As
they formed a bond through basketball as youngsters, Colin Gibbons and
Tim Schenk never thought about leading Glenelg Country School to a
championship. Theyâ??re still relatively young, but last night, the duo
helped carry the Dragons to new heights.

Glenelg Country rallied
past Annapolis Area Christian, 52-50, for the MIAA C Conference crown
at Johns Hopkins Universityâ??s Goldfarb Gymnasium.  In winning its first
basketball title, the Howard County school atoned for two losses to
AACS during the regular season.

â??The Dragon Nation is very
excited tonight,� said Glenelg Country coach Charlie Stewart, whose
team was mobbed by fans after the final buzzer sounded. â??Itâ??s been
eight years in the works. Itâ??s been a team effort, from our
administration down to our student body.�

Only sophomores,
Schenk and Gibbons arenâ??t old enough to vote or have a driversâ??
license, but theyâ??re undeniably the kings of â??Dragon Nation.â? Schenk
led all scorers with 25 points while Gibbons had nine assists and one
steal.

Mired in a six-plus minute field goal drought, Gibbons
found Schenk in the corner for a three-pointer, bringing Glenelg
Country (21-11) to within 46-45 with 3:21 remaining in regulation.  The
Dragons gained the lead for good at 48-46, with 1:42 left, as Schenk
drained his fifth three-pointer of the evening, off a pass from Gibbons.

With
Glenelg Country clinging to the two-point lead, Schenk broke free to
get a halfcourt inbound pass from Evan Williams (14 points, seven
rebounds, four blocked shots) to convert a tough layup with 39-seconds
remaining. Annapolis Area closed back to within two on a basket by Gill
Trainor with 10.1 seconds left, but Schenk hit two free throws with 8.5
seconds to secure the championship.

Schenk said he missed a
layup off the same inbounds play, costing them a victory against Beth
Tfiloh earlier in the season.  He almost didnâ??t get the ball for the
momentum switching three-pointer last night as Gibbons slipped to the
floor as he drove.  Gibbons and Schenk have been friends since
attending Glenelg Countryâ??s lower school.

â??We always know where
the other is on the floor,� said Schenk, who contributed two rebounds
and two assists. â??This really hasnâ??t sunk in yet.â?

â??We go to the gym with each other every day, running with other people,â? said Gibbons. â??We just kept getting better every day.â?

Gibbons
missed the first AACS match (a 40-38 Annapolis win) because of an
injury.  In the second meeting, the Dragons had a 13-point halftime
lead, but the Eagles rallied for a 55-51 decision.

The Eagles
(16-9) looked ready for the sweep heading into last nightâ??s final
quarter, but went scoreless for more than six minutes.  Annapolis Area
Christian coach Doug Scheidt said Schenkâ??s three pointer was the spark
Glenelg Country needed.

â??It was a little bit of broken play for
them, but they got the ball to Schenk and he hit a great
three-pointer,� said Scheidt, whose team was denied the title for the
second consecutive season.  â??We contested it, but we didnâ??t contest it
well enough.  We were kind of holding on to that four, five point
lead.â?           

Christian Parker had 16 points, four rebounds
and an assist for Annapolis Area Christian, who lost to Park School in
last seasonâ??s title game.  

When AACS and Glenelg Country renew
their rivalry next year, they will do so in the MIAA B Conference, as
both teams have elected to move up to the next level for  the 2007-2008
season.  The Eagles returning Trainor, Parker, Mark Bennett and
Christian Newton from the starting five.  With Gibbons and Schenk back
for two more years, â??Dragon Nationâ? also appears to be in good hands. 
In two playoff triumphs, the combo accounted for 59 points.  

â??We
brought these guys in two years ago and we knew we had something
special,â? said Stewart. â??They know each other well, and they love to
win.�