The Southern Garrett Lady Ram’s recent win at the Maryland State Women’s Basketball Championship was not just a win for the team but a win for the entire community. Head Coach Landon Todd described the moment as surreal.
The culmination of years of commitment and a legacy of dedicated coaching, the Southern Garrett ladies soaked in the radiant glow of their remarkable talent.
“It just didn’t seem real,” he said. “People kept congratulating me all weekend. What unfolded on March 14 reflected a decades-long symmetry that felt almost scripted. Twenty-two years to the day, his grandfather coached Southern to its first state title on March 14, 2004, and last week Landon stood on the same stage with his grandfather beside him on the bench—celebrating another championship for the Southern Garrett program.
A Legacy of Coaching
For Coach Todd, basketball has been a lifetime love. Growing up just a few hundred yards from his grandparents’ home, Landon and his younger brother spent countless days enjoying outdoor time with family and friends. “Almost every day in the summer, we were outside playing,” he recalled. “That’s where my love for the game started—because of [my grandfather].”Watching his grandfather coach gave him insight into the game beyond the player’s experience.
Coach Todd’s early immersion in the game sharpened his range of skills and developed a deeper appreciation for the aspects of the game that aren’t highlighted on a scoreboard: humility, community, dealing with challenges, building team culture, partnering with the parents to help kids succeed, and to balance their lives.
A 2013 graduate of Southern Garrett himself, Landon’s return to coach the program represents a full-circle moment—one that blends tradition with a new generation of leadership. “I think I learned to see basketball through a coach’s lens at a young age,” he said. “That really influenced how I process the game now.”
The Chemistry Behind the 2026 Championship
While talent is essential, Coach Todd is quick to point to something less tangible as the team’s greatest strength: chemistry.
“This group has been playing together since fifth grade,” he explained. “We’ve kept that core together year-round for seven years.” They genuinely like each other,” he said. “They spend time together outside of basketball—going out to eat, watching movies, traveling, shopping, and having fun together. That bond shows on the court.”
I asked how the team handles challenges and how they help each other improve. Coach Todd emphasized that even when Southern faces an opponent with greater individual technical skills, their incredible synchronization and trust leads them often to seamless victory. Todd directs most of his coaching to developing virtues of excellence that not only help win games but also cultivate lifetime skills. He cited one particular example this season: “They might have been more [individually] skilled,” Landon said, “but they weren’t a better team.”
Continuous Improvement and Resilience
These athletes know how to support one another. “They’ve realized they’re not in it alone,” Landon said. This internal support system allows the team to adapt and improve over time. Another important aspect of resilience is maintaining balance between sports, athletics, family time, social time with friends, rest, and of course, schoolwork. Time is crunched! Despite the intensity of year-round competition, they’ve built shared experiences—team trips, hotel stays, summer tournaments, and even beach outings. “They don’t even realize how special it is,” Landon said. “It’s all they’ve ever known.”
Building the Next Generation
Southern Garrett’s success isn’t confined to the varsity level. Landon and his staff are deeply invested in developing younger players and sustaining the program’s culture. “We have fourth, fifth, and sixth graders sitting behind our bench at games,” he said. “And our players are involved in youth leagues—helping referee, run the scoreboard, just being present.” This intentional connection creates a pipeline of engaged, motivated athletes who understand the program’s values before they ever reach high school.
A Community That Shows Up
If there’s one factor that elevates Southern Garrett’s story from impressive to extraordinary, it’s the unwavering support of the Oakland community. Home games routinely sell out, with fans lining up just to get inside the gym. During the playoff run, that energy only intensified. “It’s an electric atmosphere,” Landon said. “The gym isn’t huge, but it’s packed every time.”
That support extended far beyond home court. When the team traveled more than three hours to the championship game, they brought a crowd that rivaled—and even exceeded—that of their opponent, who was located just minutes away.
“That says everything about our community,” he said. The celebration didn’t stop there. Upon returning home, the team was greeted with a police
escort—a moment that underscored how lovingly the town supported these young ladies. “It was really special,” Landon said.
Behind the scenes, local businesses and residents played a crucial role as well, contributing financially to ensure the team could travel, stay overnight, and fully experience the championship opportunity. “It was overwhelming,” he said. “I can’t overstate how supportive this community is.”
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
When asked who deserves thanks, Landon acknowledged that it is a very long list! “The entire Oakland community,” he said. “The parents, the supporters, the businesses—everyone who made this possible.”He also emphasizes the dedication of the parents and other family members who make the team’s work and wins possible.“These players wouldn’t be where they are without their parents,” he said. “That’s something we remind them of often.”
As the team takes a brief break before diving back into spring and summer competition, the foundation they’ve built remains firmly in place. With most of the core returning—and a new generation already watching from the sidelines—Southern Garrett’s future looks as strong as its present. For now, though, the focus is on appreciating the present moment.
“It’s special,” Landon said. “And one day, they’ll fully understand just how special it is.”
The 2026 Southern Garrett Lady Rams Varsity Roster is as follows: Emelee Parks – Senior, Guard, Kelsey Ward – Junior, Forward, Gabbi Berry – Junior, Guard, Addison Tasker – Junior, Forward, Chloe Campbell – Senior, Forward, Jayden Weaver – Junior, Shooting Guard, Reeslyn Sisler – Sophomore, Guard, Amelia Alvarez – Sophomore, Guard and Joycelyn Ward – Sophomore, Power Forward/Guard
Written by MaryCarolyn Thies.
*“This article is based on original reporting and an interview conducted by the author. OpenAI’s ChatGPT was used as a compilation tool to help organize and summarize the material. OpenAI. (2026, March 22). Assistance with compilation of interview notes for an article on Southern Garrett girls’ basketball state championship [Large language model]. ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com/