Howard’s one-point victory over Old Mill last year was one of the better games played in the competition between Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

The same cannot be said for this year’s meeting.

No. 4 Howard got out of the gate quickly by scoring the game’s first eight points and never looked back on its way to a 55-22 victory at home over No. 7 Old Mill on Tuesday. By the time the Lions (5-0) had concluded a 22-0 run midway through the third quarter, the lead was 38 and a running clock was instituted.

“I thought we set the tone early and we didn’t back down,” Howard coach Scott Robinson said. “To hold to a team at this level to 22 points is a tremendous accomplishment, and that’s a tribute to the girls.”

Taylor Addison, last year’s Howard County Player of the Year, went 9-for-13 from the field and finished with a game-high 19 points. Ten of her points came in the third quarter when the Lions stretched a 20-point halftime lead to 35 after three.

“We came out strong, played great defense and were hitting our shots,” said Addison, who added seven rebounds, five steals and two assists. “We were making the extra passes at times, so I think that just shows as a team how we’re working together to build a chemistry.”

Old Mill (1-2) was never able to get into an early rhythm and turned the ball over five times before it finally got on the board midway through the first quarter. The Patriots trailed by 11 after one and were only able to get as close as nine early in the second quarter.

Sydney Faulcon led Old Mill with eight points and 15 rebounds.

“We’ve put in a lot of time on defensive intensity,” Old Mill coach Rick Smith said. “The intensity level was really good our last two practices, and then to come out tonight...they just gave up. That was pretty much what was said to them at halftime.”

Courtney Furr, who scored 16 points in last year’s win, had 15 points and five steals on Tuesday. She hit three 3-pointers, including two in the first quarter that helped Howard jump to the early lead. Her 3-pointer two minutes into the second half made it a 39-12 lead for the Lions, who scored the first 18 points of the third quarter.

“We have a lot of respect for them. We know traditionally they’re one of the top programs in Anne Arundel County,” Robinson said. “We wanted the competition and I thought the girls played well.”

Marisa Sanchez-Henry added nine points, four rebounds and three steals and Deonna Jones had seven points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists for Howard.

Hannah Franklin added six points for Old Mill, which will face another stiff test in Chesapeake on Friday before participating in a holiday tournament at North Point.

“I don’t think there’s too many teams who get up and down the court and shoot the way they do,” Smith said.

bhough@capgaznews.com

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