All season, Howard coach Seth Willingham has challenged his guys to simply try to get a little better every day. On Friday, on the road against Marriotts Ridge, the Lions got a chance to show just how far they've come over the last six weeks.
Four guys scored in double figures, led by DJ Dawkins (18 points) and CJ Savage (14), and Howard (5-6, 7-7) rode a hot start to a 62-50 victory over a Marriotts Ridge team (3-8, 4-10) that had beaten the Lions in the season opener for both teams back in December.
"We're trying to just have them show some maturity and improve. Each game, whether it's a win or a loss, do something that makes us a better team," Willingham said. "I feel like we have the talent in the room, it's just a matter of getting that effort from each of them. You know, tonight I thought we showed some good things for stretches and also had a couple four-to-five minute spells of getting away from what we do well.
"But, overall, I definitely feel like we've come a long way from the first time we played them."
Howard wasted little time getting the upper hand this time around against the Mustangs. The Lions, led early on by Dawkins, Jared Noble (10 points) and George Greene (10 points), established a 22-14 lead by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, that Howard lead was up to 11 points, 37-26.
Savage, who got going in the second quarter and was a big contributor in the second half, said the one-point defeat at the hands of the Mustangs earlier this season was definitely on the team's mind.
"We came out looking for revenge pretty much," Savage said. "We came out, ready to play together and I think that's what did it this time."
Marriotts Ridge made several mini runs in the second half, as forward Greg Speelman had a huge game with 19 points and 11 rebounds to keep his team in it. But ultimately the Mustangs never got closer than eight points at any point over the final two quarters.
Howard's balanced attack, which saw seven guys score three or more points, was simply a little too much this time around.
"When we move the ball and rotate the ball three, four or five times, everyone gets their hands on it, we get better shots and everyone shoots the ball better," Willingham said. "We're still trying to eliminate the stretches where we get away from that and settle for one or two passes, but it's definitely improving."
Overall, Howard has now won four of its last six games.
Howard 62, Marriotts Ridge 50
Ho (5-6, 7-7): Dawkins 18, Savage 14, Noble 10, Greene 10, Okoye 4, Robinson 3, Shuart 3.
MR (3-8, 4-10): Speelman 20, Curtain 12, Talentino 10, Caffes 4, Whitacre 2, Koller 2.
Half: 37-26 Ho.