MD State 3A Semis
Ron Bailey, Publisher
March 14, 2008 – Thursday the 75th Boy’s Championships’ semi-final round was held at the University of Maryland’s Comcast Center. Following is a recap of 3A Classification action.
Largo 73 Bethesda-Chevy Chase 64
Largo (PG County) used early contributions for guard Klevin Pollard (24 points, five rebounds) and center Maurice Sutton (18 points, nine rebounds, five blocks) to go up 30-18 at the half against Bethesda-Chevy Chase (BCC).
Before intermission, Largo’s coach, Lewis Howard, drew upon prior experience to salt away close to five minutes of first half action: Having just earn3ed a 27-18 advantage via a Pollard layup and recently losing the 6’10” Sutton to his third foul, Howard instructed his players to hold the ball, thereby forcing BCC (Montgomery County) out of their 2-3 zone. His opponent, Steve Thompson, declined to shuck that defense, choosing instead allowing the Largo to re-start their offense with 10 seconds left, at which time Pollard sank a buzzer beating three pointer.
Sutton, preparing to shoot, of the victory: "We just came out to win".
“This is our third time in four years (they’ve been to the Maryland Semis, losing last year to BCC)” said Howard of what drove his strategy. “The last two times, we had a lead going into halftime…This time, wanted to pull them out, and execute at the end”.
“It was in our own best interest to let them hold the ball” replied BCC’s Thompson, when asked his thought process during that sequence. “What hurt is that they made the three…We didn’t want them going in with that kind of good feeling”.
The Lion’s momentum continued in the second half, with players such as guard Darren Clark (17 points, four assists) continuing to play well. BCC (18-8) was led by senior guard Austin Cooley (19 points, nine rebounds, three assists), a performer Thompson noted “made this team a team…he’s better than a coach on the floor”.
Up next for Largo (22-4) is Long Reach, a team Howard respects greatly, given their flex offense and talented players.
His guard, Pollard, is taking a possible state championship in stride, saying “It’s another game. We are not going to put it on a pedestal (but will prepare)”.
Long Reach 62 Lake Clifton 59
Long Reach (Howard County) used a late fourth quarter rally to defeat a team widely considered Baltimore’s best, Lake Clifton. More than an opportunity to play for a state championship Saturday was on the line.
“They gave us locker room material (leading up to the game)” said Al Moraz, Jr. of his team’s additional motivation, before later adding “We fight all year long to raise the respect level for Howard County basketball”.
According to Long Reach’s senior guard Deon Queen (19 points) the victory “was about heart…not skills, but heart”.
Of the comeback, Moraz told his team “we have to rebound, and stay composed”. The Lightening (25-2) were able to remain in striking distance of Lake Clifton, which allowed them to employ a “full court, man to man defense” complete with “run and jump” tactics.
"It was an unbelievable effort", said Moraz of his team’s 10 point come from behind victory.
“It was a crazy fourth quarter. They made some tough shots down the stretch” opined Lake Clifton (25-2) head coach, Herman Harried, who also expected such effort from Long Reach.
“We just came to it as a regular game” said Lake Clifton senior guard, Antoine Allen (eight points, three rebounds, three assists), indicating their late swoon wasn’t created by nerves.
His backcourt teammate, junior Derrious Gilmore (14 points, three assists) agreed, adding “They just made all the shots…One bad decision can determine the game”.
Leading all scorers was their teammate, junior center Melvin Cleveland (24 points, 15 rebounds) while Long Reach’s senior forward Obi Ukwuoma (15 points, six rebounds, three assists) also played well, being joined by his teammate junior forward Mario Lloyds (13 points, three rebounds).