Streaks are meant to be broken.

Entering Wednesday’s game at Hammond, Howard girls basketball had won a record 64 straight Howard County games dating back to 2019.

However, the previously dominant Lions ran into the unstoppable force that is Hammond’s defense. The Golden Bears stymied Howard’s offensive flow in a 57-29 statement win.

Two years ago, Hammond was 6-8, still looking to take the next step as a program. Last season in coach Ayanna Jones’ first year, the Golden Bears went 17-6 and inched closer to joining the county’s upper echelon. That success fueled them. Hammond entered the year a confident group that knew its potential.

The Golden Bears reached a new height Wednesday, defeating a program that’s become synonymous with Howard County championships and postseason success.

“It’s definitely beneficial for us because it shows that we are a top contender in the county,” Jones said. “Howard has always been — no matter who graduates — a great team in our county. To be able to compete with them and put on the show that we did, I think that shows a lot of people that had doubts about who we were as a program what we have. We’re here to stay and we’re to put forth the effort to be a top contender.”

Hammond used its size and athleticism to cause havoc, and for a sixth time this season held an opponent under 30 points. However, the Golden Bears’ stifling defense is predicated on more than that. It all starts with a consistent buy-in from all five girls on the floor, committed to giving maximum effort on the defensive end.

Whether it’s a guard swarming to give help on the backside or a post player stepping up to contest a shot, the Golden Bears’ defense operates on a string. That unification exemplifies the culture that Hammond (11-0, 7-0 Howard County) has built this season.

Guard Kayley Washington led the Hammond early with seven first-quarter points. Riley Watson kept Howard (7-3, 6-1) close in the first quarter with eight points of her own, but the Lions offense struggled mightily the rest of the way.

Hammond senior guard Nia Green took charge in the second quarter, attacking the basket at will and drawing contact. Meanwhile, the defense held Howard to just three points in the quarter, keeping it scoreless the final 4:29 of the half. Junior center Sara Yarnell had a lot to do with that, using her imposing 6-foot-1 frame to block five shots and alter many others.

Hammond built a 14-point halftime advantage, while the Lions were left searching for answers.

“They’re really athletic, very long, great in transition and they’re well-coached,” Howard coach Scott Robinson said. “They got the whole package. They have all of the ingredients of a winning team.”

Green finished with a double-double (21 points and 13 rebounds), while also serving as a vocal leader on the floor. Meanwhile, Yarnell (10 points and 11 rebounds) anchored the low post. After a complete 32-minute team effort, Golden Bears fans chanted, “undefeated.”

However, Hammond isn’t done yet and has a loftier vision ahead.

“It means a lot to us as a program and as a school,” Yarnell said. “At the end of the day, this isn’t the end all be all. Howard’s not our Super Bowl; it’s not going to be our Super Bowl. We’re on our way to states. We have a bigger mission than this.”

Other girls basketball scores:

Atholton 53, Marriotts Ridge 28

Glenelg 48, Wilde Lake 13

Oakland Mills 56, Long Reach 48

Centennial 35, Reservoir 34

Patapsco 53, Overlea 35

Hereford 63, Parkville 17

Pikesville 63, Dulaney 44

Mount de Sales 58, Concordia Prep 38

Gerstell 54, St. Paul’s 26

Indian Creek 60, Glenelg Country 55

Boys basketball

Lake Clifton 59, Dunbar 52: At the end, it looked more like classic Dunbar vs. Lake Clifton boys basketball, with a fourth-quarter push from the Poets providing a hint of drama.

But mostly Wednesday, the visiting Lakers played stronger defense, hit the boards harder and had Deon McPherson and Jazae Jones effectively sharing the scoring duties.

McPherson scored 18 of his 21 points in the first half and Jones had 11 of his 19 in the second as No. 15 Lake Clifton built a 25-point lead before holding off the Poets to secure a 59-52 win in Baltimore City League play.

Lake Clifton improved to 7-4 on the season, while Dunbar, which got a 15-point effort from Brian Collins, fell to 6-3.

After McPherson outscored the Poets in a first half in which the Lakers took a 34-17 advantage, the visitors continued to dominate and increased the lead to 44-19 on a basket by Jones with 5:24 left in the third quarter. But Dunbar chipped away behind nine fourth-quarter points by Makhi Giddins to pull within 57-52 with 29 seconds left.

“Coming down to Dunbar with Dana Johnson — she’s a great coach — so even when we were up 20, in my mind the game was not over because I knew they would keep making a push,” Lake Clifton coach Herman “Tree” Harried said. “Our goal at that time was to at least try to keep scoring and we were able to.”

Having cut the lead to 50-37 going into the fourth quarter, the Poets got a follow from Giddins on their opening possession to pull within 11. They got four straight stops to provide an opportunity to further cut into the lead, but the Lakers’ defense proved just as stingy with four of its own stops.

After DaJohn Ellis (10 points) scored on a fast break to cut the lead to 50-41 with 5:04 remaining, Jones provided a pivotal answer with a strong three-point play with 4:51 left. It pushed the lead back up to 53-41 and gave the Lakers the lift they needed to close out the victory.

“I try to make the plays for my team, just do what we can to win,” Jones said.

— Glenn Graham

River Hill 89, Mt. Hebron 37: Coming off its first loss of the season to Milford Mill on Monday, River Hill boys basketball coach Matt Graves challenged his team. He wanted his Hawks to step up on defense and help each other out.

The response was lockdown defense and an abundance of scoring in River Hill’s dominant 89-37 win over Mt. Hebron.

“They responded very well,” Graves said. “Accountability is a big thing that we discuss. … We also talk about ‘We over me,’ and being a team, making the extra pass. The best teams that win championships are connected.”

River Hill (11-1, 7-0 Howard County) used a full-court press from the very beginning until the waning minutes of the game. The result was 15 steals that led to many fast-break points. The Hawks’ athleticism was on full display during fast breaks, with guards Aiden Igwebe and OJ Ndu recording multiple dunks and crafty layups.

Ndu poured in 23 points, while Igwebe contributed 18. Forwards Anthony Przyzycki and Soma Unegbu scored 10 points apiece, part of a starting five unit with four players averaging double-digit points.

“Last game was a little rough, losing against Milford Mill,” Igwebe said. “I knew we had to come in here today and score over 80. We usually score over 80 in all our games, so I knew we had to do that today.”

— Jake Shindel, for Baltimore Sun Media

Parkville 76, Hereford 41

Eastern Tech 83, Chesapeake-BC 75

Loch Raven 58, Milford Mill 55

Severn 72, Annapolis Area Christian 50

Centennial 63, Reservoir 45

Wilde Lake 64, Glenelg 61

Atholton 63, Marriotts Ridge 51

Long Reach 81, Oakland Mills 57

Glenelg Country 65, McDonogh 49

Chapelgate Christian 59, Concordia Prep 54

St. Paul’s 59, Gerstell 54