Hawk Talk
Seahawk Nation… Welcome to Season 3 of Hawk Talk, a podcast dedicated to talking South River High School Sports all season long. Join host, Tom Frank as we talk to school administrators, coaches, players, alumni and fans throughout the season as we breakdown last week’s games and take a look ahead to next week’s.
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Hawk Talk
Historic Night at South River
Historic triumph for Seahawk Nation as South River High School basketball achieves an unprecedented milestone—both boys and girls teams capturing regional championships on the same night against the same opponent. The boys secured their first-ever regional title in program history with a commanding 57-45 victory at Stephen Decatur, while the girls dominated their way to a 68-22 win - their first regional championship since 2008.
The girls, playing on their home court, showcased suffocating defense that held Decatur to just two first-quarter points and nine total by halftime, demonstrating the program dominance that Coach Zivick discussed in his pre-game interview.
Both teams now advance to the state quarterfinals, with the girls playing at Oxon Hill on Friday, March 7th, and the boys hosting Milford Mill on Saturday, March 8th. Come be part of history—get your tickets on the GoFan app and pack the nest to support these remarkable student-athletes as they continue their championship quest!
Hawk Talk is hosted by Tom Frank and brought to you by Chad's BBQ, Merrick Creative, and Maryland Remodeling Expert. Don’t hesitate to contact us through Instagram @SRHawkTalk or by email at SRHawkTalk@gmail.com. Please reach out, send updates after games, let us know about fundraisers, big events, etc. This show is only as good as what we know. So get involved! Subscribe, Listen and Share the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, leave us a rating on Apple, help support the show at https://srhawktalk.buzzsprout.com, and spread the word Seahawk Nation. #WERSR
Welcome back Seahawk Nation. I'm Tom Frank, this is Hawk Talk and we're talking all things South River High School sports. Hawk Talk is brought to you in conjunction with the Athletic Department at South River High School. Merritt Creative, your end-to-end creative agency, dedicated to amplifying brands' authenticity through branding, marketing and public relations. Chad's Barbecue and Maryland Remodeling Expert. That's right, South River. We're back for our second straight day with a Hawk Talk short because we got some big announcements to make.
Speaker 1:What a night it was last night to be a Seahawk. We had not one, but two regional championships. Both the boys and girls advanced to the state quarterfinals For Coach Hall and Coach Civic. It was their first regional championships. Matter of fact, it was the first regional championship in South River boys basketball history and the first since 2008 for the girls. Both teams played Stephen Decatur.
Speaker 1:The boys had to jump on the bus and travel two plus hours to Decatur for what we knew was going to be a tough one. South River started the game hot from deep, draining seven three-pointers in the first half, our Seahawks opened up to a 32-18 lead by halftime. South River remained solid in the second half, winning 57-45. Judah Carmack led Decatur with 14 points on the night For South River, jade McDuffie led all scores with 24 points, a ton of rebounds and a solid defensive game. At the very same time, versus the very same school, our girls dominated en route to a decisive 68-22 victory. Decatur struck first with a basket from Lilla Gunther, but South River quickly took control as Carly Hopkins and Kami Burke led an early surge. A strong defensive effort, including key plays from Skylar Woodard, helped South River build a commanding 16-2 lead after the first quarter. By halftime South River extended its lead to 44-9, fueled by steals and fast break points. The second half was more of the same. With relentless pressure and efficient scoring, south River ended Decatur's season in a 68-22 victory. Both teams move on to the final eight in the state.
Speaker 1:The girls will play tonight, friday, march 7th, at Oxon Hill High School game time 630. The boys will play at home versus Milford Mill this Saturday, march 8th, at 3pm. Tickets will go on sale at 12. All tickets will be on sale on the GoFan app. If you're going to Oxon Hill tonight, be loud. If you can't make it, be sure to watch. I believe it will be on the NFH network.
Speaker 1:And for Saturday we need to pack the nest. Mill for Mill will bring a big crowd. We need parents, we need siblings, we need neighbors, we need alumni, we need students, we need cheerleaders. Hell, if it was up to me, we'd have the full band there. Yes, we need there, loud and in full Seahawk gear. Clear your schedule, buy your tickets now and let's go. This is a first for South River Quarterfinal game at home. Let's go, seahawks. But first, to get us fired up for tonight, let's rewind time a bit and here's an exclusive interview, just before tip-off of last night's game, with South River girls head coach, mike Zivick. We are about 90 minutes from two big games today. We got against Decatur, we're playing on the eastern shore with the boys and we are right here at South River in the gymnasium for the girls for the regional finals, and I have the head basketball coach for the girls team, coach Zivick.
Speaker 2:How are you? I'm doing great. Are we ready? We're ready, and I got a little inside information. If you want to bet your house, the Seahawks are going to win tonight. That's your insider information. Well, both teams are Seahawks, so you can't lose, alright there we go.
Speaker 1:I was going to say wow. I was going to say you're all in, you're pushing it in. They're the Seahawks too. Yeah, they're the.
Speaker 2:Seahawks. I don't like that at all.
Speaker 1:Seahawks versus Seahawks. I don't like it at all. So we have four Seahawks teams going at 6 o'clock.
Speaker 2:That's correct. Oh boy, all right. So before we talk about today's game, let's talk about how we got here championship as well, for both varsity and jv. Yeah, tell us about that. Um, it was, you know. Luckily we have some strong teams. We had a strong team all year. Our varsity and our jv kind of went through the county, didn't really get much pushback. Our closest game was 20. The jv's closest game, I think, was 15 might have been that championship game.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean that was, and even before that we didn't get much pushback and you know we took care of business and it just shows how much talent we have here, that's for sure.
Speaker 1:Why all of a sudden or maybe it's not all of a sudden you tell me South River girls basketball in the county. There really, I mean I shouldn't say there is no competition, but there really isn't any competition.
Speaker 2:Well, when I first started coaching girls, it was Arundel. Was that Arundel was? I would say Arundel was the last team that just chucked through the county won by 20. They were also starting about five Division I basketball players.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So that helps. We're doing it a little different way. We'll grow them up through the system. I mean it's kind of you know, you get the little blood, sweat and tears working in the offseason, working at AU. I think I like it that way a little bit better.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it seems like it's going to help keep it consistent for quite a while.
Speaker 2:The thing that helped us out is after COVID, the shooters organization really went to a more serious level and they did a good job of they brought some kids in from other areas. But for the majority of those teams are kids coming to South River yeah, but for the majority of those teams are kids coming to South River yeah, and I think that helps just by having a basketball in your hand, just getting better all year round. You just can't really put a price on that.
Speaker 1:It's just, you know, makes a difference. Do you think too, like unlike some of the other sports, that if you're involved in basketball whether it's boys or girls, I mean, how do you not come to South River? Like there's no reason almost to go to a private school? We have the best basketball in the county, right here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, you know there's always that lore of the private school people. You know some people they still do it. You know they think maybe it's something special. But you're paying for something you're going to get for here for free, and to me that's your decision. I don't ever tell people what to do with their money. That's their decision. But we're just as good here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no doubt about it. All right, so let's start with the county championship. Big win for you guys. Back-to-back. Is that back-to-back Back-to-back? Yes, big win for you guys. Back to back. Is that? Back to back, back to back, back to back to back, or just back to back, back to back, back to back. County championships. Then you got a first round.
Speaker 2:Bye, yep, and then tell us about the last game, Severna Park, we kind of was little, kind of a little thorn in our side that we've been dealing with. They knocked us out the last two years. Last year was triple overtime Great game we just didn't have it. Their girl, Feimster, she just took over in the last overtime and we just didn't have an answer for her. This year we kind of had all of our horses, they graduated some people and I kind of felt, going in that we would take care of business. It is tough because I'm I am good friends with their coach and he's good friends with myself and we we just know each other so much. So even um, if one side has more talent than the other, it's just not going to be an easy game.
Speaker 1:You never know.
Speaker 2:Because everything you know what they're going to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You may put one or two new things in. That may throw one of us off for a play or two, but we're going to figure it out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it was a good game. It started out tight and then you kind of just pulled away, pulled away.
Speaker 2:At the end we had um, offensively they're a little challenged and you know, even on our off, even on a cold night like we, we came out tight. It was the first, it was our first game since the county championship, so that was in over a week and so we're a little rusty now. Missed a couple layups in the first half that could have pushed out a little bit ahead. I think our depth wore them down. We got them tired in the second quarter, pushed a lead up from when it was tied and then in the second half we came out, hit a couple of shots, a couple of threes, key got hot third quarter and it was just from there, it was just over.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Key hit some big big shots for you then on that run. So From there it was just over. Yeah, Key hit some big big shots for you then. So that's a big win. You move on to the regional finals. Yep, Now you have won a regional final. I have not, you have not, Nope, so this is your first potential First, as a coach.
Speaker 2:I mean as a head coach. I was assistant with Klingle when we won it back. What year was that? I can't remember 08, maybe 08. It was the last year we went to the state finals. Lost in the finals that year but we beat Arundel at Arundel that year, so you and Coach Hall are both attempting to win your both first ever regional finals. Yes.
Speaker 1:First one ever for boys. Yeah, wow, this is going to be an interesting night.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, you'll know if he wins it, because if you hear about a guy jumping in Ocean City in the water, that means the boys are bringing it home. Yeah, he's going for a little dip.
Speaker 1:So Decatur is out near Ocean City.
Speaker 2:It's 10 minutes away.
Speaker 1:It's 10 minutes out.
Speaker 2:So that's a long ride for them coming in here, long ride for us.
Speaker 1:For our boys. Yeah, so tell us about this Decatur team I don't know anything about this team.
Speaker 2:They have about four guards. That are pretty good. They don't have much size, they're not very deep.
Speaker 1:We're a big team.
Speaker 2:We're tall, we are tall, they're athletic, they like to get out, they shoot the ball a lot. They're athletic, they like to get out, they shoot the ball a lot. Threes and they're like a volume team. They're going to put up a lot of shots. I think defensively we're going to be a problem for them. I don't think they're used to the style that we're going to bring today.
Speaker 1:You're going to bring pressure, non-stop pressure. I love that. Yes, it's going to be an interesting one.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:All right. So I know coaches don't like to do this but I'm allowed to ask Give it to me. What happens next if you were to win? If we win— how many are we down to? Then you get out of the region? Elite eight. So that's the elite eight then.
Speaker 2:It's reseeded, the seeds are set up. For the most part, they did the coin flips and everything.
Speaker 1:It's an actual coin flip.
Speaker 2:Because there's a coin flip with Austin Howard and Milford Mill and Oakland Mills, because they both have the same record.
Speaker 1:So they literally flip a coin, flip a coin. Yep, this is still old school. We flip a coin. Old school, yeah.
Speaker 2:Hey, I didn't see it. This is what I hear.
Speaker 1:You don't get to go. I didn't see it. This is why I'm here. You don't get to go.
Speaker 2:I don't get to go to a certain place, bring your favorite coin. This is the Friday Night Lights.
Speaker 1:That's what I was thinking of.
Speaker 2:There's another game tonight, pauly. If Pauly wins their game, we will be going to Oxon Hill tomorrow.
Speaker 1:Oh, so it'll be an away game, no matter what. No matter what.
Speaker 2:No matter what, if Pauly loses, we're going to be going to Oakland Mills in. Howard County, so one of the two.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's what it is. Yep, alright. And then what happens? So you go from the final eight to the final. Is the final four played somewhere?
Speaker 2:So the final four is played. So it's a way game for the eight. The top four seeds get home and then the final four. Those are played at neutral sites, usually in Montgomery County, sometimes at North Point places like that.
Speaker 1:So no chance. This is it. This is our last home game. This is the final game right here.
Speaker 2:This is the last for the, as you call them, the Divine Nine.
Speaker 1:The Divine Nine the last one. Look at this. We've got another coach walking in here, the. The last one. Look at this. We've got another coach walking in here, the Divine Nine. So this will be it. It's right here, that's it.
Speaker 2:This is our last game on this court. Does not matter Win or lose.
Speaker 1:Win or lose. It's the last one.
Speaker 2:All right.
Speaker 1:I can't ask you for a prediction, can?
Speaker 2:I I'll give you a prediction.
Speaker 1:All right.
Speaker 2:We're winning, you, we're winning, you're winning, mark it down, mark it All.
Speaker 1:Right, we're going to be back after the end of this game. I'm going to get this out tomorrow. I'll give my recap of the game right after the end, and then we might see you later this week or next week.
Speaker 2:Okay, sounds good, depending how it goes, I like it All right.
Speaker 1:Go get them. Thank you, keep the pressure on all.
Speaker 2:All game long.
Speaker 1:There we go, all right, thanks. Thanks again to Coach Zivic for taking some time right before the game. And again, let's show up, seahawks. Our girls are at Oxon Hill tonight starting at 6.30 pm, and then it's our boys at home versus Milford Mill at 3 pm on Saturday. Get our tickets, let's pack the nest, go Seahawks.
