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February 21, 2024
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The Hammond High School girls’ basketball team secured an undefeated regular season with a 62-51 victory against Oakland Mills.

A fresh leader introduced a different perspective, with Jones aiming to revamp the program and put her own stamp on it. Right from the start, Jones instilled a strong work ethic in her team.Hammond — 19 17 17 9 — 62

On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Asia Mitchell of Hammond #2 drove to the basket and was charged for a foul on Destiny Macharia of Oakland Mills #11. This moment was captured in a photo by Jeffrey F. Bill.

The path to achieving a flawless record started long before the start of the season, when Ayanna Jones was initially hired. Jones, who is currently in her second year as head coach, inherited a Golden Bears team that had faced numerous challenges in the past. Prior to the 2018-19 season, the only time Hammond had a winning record was in 2002 when they reached the state championship game.

Although the victories may have appeared significant to outsiders, they simply reinforced Hammond’s focus on taking one game at a time for those involved in the program.

On February 20, 2024, Michael Coughlan will be coaching the Oakland Mills varsity girls’ basketball team against Hammond at Oakland Mills High School. The photo was taken by Jeffrey F. Bill, a staff photographer.

On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Asia Mitchell scored a layup for two points with a no-look pass from #5, Asia Mitchell. The photo was taken by Jeffrey F. Bill.

The mindset has rapidly spread to the whole team at Hammond (22-0, 16-0 Howard County), where they score an average of almost 60 points per game and limit their opponents to under 30 points. The roster shows a strong work ethic, with Nia Green, Sara Yarnell, and Mitchell leading the team in scoring.Feb. 20, 2024: Hammond #30, De;lani Thomas, sinks a three in the 1st half. Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball at Oakland Mills High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Chloe Grenway of Oakland Mills #3 scored a three-point shot. (Photo by Jeffrey F. Bill, courtesy of staff)

Asia Mitchell, a senior, shared that Jones’ message emphasizes the importance of pushing oneself and putting in effort. She also highlighted the value of being true to oneself on the court while also working together as a team. While basketball may have individual moments, it ultimately requires teamwork to reach desired goals.

Perfection.
“We approach every game with the same mentality, regardless of our 22-0 record. Our focus is on winning and that remains our goal, regardless of any external factors.”
On February 20, 2024, Sara Yarnell of Hammond scored two points with a put-back shot after grabbing an offensive rebound during the girls’ basketball game between Oakland Mills and Hammond at Oakland Mills High School. (Photo by Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
At the start of the season, Hammond faced a difficult challenge against the Scorpions and narrowly won by four points. Despite dominating their first ten games, the team faced a crucial test on January 10th against Howard, the reigning 3A state champions and seven-time county champions.
On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Nia Green made a pull-up jump shot. The photo was taken by Jeffrey F. Bill.
On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Heaven Alexander from Oakland Mills #4 made a split and shot an under-hand layup. The photo was taken by Jeffrey F. Bill.
Jones expressed satisfaction with the team’s 17 wins, but also recognized their potential for even greater success. As they entered the current season, Jones was determined to motivate and push the team towards their goals every day. The team’s passion, self-confidence, and trust in one another is evident every time they step onto the court.
The players with the highest scores in the game are Nia Green with 20 points, Sara Yarnell with 15 points, Asia Mitchell with 12 points, Delani Thomas with 11 points, and Alexis Wright with 4 points.
On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the girls basketball game between Oakland Mills and Hammond high schools, Sara Yarnell from Hammond (#22) successfully grabbed a rebound. The game took place at Oakland Mills High School and was captured in a photo by Jeffrey F. Bill.
On February 20, 2024, in the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Hammond’s #15, Alexis Wright, scored a layup for two points. (Photo by Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
On February 20, 2024, Asia Mitchell of Hammond scored two points with a layup during the first half of the girls’ basketball game against Oakland Mills at Oakland Mills High School. (Photo by Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
During the game, Hammond demonstrated their strength with a decisive 57-29 victory, showing that this year’s Golden Bears team was unlike previous ones. A fortnight later, Hammond easily beat yet another top team in Howard County, with an 18-point win over River Hill.
On February 20, 2024, Jeriah Shipp from Oakland Mills #15 made a diving move towards the basket during the first half of the girls basketball game against Hammond at Oakland Mills High School. (Photo credit: Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Yet, Hammond’s advantage was short-lived. Oakland Mills (15-6, 13-3) had a strong start after the break, scoring 11 points in a row, including 3-pointers by Destiny Macharia and Heaven Alexander. Despite the enthusiastic support from the Scorpions’ fans, Green took charge. The experienced player scored 12 points in the quarter, making it difficult for Oakland Mills to defend her when she drove to the basket.
Green expressed his pride in the team’s hard work, stating that they had worked diligently and were determined to achieve their goals. He acknowledged that others may have their own opinions, but emphasized the effort put in by the team in their daily practices. He also praised Hammond for the positive change they had brought about and considered it a significant accomplishment.
On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Sara Yarnell from Hammond team #22 made two successful shots in the paint. (Photo credit: Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Those moments epitomized the veteran’s control over the game, as she finished with a triple-double (20 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists). Green’s efforts pushed Hammond’s lead to 11 after three quarters.
Oakland Mills — 14 8 20 9 — 51
The focus on teamwork has resulted in a selfless approach to scoring and a constant defensive pressure built on communication and mutual support. These fundamental values were evident last season as the Golden Bears displayed notable progress, placing third in the county rankings and achieving a record of 17-6. Unfortunately, their advancements were cut short with an early exit from the playoffs.
As the seconds ticked away, Hammond maintained their lead and the visiting fans cheered them on with chants of “22-0”. The Golden Bears have their sights set on bigger achievements, but for now, they have changed the perception of a program that used to struggle every year.
On February 20, 2024, in the first half of the girls basketball game between Oakland Mills and Hammond at Oakland Mills High School, #5 Hammond player Nia Green successfully blocks a layup attempt by #3 Oakland Mills player Chloe Grenway. This moment was captured by Jeffrey F. Bill in a photo for the staff.

On February 20, 2024, during the 1st half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Asia Mitchell from Hammond #2 successfully grabbed a rebound. The photo was taken by Jeffrey F. Bill.

On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Jeriah Shipp of Oakland Mills #15 made a strong offensive rebound. (Photo by Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

On February 20, 2024, Ayanna Jones, the coach of Hammond High School’s girls varsity basketball team, led her team against Oakland Mills High School’s girls basketball team at Oakland Mills High School. (Photo by Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

On February 20, 2024, Asia Mitchell from Hammond High School scored two points with a pull-up jump shot in the first half against Oakland Mills High School in a girls’ basketball game. The photo was taken by Jeffrey F. Bill, a member of the school staff.

On February 20, 2024, during the first half of the Oakland Mills vs Hammond girls basketball game at Oakland Mills High School, Heaven Alexander makes her way towards the basket. (Photo credit: Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

On February 20, 2024, during a girls basketball game between Hammond and Oakland Mills at Oakland Mills High School, Nia Green of Hammond #5 drove to the basket and made a pull-up jump shot in the first half. However, she was charged for committing a foul against Adey Alexander of Oakland Mills #2. A photo was taken by Jeffrey F. Bill, a member of the staff.

Rather than becoming demoralized, Hammond used the defeat as motivation for the upcoming 2023-24 season. With a majority of their key players returning, the Golden Bears have taken their standards to higher levels.

On February 20, 2024, during a girls’ basketball game between Oakland Mills and Hammond at Oakland Mills High School, Heaven Alexander from Oakland Mills #4 made a three-point shot to close out the first quarter. (Photo by Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)OM: Heaven Alexander 18, Chloe Grenway 9, Jeriah Shipp 7, Destiny Macharia 6, Adey Alexander 5, Lena Smartt 4, Alia West 2.

On Tuesday, Hammond’s mindset played a crucial role in their game against the Scorpions. This was the only county team that Hammond had beaten by less than 10 points. They utilized their size advantage to establish a 14-point lead at halftime, dominating the rebounds and generating multiple scoring chances. Mitchell and Yarnell were the standout players in terms of rebounding, while Green contributed to the offense through his dribble penetration skills.It’s something every team strives for yet is rarely achieved. Tuesday night at Oakland Mills, No. 2 Hammond girls basketball put the finishing touches on an undefeated regular season in a 62-51 win over the Scorpions.

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