Boys' Latin basketball coach Cliff Rees seemed guarded about expectations for his team going into the season. The Lakers were coming off two strong seasons that had disappointing endings.
Two years ago, Boys' Latin went 22-5 and looked like a favorite to win the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference, but the Lakers were ousted in the tournament semifinals by Gilman. Boys' Latin made it to the championship game last season but lost to St. Paul's.
This season Rees didn't know what to expect, but he's enjoying the ride. Boys' Latin is 17-5 and sitting in first place in the league with 6-1 mark.
The Lakers, behind 6-foot-7 junior forward Kodye Pugh and 6-3 senior forward Patrick Spencer, have been dominant after a 2-4 start.
Boys' Latin won 14 games in a row after that before losing to visiting Annapolis Area Christian School, 71-67, on Jan. 16.
"I think the kids are overachieving like no team I've had before," Rees said. "Winning 14 games in a row is not going to happen very often."
The Lakers have had a number of impressive victories. They beat West Charlotte, of North Carolina, 62-60, in the Governor's Challenge in late December in Salisbury.
"I think they are the eighth-ranked team in North Carolina," Rees said. "They were a phenomenal team. They had a 6-10 kid (Micheal Boone) who has an offer from Maryland."
Boys' Latin also defeated three teams from the MIAA A Conference: McDonogh, 70-65, Gilman, 78-63, and Loyola Blakefield, 66-39.
"Those are definitely good wins for us," Rees said. "To think you are going to beat A Conference teams year in and year out is tough."
Pugh is averaging 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks per game.
"He's probably had 12 to 14 scholarship offers," Rees said, naming Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Temple and Rice.
Pugh's best performances came against Chapelgate Christian (37 points) and Loyola (27).
"He's been so pivotal," Rees said. "When you need a basket, he always seems to be in a position to score. The thing that makes Kodye so effective is that he can play both ends of the floor."
Spencer, who has committed to play lacrosse at Loyola University Maryland, has been a complement to Pugh inside. He is averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
"He could be a Division I basketball player," Rees said. "He can do everything on the court. He can play big or a guard role. He can post up and handle the ball with pressure."
Boys' Latin also has been getting quality play from two point guards: freshman Jaylin Andrews and senior Jerel Archer.
Andrews is out with a hip strain but could be back for a playoff run in February. He earned a starting job in the preseason and has averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists while shooting 33 percent from three-point range.
Archer led Boys' Latin to a 9-1 run late last season after taking over as the starting point guard. He had been working as the sixth man this season.
"Jerel is a senior and has that experience," Rees said. "He can really get out on the break and makes good decisions passing the ball."
Boys' Latin also is getting contributions from senior guard Blair Brooks, sophomore guard Brandon Bradshear, junior guard Michael Morsberger and senior forward Shawn Stepney.
"This year, I think we have more guys that are basketball-oriented than we have had in the past," Spencer said. "This team definitely has a higher basketball I.Q. The teams in the past have been very athletic and have been able to just use their athleticism to get them ahead."