Wilde Lake girls basketball is a young group with just three seniors and four total upperclassmen. The Wildecats have five freshmen in their rotation who made their varsity debuts Friday night against Guilford Park.
The Panthers are even younger. In fact, they’re Howard County’s youngest team in their first season as a varsity program without any seniors on the roster.
In a battle of youth, it was Wilde Lake’s freshmen who set the tone. They helped build a commanding 21-point lead after the first quarter that Wilde Lake road to a 54-37 season-opening win.
“I like that they came in and they weren’t nervous,” Wilde Lake coach Rhonda Corkeron said of her freshmen. “They came out ready, guns blazing. Three of them play AAU, so they’re used to some big games and doing things like that. So, we want to make sure that we are continuing to push the envelope, challenge them, make sure that they’re ready for more difficult situations.”
Freshman guard Maggie Shidle spearheaded that young core with a team-high 14 points. She admittedly was nervous entering the game. However, those nerves wore off quickly as Shidle scored the game’s opening basket six seconds in.
“I was trying to stay calm during warmups and form shooting,” Shidle said. “During warmups in the gym, I’ve just got to lock in right before the game. When you’re coming out, you can’t think about those nerves. You’ve got to shake it all off before the game.”
Shidle and her teammates were at their best in transition. Wilde Lake (1-0) went on a 17-0 run over the final 4:30 of the first quarter to build a sizable lead. Several of those baskets came on the break after the Wildecats forced turnovers with their length and active hands.
“Defense wins championships; that’s what we pride ourselves on,” Shidle said. “The more you limit the other team, the more you can score. You got to win the possession game and that starts with good defense.”
Struggling offensively in the first, Guilford Park leaned on its defense in the second. The Panthers (0-1) flipped the script and forced several turnovers as freshman guard Audrey Morrison-Lang was the beneficiary with several easy baskets. Despite that, Wilde Lake maintained a 20-point halftime lead.
The Wildecats regained some of their offensive rhythm in the third. Shidle scored half of her points in the quarter. In the fourth, fellow freshman Trinity Chappell made her mark, connecting on two 3-pointers. She also finished in double figures with 11 points, converting on multiple drive-and-kick 3s.
Wilde Lake Head Coach Rhonda Corkeron. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Guildford Park #3, Azauria Reed drives to the basket in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #14, Natalie Morrissey, sinks a two in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Guildford Park #13, Londyn Wiseman drives to the basket in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #10, Maggie Shidle layup in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Guildford Park #13, Londyn Wiseman fast break layup in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Guilford Park #13, Londyn Wiseman, drives toward the basket in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #1, Jordyn Bennett layup draws a foul from Guilford Park #1, Taty Jones in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #10, Maggie Shidle drives to the basket in the in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Guildford Park #5, Audrey Morrison-Lang layup in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Guildford Park Head Coach, LaTonya Frizzlle. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #15, Quinn Corkeron, pulls down an offensive rebound in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #25, Trinity Chappell, sinks a two in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #13, Sharon Adeyemi, fast-break layup in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #10, Maggie Shidle pull-up jumpshot for two in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Guildford Park #5, Audrey Morrison-Lang fast-break layup in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake’s Trinity Chappell, sinks a 3-pointer in the first half of Friday’s game against Guilford Park. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #10, Maggie Shidle layup in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake #15, Quinn Corkeron, runs the baseline for a layup, draws a foul in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Guildford Park #11, Paola Febus shoots two in the paint in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
On a fast-break layup, Wilde Lake #15, Quinn Corkeron, draws a foul in the 1st half. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
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Wilde Lake Head Coach Rhonda Corkeron. Season-opening girls basketball game between Wilde Lake and Guilford Park at Wilde Lake High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wilde Lake finished with a well-rounded offensive effort as seven different players scored.
After finishing with just one win last season, Corkeron is hoping this start can build momentum moving forward. The Wildecats are eager for those future challenges as three of their next four games are against Sierra Division opponents, including two of the county’s premiere programs in Howard and River Hill.
“Confidence first and that’s going to help us when we get into those difficult situations,” Corkeron said. “We play on Monday, so we have a two-day turnaround. Hopefully they’ll understand what it’s like. Guilford Park came back a little bit, so we were able to weather the storm. That’s helpful as well.”
