With six players scoring nine or more points and solid team defense, the Long Reach boys basketball team came away with a key 63-38 win over visiting Marriotts Ridge in Howard County play last night.
Long Reach (19-2) improved to 15-2 in league play and would be assured a spot in Tuesday's county championship game with a win over River Hill today. Marriotts Ridge (18-4) finished the regular season with a 15-3 county mark, still in the hunt for a berth in the title game.
Atholton (18-4, 16-2) and Howard (15-6, 14-3) also remain in contention going into the season's final day. Howard, which was upset by River Hill in overtime last night, takes on Hammond today in its season finale.
Last night at Long Reach, the Lightning flashed early and never let up, with Mario Lloyde scoring 14 points, Julius Fambro (12 points) dominating inside and Obi Ukwuoma (nine points) playing a fine all-around game.
A three-pointer by Steve Bell (nine points) with six seconds left in the first quarter gave the Lightning its first double-digit lead at 19-8, and the Mustangs didn't get closer than nine the rest of the way.
"It was a total team effort," Long Reach coach Al Moraz Jr. said. "We had four great days of preparation, and we knew that for us to have an opportunity to get back to the county championship game, we had to bring it tonight and get a win."
Ukwuoma and Marriotts Ridge standout guard Kevin Seker, who also finished with nine points, were held under double digits for the first time this season.
No. 2 Lake Clifton 71, Carver 44 -- Antoine Allen and Darius Gilmore scored 21 points apiece to lead the Lakers (21-1) past the Bears in a game that was rescheduled from Jan. 17. Lake Clifton will play No. 6 Douglass for the city championship at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Morgan State.glenn.graham@baltsun.com
Sun reporters contributed to this article.