There is no place like home for the Western Tech basketball team, which defeated Pikesville, 71-52, Tuesday night in a Class 1A North Region game to earn the team's first home playoff victory under coach Mike Slepesky.
They top-seeded Wolverines (16-7) also advanced past the second round of the regional tournament for the third-year head coach.
The win advanced them to the regional semifinals at home on Thursday (7 p.m.) against the Havre de Grace/Overlea winner.
If the atmosphere is as loud and boisterous as the Pikesville game, the Wolverines could advance to Saturday's championship game and host it.
"I thought it was an overall team effort and it was the most excitable audience we've had all year," Slepesky said. "We were able to use that as energy for ourselves."
Guards Cory Tabb (13 points, 3 steals, 2 assists) and Tre Beverly (14 points, 4 assists) were full of energy in the backcourt.
"They created for their teammates," Slepesky said. "I was proud of Cory Tabb and the way he was able to take care of the ball and take control of the game at times."
Tabb was equally as excited about the play of 6-foot-6 twin towers Andre Jackson (17 points, 14 rebounds) and Keith Crowell (13 points, 13 rebounds).
They helped the Wolverines outrebound the Panthers, 46-19.
"We have some talented big men so we try to work it in first and then the guards try to feed off what they do and that's how we get our open shots," Tabb said.
They got a lot of open shots when the game turned into an up-tempo track meet in the second and third periods, when the Wolverines built a 59-41 lead, after leading only 12-9 after the first quarter.
Six different players scored in each quarter with Jackson leading the way with seven in the second and Crowell picking up the slack with five points and seven rebounds in the third after Jackson picked up three fouls by halftime.
"This is my team and they are always there when I am down," said Jackson, who returned to the game with 3:46 left and the Wolverines leading 49-37.
They outscored them 10-4 the rest of the quarter and never looked back.
Tabb and Beverly contributed three-pointers in the second to offset a Pikesville run led by senior Silas Davis, who hit a pair of three-pointers.
Jackson hit a rare three-pointer and reserves Tyrell Laster and Khalil Edwards also hit three-pointers in the third period.
But, Pikesville rallied behind six third-period points by Robert Monfred and solid play from leading scorer Jamelle Christian (16 points, 4 assists).
"We did a good job defensively, but they were just better offensively," said Pikesville coach Anthony Dorsey, whose squad finished 9-15. "They just hit some tough shots. My hats off to them."
Although the Wolverines were the top seed, Tabb still considers his team an underdog.
"I think that is motivation for us because Western Tech is not known as a number one seed and not known to go far in the playoffs," Tabb said. "Every night we feed off of this."