SILVER SPRING — Even a year later, some things felt exactly the same for Francis Scott Key during the state semifinals.

The Eagles were back at Montgomery Blair High School, on the same sideline as last year, where they once again faced a higher-seeded Wicomico County team that looked strong on paper but had never faced a squad with the firepower coach Mitchell Walther’s team possesses.

Even guard Summer Brooks felt the same: sick. For the second straight year, she entered the game under the weather.

The most important thing that stayed the same? The result.

From the opening tip, Francis Scott Key looked right at home, defeating Parkside, 62-37, to advance to the Class 2A state championship game for the second consecutive season.

The Eagles will face Hereford on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center. The Bulls defeated Frederick Douglass-PG, 36-29, in the other Class 2A state semifinal.

“A lot of hard work has gone into this season,” Walther said. “From the time they picked up a ball and hit the courts, getting back to the title game was the focus and goal. It feels good to be on the way back. I couldn’t be more proud of the girls.”

Brooks, who finished with a game-high 21 points, started the scoring with a 3-pointer from the corner. The senior also contributed six rebounds and six assists in a productive, well-rounded performance. She let out a scream as her shot went in, firing herself up as the Eagles quickly took control of the game.

Walther trusted Abby Reiger with the ball, and she responded by maneuvering through Parkside’s zone defense.

Reiger made excellent decisions, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and seven steals — her usual all-around play on display.

“I try to do anything I can to help the team,” Reiger said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help win.”

Reiger and Brooks’ play was contagious. Once Kensi Bancroft settled in the middle, it was all but over. The Eagles’ senior leadership calmly and efficiently moved the ball, opening the game with a 20-4 run.

“Our shots were falling tonight,” Brooks said. “We have this experience under our belt from last year, so we treated it like any other game.”

When Reiger and Brooks needed a breather, there was no drop-off. Morgan Kenney, Abby Stephens, and Ava Hoeflich came in and played solid minutes off the bench. A key factor in the dominant first-half performance was the Eagles’ defense, which stifled the Rams, holding them to less than 10 points in both quarters.

The second quarter featured an 18-0 FSK run, during which the Rams went more than six minutes without scoring.

“It starts in practice,” Walther said. “They know every day they’re going up against the best, so they have that confidence every time they step on the court.”

Even during a “slow” quarter for the Eagles, which netted only eight points for Parkside, Zion Oge began to make some shots and battle down low with the twin towers of Bancroft and Caroline Kohr. But each time Oge made a play, an Eagle responded.

Ten Eagles scored a point Wednesday. With such a large lead, Walther rotated his entire roster, and with minimal drop-off, Francis Scott Key cruised to victory, punching its ticket to the state title game once again.

Now focused on revenge and redemption following last season’s heartbreaking defeat, the Eagles are eager to return to the Xfinity Center, even more confident that this group will bring home the title.

“We lost last year, and it sucked,” Brooks said. “But that just means it’s going to feel even better when we win this one.”

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