the game went on, we were fine.”
Woodyard recognized what she had to do.
The guard popped in two 3-pointers and a pair of layups. That alone would’ve been enough to hold the Patriots at bay. Though far from flawless, the Seahawks fired on cylinders the young Old Mill players couldn’t hit — free throws taken and made, post shots battled in. Sophomore Leila Bushee knocked in her own trey as well.
A 16-5 advantage swelled to 22-5 as Woodyard and Hawkins took advantage of waning Patriots defense. Turnovers or no — and they did continue — an aggressive front from the Seahawks returned possession to them in moments. Only sophomore Omirrah Gray managed a score for Old Mill before the halftime buzzer sounded, but it still left a 22-7 hole.
“All the little things matter: boxing out, stepping to the passes. They add up to get us where we need to be,” Woodyard said. “But [today], it was really bringing that energy. It scares some teams. We did that and it worked.”
Old Mill regrouped for the second half, relying more on transition to make baskets. But the Seahawks — Woodyard and Hawkins especially — would not be deterred. Hawkins sunk the 3-pointer that pushed South River’s lead to 31-10, and bodied her way under the net for more. When she took to the sideline to nurse a cramp, Woodyard took the baton and put five points away. Hawkins returned as a menace to Old Mill’s offense, swiping insecure balls for points before Woodyard launched the fadeaway jumper that pushed the lead past 30.
Life and basketball, Zivic said, are the same. At full strength, a game against an underclassmen-heavy, rebuilding Old Mill might’ve been locked up from the first minutes. But that’s not the hand South River was dealt. It has to learn to move past it.
“The expectation is we’re going to compete to win the county championship. Doesn’t matter who’s hurt and who’s not,” Zivic said. “Now, would I love to have a couple sprained ankles over ACLs? Yes. But unfortunately that was not in the cards for us. It happens.
“We’re getting there. We gotta be comfortable playing together.”
The Seahawks face Severna Park next Friday, a test that could help secure a county championship spot, or deny it.
“We need short minds,” Woodyard said. “If something bad happens: next play. In games like Severna Park, all the little things will matter.”