Parkside Boys, Girls Fall in Title Games

SALISBURY- Parkside High’s Bayside South champion boys’ varsity lacrosse team ran into a buzz saw in the Bayside Conference championship game on Tuesday, falling to North champion Kent Island, 18-9.

Parkside finished the regular season in a dead heat with Stephen Decatur in the Bayside South standings and earned a division title and a trip to the Bayside Conference title games against Kent Island by winning a coin toss over the Seahawks. On Tuesday, the Rams fell behind early against the Buccaneers and made a couple of mini-runs during the game before getting blown out by Kent Island.

Kent Island led 3-0 early, but Parkside cut the lead to 3-2 near the end of the first quarter. That was as close as the Rams would get, however, as Kent Island scored four straight goals to start the second quarter to extend its lead to 7-2. The Buccaneers never looked back and cruised to the 18-9 title game win.

Meanwhile, the Bayside Conference girls’ championship game was far more dramatic as Queen Anne’s came from behind late to beat Parkside, 11-10. Parkside trailed, 5-4, at the half, but Queen Anne’s scored three straight to start the second half to extend its lead to 8-4. The Lions increased their lead to 9-6 before Parkside scored four straight to take its first lead of the game at 10-9 late in the second half.

Parkside attempted to run out the clock with a late lead, but Queen Anne’s forced a turnover and converted to tie the game at 10-10 with under two minutes to play. The Lions then scored less than a minute later after winning the ensuing draw to win the Bayside championship in dramatic fashion, 11-10.

The Bayside Conference title games had no bearing on the state Class 3A-2A-East region brackets, which were announced on Monday, a day before the championship games were played. On the boys’ side, Kent Island is the top seed in the eastern sectional of the region and earned a first-round bye. On the girls’ side, Parkside is the top seed in the Class 3A-2A-East region and will face the winner of the first round game between Bennett and Kent Island.