By: Brody Jackson

   With the Marriotts Ridge campus blanketed in snow and the low motivation from the dreaded long third quarter starting to set in, there is one shining light that students rally around: the Marriotts Ridge boys basketball team. After pulling off an exhilarating come-from-behind win against Oakland Mills High School on February 25th, the Mustangs capped off an historic season for the record books. The Howard County powerhouse finished the regular season as Howard County champions with a program-best 19-2 record. Helped by key players junior Blake Willingham, sophomore Israel Adekoya, sophomore George Klaus, and senior captain Josh Okon, the Mustangs brought home their first trophy of the season.

   The Mustangs’s success is the result of months of off-season preparation and a full commitment to the program’s values. Instilled through the unwavering leadership of the coach, Mr Willingham, the team’s identity is grounded in hard work, perseverance, and leadership. 

   “We lost three high impact starting seniors last year, so we all have to step up in some way,” Okon stated. The loss of the seniors last year is not the only setback the team faced. The team has also been impacted by several injuries, with Western commit Aaron Hamman sidelined for what appears to be the remainder of the season. 

   “Aaron [Hamman] is a great player; unfortunately, he may be out for the rest of the season. He was a key piece to the team, but I still feel like we can still be a very successful team,” Okon said. Although the injury of Hamman is a big loss, the team still proved they could maintain their feared reputation finishing the season with a five game winning streak.  

   “My favorite moment of the basketball games is when the student section erupts after Josh gets a huge block or dunk on the other team,” expressed senior Mason Machiran. Okon has been an integral part of the team through his experienced leadership and dominant defensive work. In the win over Wild Lake High School, he posted an impressive stat line of 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 blocks. 

   One unique contributor to the success of the team is not on the court but rather in the stands. The student section has become one of the team’s greatest advantages. The team feeds off the energy of the cheers and chants, giving them motivation when they need it.  

   “The student section is very vital because basketball is a game of momentum, so having a student section behind you helps you keep your energy in the game at all times. We have seen the student section change the flow of games,” Okon stated. The students show up in full force, participating in loud chants, dressing up in the theme, and letting the opponents know when they have airballed a shot. The student section was especially electric in the nail biting 50-47 win over Mt Hebron in the intense long standing Battle of Route 99 rivalry. Blake Willingham made his presence known in that game racking up an impressive 25 points. 

   With the regular season and county championship wrapped up, the Mustangs now shift their focus to the postseason and the pursuit of regional and state titles. The Mustangs will have to go through difficult competitors to achieve the goal including the likes of Catonsville, Old Mill, and Baltimore City College. Despite the difficulty of these teams, Mustangs have shown no signs of slowing down and have proven that they are the team to beat moving forward in this exciting high school basketball season.