In last year's Tip-Off Mixer at Lake Clifton, the Lakers opened with an impressive victory over Walbrook. In the next game against Southern-B, they lost the game and their composure, setting the stage for a difficult December.
Though Lake Clifton, ranked No. 1 in the area, opened its 1994-95 season last night in impressive fashion against Patterson with a 109-72 victory, it appears it won't be heading in that disturbing direction. Not because it has Mervo on Saturday, but because it is a team with an attitude and on a mission.
"We knew we would play well," said senior center Guy Butler. "Everybody was ready, everybody was pumped. This team is focused."
Butler, a first-team All-Metro selection last season who transferred from Woodlawn, scored 16 points and had four blocked shots in his first game.
Senior guard Shawnta Rogers led all scorers with 24 points and had eight assists for Lake Clifton. Reggie Frazier had 23, and Ronald Byrd contributed 12 points and six assists.
The Lakers (1-0), ranked No. 10 in the nation by Street & Smith's and No. 14 by USA Today, dominated from the opening tip. By halftime, coach Charlie Moore had cleared his bench.
"There's no pressure being No. 1; getting to be is pressure," said Moore, whose team is ranked No. 1 in the preseason for the first time since the 1986-87 season. "On a scale of 1 to 10, we were about an eight. We played well for about 2 1/2 quarters. We need to play four strong quarters, but it will come."
Before a standing-room-only crowd, the Lakers put on a clinic, unleashing their full-court press against a Patterson team that had narrowly lost to No. 10 Annapolis, 72-68, the night before.
Rogers, the area's top college prospect among seniors, and Frazier combined for the early knockout punch in the opening quarter. Frazier had 11 and Rogers scored nine as the Lakers led 32-10 after the first quarter. At halftime, it was 58-27.
"The setting made the difference," said Patterson coach Larry Alexander. "We were intimidated. They have weapons, offensively and defensively. There may not anybody that can do a lot against them."
In previous seasons, Dunbar, ranked No. 2 in the area, has had solid line players including Keith Booth and Rodney Elliott (Maryland) and Norman Nolan ( Virginia).
This season, the Poets will look more for their guards to step up and they did last night in their season-opening 96-47 victory over Forest Park in the night's finale.
Senior guard Billy Wells scored 19 points for Dunbar and Marvis Thornton contributed 18.
"We don't have the entire team together," said Dunbar coach Paul Smith, referring to injuries that has slowed it down in the preseason. "I guess for the first time you can be satisfied."
The Poets, who are not ranked nationally for the first time since the 1989-90 season, were in full command from the start, jumping to a 16-2 lead in the first quarter.
"We played well despite the fact it wasn't much competition," said Wells. "We executed well, but once we get our other people back, we should be ready to roll."
In other games, No. 4 Walbrook defeated Northwestern, 88-59; No. 5 Southern-B defeated Mervo, 53-29; No. 16 Edmondson defeated Northern, 65-57; No. 18 Douglass defeated City, 73-45.
The day's most exciting game, No. 6 Southwestern (1-0) received 17 points from Ernie Evans, five in overtime as the Sabers turned away Poly (0-1), 71-64.
The Sabers trailed 25-10 after the first quarter before rallying to take the lead in the third quarter. But the Engineers rallied late in regulation to move the game into overtime.
"I wasn't impressed with my squad at all," said Southwestern coach Terry Leverette. "We didn't played well at all. I can give them some credit for showing character in coming back after being down by 15."
Stanley Parker added 14 points for Southwestern and junior point guard Reginald Johnson added 10 and 10 assists. John McLean scored 24 points and Owain States added 19 for Poly.
Walbrook (1-0) got 24 of Marvin Matthews' game-high 30 points in the opening half as the Warriors handled Northwestern (0-1). Senior forward Travone Broadway added 21 points for Walbrook.
Southern, which finished ranked No. 2 in the nation last season, received 10 points from junior wing forward John Hemsley in its victory over Mervo (0-1).
The Bulldogs, who claimed the state 3A championship in 1993 and 4A title last season, lost their top six players to graduation, but coach Meredith Smith was pleased with how this year's squad responded in its opening game.
"For the first game of the season, the kids did extremely well," he said. "Of course, we have had a period of reorganization and transition, in terms of personnel. We still have a ways to go. But for the first time out, the kids performed very well."
Marlon Wise, Cornelius McMurray and Dedric Galloway each added eight points for Southern. Roderick Farr scored seven to lead Mervo.
No. 15 Edmondson (1-0) used a 25-13 second-quarter and 26 points from senior center Lamont Branch to turn back Northern (0-1).
Terrell Smith contributed 16 for the Redskins. Tyree Brown led the Vikings with 14 points and Anthony Lee had 10.
Douglass, which reached the state 3A championship game last season, got 21 points from Lamont Prilliman in its victory over City.
The Tip-Off Mixer continues on Saturday with seven games with the finale including Dunbar and Walbrook in a 5 p.m. matchup.
The girls Tip-Off Mixer will take place today and Friday at Lake Clifton.