The first difference someone might notice in Lake Clifton's Paris Carter is the absence of the braids that had dangled from his head since his freshman year. The second is the increased size of the 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior's biceps.
"I had to put in some hard work during the offseason," said Carter, who now sports a goatee and closely cropped hair. "As the biggest man on my team this year, I've have to play more under the boards."
Carter flexed his muscles in last night's 60-50 victory over 16th-ranked Lansdowne (7-2) in the Basketball Academy Tournament at Morgan State, grabbing 14 rebounds and scoring 21 points, which included 7-for-9 free-throw shooting and two three-pointers.
Carter got help from Chester Frazier (11 points, 11 rebounds), Donta Ridley (14 points, six rebounds) and Johnny Higgins (11 points) as the No. 9 Lakers (7-2) used a 15-1 third-quarter run to turn a tight game into a 42-30 lead heading into the final period.
The Vikings were led by Barry Cornish (17 points), John Jarboe (16) and Chris Gilliam, whose team battled the Lakers to a 15-15 first-quarter tie and trailed only 26-25 at the half.
"The third quarter was the difference. Their intensity and hunger was tougher," Jarboe said. "I believe we can beat them, but we didn't come out with the win."
Lakers coach Herman Harried said the difference was the play of Carter and Ridley, respectively, on Cornish and Gilliam. "That was asking a lot of them to play against big kids like that, but that's what's required," Harried said.
But Carter had done similar work in a Dec. 29 game against 6-10, 300-pound Jared Gaither of Eleanor Roosevelt, playing the post and scoring 25 points to contribute to a 14-point victory.
On Thursday night, Gaither's 17 points, 11 rebounds, four dunks and four blocked shots led to an upset of No. 1 Archbishop Spalding. But Gaither, bound for Maryland on a football scholarship, scored only four points against Carter.
"It was this," said Carter, pointing to his right biceps when asked how he contained Gaither. "It was this right here."
Oxon Hill 65, No. 3 Walbrook 58: Down 33-20 at halftime, Walbrook (5-3), led by Ed Tyson and Dustin Lawson (each with 17 points), was within 46-43 entering the final period but could get no closer.
Jeremy Johnson (11 points, 13 rebounds, five assists), Rob Robinson (17 points, six rebounds) and Frank Gerald (14 points) led the Clippers (8-0), a Prince George's County team ranked No. 2 by The Washington Post.
No. 10 Dunbar 67, No. 14 Randallstown 49: Byron Roundtree scored 17 points and Craig Singletary and Barry Jenifer added 15 and 14 points, respectively, to lead the Poets over the Rams. Dunbar built a 47-26 halftime lead.
Dulaney 60, Southside 50: Patrick Lewis (19 points), Mike Lawler (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Paul Sanders (15 points, eight rebounds) led the Lions, who moved to 7-3.
Mervo 54, Howard 36: The Mustangs (5-4) were paced by balanced scoring from nine players, led by Antwon Lawrence (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Tim Adams (eight points).
Girls
Walbrook 53, Edmondson 29: All-Metro pick Renee Jones led the way with a game-high 26 points as the Warriors rebounded from Thursday night's loss to fifth-ranked Woodlawn.
Takiya Countess led the Red Storm with 15 points.