For the first time in the school’s history, Pikesville High girls’ basketball team captured the state championship title, defeating Smithsburg High School 61-31 in the Class 1A division at Towson University’s SECU Arena on March 16.
The Panthers finished the season with a 26-4 record and also won the county championship.
The championship finals remained close in the first half, with Panthers heading to the locker room with a four-point lead. In the third quarter, the team outscored Smithsburg by 14 points and 12 points in the last quarter to finish with the 30-point victory. Frances Glover-Bey and Keante Lewis led the Panthers in scoring with 18 and 14 points, respectively. Charia Roberts led in rebounds with 13 and was helped by Glover-Bey’s nine.
A new head coach, Michael Dukes, and new talent figured into a much improved season for the Panthers, who finished the 2017 season with just four wins.