Youth Basketball: Railroader Boys Find Another Venue At BCA
By Bill Cauley
The cancellation of the 2020-21 Mid-Maryland Youth Basketball League season appeared to leave Brunswick’s boys without a league to play on or a place to play.
Enter the Washington County Middle School Basketball League, based at Broadfording Christian Academy near Hagerstown.
Brunswick was one of three Frederick County teams seeking to play in the league this year, rather than go almost two years without playing a game.
“Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, our typical season with Mid-Maryland was not able to happen,” Brunswick coach Dallas Darling said. “Searching for a league to play in, we sought out the Washington County Middle School Basketball League.”
Joining Brunswick in the move to WCMSBL from Frederick County were Walkersville and Windsor Knolls. Windsor Knolls feeds into the Urbana High School. All games are played on Saturdays at BCA.
“Broadfording does a great job as host to allow players and parents the opportunity to play and watch their kids go at it,” Darling said. “The procedures that are in place are solid. We, as a team and a community, are incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”
There are eight teams in the WCMSBL. Along with Brunswick, Walkersville, and Windsor Knolls, from Frederick County, are Boonsboro, host BCA, Smithsburg, Williamsport (Springfield Middle School) and Western Heights Middle School in Hagerstown. Western Heights feeds into North and South Hagerstown High Schools.
Brunswick has played seven games so far this season, enjoying great success. The Railroaders are 6-1. Their lone loss was to Walkersville, 40-34.
Brunswick’s most recent win was a 29-26 win over previously unbeaten Windsor Knolls last Saturday. The Railroaders got off to a slow start, trailing Windsor Knolls, 14-2.
Once Brunswick refocused, it made its run to get back in the game. This game was going to go down to the wire.
Nate Borowski hit a go-ahead 3-pointer, with 15 seconds to go in the game. “On that possession, I was extremely proud with how patient we were, offensively,” Darling said. Brunswick ran about a minute off the clock before Borowski hit what turned out to be the game-winner.
“Nate got a wide-open look from the wing,” Darling said, adding he was pleased the Railroaders did not rush things down the stretch. From there, Brunswick had to hold on defense, denying Windsor Knolls the chance to try to take a final shot before the buzzer.
Borawski finished the game with 13 points. Sam Verosto and Dom Carusone each had eight.
Brunswick’s other wins to date include a 36-26 win over Williamsport; a 32-30, overtime win over Boonsboro; a 41-39 nail-biter against Smithsburg; a 43-5 win over BCA and a 35-33 win against Western Heights.
“Overall, this is a very-balanced and competitive league,” Darling said.
Other members of Brunswick’s team include Jackson Dudley, Mark Cooke, Ethan Houck, Jake Genos, Eli Miller, Collin Pearre, Jamison Gdowski, Carson Eye, and Cohen Thompson.
