With the area's top boys ranking and a spot in the USA Today Super 25, Lake Clifton would be facing many challenges this season.
But its latest one isn't from a highly ranked opponent or an injury to a key player. It's time.
A four-alarm fire at Lake Clifton-Eastern High School on Monday led to classes being canceled for the week and all athletic events being postponed, including two boys games.
"The most important thing is that no one was hurt in the fire," said Lake Clifton coach Charlie Moore of the blaze.
Only a week before, Mabel Wilson, the school's athletic director, died of cancer. A memorial service for Wilson, who was buried in her native Pennlynn, Pa., on Sunday, was scheduled for Thursday at Lake Clifton. However, it has been postponed, said Lake Clifton's acting athletic director, Ruth Travis. Travis said a new date will be set after talking with Wilson's family.
The Lakers (13-1), ranked No. 14 in the USA Today Super 25, practiced yesterday and Thursday at Loyola College's Reitz Arena. Lake Clifton last played a week ago at Loyola in the First National Bank Charm City Classic, where the Lakers suffered their only loss of the season, to St. Anthony (N.J.), 79-47.
This week, the Lakers were scheduled to play host to No. 4 Walbrook on Wednesday and play at No. 6 Southwestern yesterday. The Southwestern contest has been rescheduled for Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at Southwestern. The Walbrook game will be played Feb. 17 at Lake Clifton at 3:30 p.m.
Next week, Lake Clifton will play host to No. 6 Southern-B on Tuesday and play at Patterson on Friday. Though the Lakers have successfully met each local obstacle, Moore is concerned about the layoff.
"Hopefully, we'll back in our place on Monday," he said. "It's not going to be easy, but we have to stay focused and get the job done."
In its last game, Lake Clifton had its worst performance of the season against St. Anthony of Jersey City, N.J. in the Southeast bracket championship of the Charm City Classic.
After defeating nationally ranked Lincoln of Brooklyn, N.Y., 61-55, the night before, the Lakers shot only 22-for-70 from the field and were outplayed on both ends of the court by St. Anthony, which was unranked nationally.
"It's a learning experience," said Moore. "We always talk about executing, and we can learn from that game. Let's lose one now and not down the road. I can't complain about where we are at right now."