Second-ranked Hammond made its share of runs last night against Lake Clifton in the finale of the Greater Baltimore Women's Basketball Mixer at the College of Notre Dame.
But in the end, the fourth-ranked Lakers simply ran away.
Led by guards Lashina Gross and DaShawn Coleman, who each scored 20 points, Lake Clifton took an early lead and then answered every Hammond challenge, holding on for a 54-50 win.
The Lakers' speedy backcourt seemed unstoppable at times, with Gross, the point guard, slashing through the lane for layups and Coleman -- a second-team All-Metro transfer from Walbrook -- consistently making three-pointers time and again to stop Hammond's comebacks.
"The guards killed us -- they were the whole show," said Hammond coach Joe Russo, whose team first used a 10-0 run to tie the game midway through the third quarter, then took a 38-37 lead minutes later after a 7-0 run.
But each time, the Lakers (3-0) answered with a run. And seconds after losing their lead, they went on a 13-2 run that gave them a 50-40 lead with 4:57 left.
"We came out and hustled, and did what we had to do," said Gross. "We figured that if we got a big lead on them that we could slow the pace, but they just kept coming at us so we had to pick it back up again."
Rene Hines (16 points) and Tiki Nicholson (13) led a Hammond offense that -- with 6-foot-6 Natisha Ferguson looming in the middle -- consisted mostly of perimeter shots.
The Bears (1-1) shot just 27 percent from the field.
"We just didn't hit any shots," said Russo, whose team last year won its second Class 2A state title in the past three years. "Bottom line was they just outplayed us."
Hammond took a 4-0 lead in the game's early moments, but it didn't take long for Lake Clifton to take command.
Led by Coleman (12 first-half points), the Lakers scored nine straight points to take a 9-4 lead midway through the first quarter.
They held that lead throughout the first half, extending it to 30-20 shortly after halftime.
For coach James Monroe, having such a talented backcourt has been a blessing.
"Lashina really shined, taking control and leading the team," said Monroe. "With the addition of DaShawn, it really opens up the outside shot, and that's something we lacked last season."
* Western 59, Coolidge 41: All-American forward Chanel Wright scored a game-high 20 and All-Metro guard Kimberly Smith added 17 points to lead top-ranked Western over Calvin Coolidge (D.C.).
The Doves (2-0) had a 22-9 lead after one quarter and maintained a double-digit edge the rest of the way.
Western outscored Coolidge, 14-2, in the third quarter -- limiting the Colts to two free throws -- to extend its lead to 53-25. Smith (10 points) and Wright (four points) accounted for all of the Doves' offense.
With Western's starters on the bench most of the fourth quarter, Coolidge (3-1) outscored the Doves, 16-6, but got no closer than 16.
"It's hard to keep that intensity up," Western coach Breezy Bishop said.
"But we're not accustomed to playing a zone and it gave us a chance to do that and to get our freshmen a chance to play."
* Fallston 67, St. Mary's 59: Jenny Weber scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead No. 6 Fallston (2-0) over No. 5 St. Mary's (1-2).
Trailing 45-40 after three quarters, Fallston opened the fourth quarter on an 11-3 run and led the rest of the way.
* IND 50, Bullis Prep 49: Robin Johnson scored 15, as the Institute of Notre Dame (1-2) edged Potomac's Bullis Prep.
The Indians, who had a 32-23 halftime lead, rallied from a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
* Prospect Hall 59, John Carroll 52: St. John's at Prospect Hall, which was an honorable-mention preseason pick by Street & Smith's, started with a 20-0 lead, but had to hold on to beat John Carroll.
The Patriots, led by Britney Whitehurst (25 points) made things interesting in the fourth quarter by outscoring Prospect Hall, 24-9.