It seems like with every step forward this season, Howard's taken another two steps back.
That trend continued Monday evening against Lackey, as the Lions couldn't capitalize on a quick start and ended up dropping a 55-49 decision to the Chargers in an out-of-county contest.
"It's a little frustrating because we were looking to build on our last four games, which we felt like we were heading in the right direction, and then today we took another step back," Howard coach Matt Jens said. "We're still trying to figure out how to take the effort from a game like we had against Marriotts Ridge, which we easily could have won, and bring that out on a more consistent basis."
Aside from some narrow defeats like that one-point loss to second-place Marriotts Ridge (9-2, 11-2) right before exam break, Howard (4-7, 4-10) has picked up some notable wins. A 64-62 comeback victory over Wilde Lake (8-3, 10-3) during the first week of the season is at the top of the list.
The problem has been finding ways to build on those wins. Only once all season have the Lions won back-to-back games.
Against Lackey, Howard's Colin Dyer (11 points) hit four straight shots in the first three minutes to stake the Lions to an early 8-0 lead. The visiting Chargers did rebound, cutting their deficit to four, 13-9, by the end of the opening quarter and two at the half, 25-23.
But at no point did Lackey actually tie or take the lead.
The second half, however, was a different story. Behind its defense, Lackey put together a 13-3 run midway through the third quarter to turn a four-point deficit into a six-point lead. Dhonte Ford led the charge with 10 of his game-high 24 points.
"I think we got away from our game, not moving and taking care of the ball. We weren't looking inside and we got a little lazy," Jens said.
Howard didn't go away, though, getting back to within one on three different occasions in the final quarter. The last of those times was at 49-48 following a lay-up by James Bartnik (16 points) with 55 seconds left on the clock.
But with every run down the stretch, Lackey had an answer. A lay-up and four foul shots in the last minute created the final six-point margin and handed Howard its third straight defeat.
Lackey 55, Howard 49
L (4-10): Ford 24, Mason 16, Smith 8, Pittman 5, Faduhunsi 1, Alexander 1.
Ho (4-7, 4-10): J. Bartnik 16, Dyer 11, K. Hawkins 7, Marsh 4, Wendt 4, Mills 3, Alexander 2, D. Bartnik 2.
Half: 25-23 Ho.
Other scores:
Wilde Lake 74, Northwestern (Balt.) 56
WL (8-3, 11-3): McNeel 3, Mynatt 11, Miller 11, Handy 4, Barnes 11, Oppong 2, Devaughn Garner 12, Dante Garner 20.
NW: Brown 8, Page 8, Christian 10, Grove 12, Torrence 2, Buaku 2, Skeen 4, Palmck 5, Swag 3.
Half: 26-22 WL.
Centennial 59, Fallston 40
C (10-1, 11-3): Adams 4, Ringgold 17, Goldsmith 12, DeVries 2, Peterson 10, Tinuoye 7, Eads 7.
F: N/A.
Half: 28-20 C.
Glenelg Country 52, Spalding 50 (Sunday)
GC (5-7, 10-10): Powers 19, Moune 12, Jove-Vives 10, Barnard 8, Boyd 3.
S: Brown 24, Potts 9, Dulce 8, Jefferson 3, Grant 2, Harris 2, John 2.
Half: 28-26 S.