FREDERICK, Md. – The No. 17 Men's Basketball team clashed with the York College of Pennsylvania Spartans in a double-overtime extravaganza with the Blazers pulling through with a 103-98 win to capture their second Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth title and earning them an automatic qualifying spot in the NCAA Division III tournament.
Inside the Box Score
Jevon Yarbrough (Hagerstown, Md./Williamsport) scores a career high 44 points while dishing eight assists and eight rebounds to earn the tournament's MVP trophy. Yarbrough broke the program's single-season scoring and assists records in the contest.
Jude Huseby (Frederick, Md./Urbana) hauled in 14 rebounds with 13 points afternoon.
Garrett Cox (Glen Allen, VA/Glen Allen) added 13 points and seven rebounds and three blocks.
How it Happened
The stars of the Commonwealth aligned in the first half as Yarbrough and Jayden Rowe battle to get their teams title, Rowe finished with 11 while Yarbrough finished with 14. The teams both shot under 50 percent with Hood edging out York Pa. at 44 to 36 percent but the Blazers had eight turnovers as the difference.
Just as the previous matchup had started, it was a low scoring 35-34 game at the half before the teams emptied the tank.
The Spartans opened the second half sinking three of their first four deep balls but the hosts paced at the hands of Yarbrough with a pair of threes netted at 45-43. Play from Cox and Huseby down low boosted the squad to keep pace with the hot Spartan team.
The Blazers fell behind by nine with yet another Rowe three pointer at 69-60, but responded with a 10-0 starting with a Troy Fluton three-ball and good takes by
Gage Linton (Ijamsville, Md./Oakdale) and
Kullen Robinson (Alexandria, Va./Alexandria City) to take back the lead.
The teams would trade free throws to end the half, with the Blue & Grey netting the free throw to force extra basketball.
The first overtime the Blazers had the Blazers claiming a three-point lead, but a late foul on a three pointer sending Haberern of the Spartans would tie the game on three swishes. The remaining 1:41 would go scoreless.
Hood set the tone in the second overtime with
Kullen Robinson (Alexandria, Va./Alexandria City) dancing through traffic and laying in the 90-88 and then Yarbrough followed up with a corner three to capture the crowd. The foul game would begin and the Blazers would sink eight free throws to keep away ghosts of the past.
"Man, what an absolute battle. Maybe the most intense game I've ever coached, especially with everything that was on the line," said head coach Chad Dickman.
"Hat tip to York—that's an outstanding team with some big time seniors, and we knew that they were gonna leave it all out on the floor. So proud of our guys just willing us to the win. That's a game where you're playing a team that knows you inside and out, and you just gotta let your players make plays and not try to over-coach."
"Our student and community support was phenomenal. That has to be the best environment we've ever had here for a Hood sporting event. Awesome, awesome fans. And a big shout to all of our guys, my assistant coaches, and everyone else that had anything to do with our program, from athletic trainers to Sports Info and Big Ab and Big Tom on the broadcast….just so many moving parts that made this season possible."
Analysis
The Spartans buried 19 triples on the day.
Hood dominated the boards 55-34.
For the Opponent
Jayden Rowe finishes with 36 points and 12 rebounds.
Cooper Haberern scores 21 and had six triples.
Notes
The Blazers improve to 24-3 and claim their first MACC title since 2021-22 season. The Blue & Grey will enter NCAA Tournament for the fourth time with their last appearance during the 2023-24 campaign.
York Pa. finishes their season at 20-7 unable to repeat as champion of the Commonwealth. They will await their chance at the NCAA Tournament.
Up Next
The squad will suit up next in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament set for Friday, March 6 with times and location to be determined. Check back on hoodathletics.com and @hoodblazers on X and Instagram for updates!
