It took almost a month, but Arjun Patel finally found his shooting stroke.
And for Marriotts Ridge, against a streaking Long Reach team Wednesday, it couldn't have come at a better time.
Patel hit five threes and scored a game-high 26 points, his first time over 12 points since December, to lead a Mustangs comeback from down double digits early on the way to a 60-56 victory.
"Personally, it's been real frustrating, especially after starting the year with 36, 28, 21 (points). But at the end of the day my teammates have been stepping up and helping us keep winning and that's what matters most" Patel said. "It was nice, though, tonight I finally was able to hit some shots and pick them up."
Patel scored nine points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer with 2:04 left that gave Marriotts Ridge (10-2, 12-2) the lead for good. Over the final couple minutes the Mustangs combined to make five free throws and got a lay-up from D.J. Tucker (13 points, 12 rebounds) to hold on for the win.
"Come winning time, we seemed to take it to another level," said Marriotts Ridge coach Mike Coughlan. "I couldn't be more proud of these guys right now."
Long Reach (6-6, 7-8) actually came in to Wednesday's game as one of the county's hottest teams, having won four straight games heading into its recent 12-day break for exams.
In the early going, the lay-off didn't seem to affect the Lightning much.
"It was kind of frustrating to have the break because we felt like we were really getting on a roll, but there's no question we came in here prepared and ready to go," Long Reach coach Al Moraz Jr. said.
The Lightning raced out to an early 11-2 lead and extended their advantage all the way up to 11 points, 19-8, one minute into the second quarter. Five different guys scored during the opening run for Long Reach.
But just as the lead widened to its largest point, the trio of B.J. Durham (13 points), Patel and Tucker got going to guide the Mustangs back into things. Durham made a lay-up and Patel hit back-to-back threes to spark a quick 8-0 run.
Then Tucker added eight points over the final four minutes of the half to keep Long Reach's lead at just three going into the break, 30-27.
After a back-and-forth first few minutes of the third quarter, Long Reach again threatened to break things open. Jalen Brown (10 points) hit a three and Devaughn Nowlin (16 points) sank five free throws to help the Lightning close the period with nine straight points to go ahead 45-37.
But even as Long Reach made its run, Coughlan never showed any panic.
"There's such a resiliency in these kids, I trust them out there now no matter what the situation is," Coughlan said. "We just find a way to stay in games and then fight our way through."
Over the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, punctuated by Patel's fifth three, Marriotts Ridge outscored the Lightning 16-7. It certainly didn't hurt matters that Marriotts Ridge hit 13 of 15 from the foul line in those final eight minutes.
"You have to give them credit, they knocked down some big shots and made pretty much all of their free throws in that fourth quarter," Moraz said. "We just couldn't match them late."
Marriotts Ridge remains alone in second place in the county standings, one game behind Centennial (11-1, 12-3).
Marriotts Ridge 60, Long Reach 56
MR (10-2, 12-2): Patel 26, Tucker 13, Durham 13, Davis 6, Willsey 2.
LR (6-6, 7-8): Nowlin 16, Brown 10, Hargrove 10, Taylor 8, Allmond 7, Ross 2, Nwankwo 2, Leconte 1.
Half: 30-27 LR.
Other scores:
Centennial 65, Atholton 54
C (11-1, 12-3): Potts 12, Ringgold 22, Klima 7, Benson 2, Goldsmith 15, Eads 1, Fletcher 2, Tinuoye 4.
A (7-5, 10-5): Stephenson 9, Fitzpatrick 9, Ayerko 2, Courtney 3, Bezold 4, Martin 12, Acker 4, Shapiro 4, Florenzo 3, McMahon 4.
Half: 27-11 C.
Wilde Lake 66, River Hill 42
WL (9-3, 11-3): Williams 13, McNeel 5, Mynatt 7, Calloway 7, Handy 6, Devaughn Garner 9, Barnes 16, Dante Garner 3.
RH (2-10, 2-12): Check 2, Sandler 2, Thomas 20, Qiu 4, Moody 8, Richardson 6.
Half: 40-24 WL.
Mt. Hebron 76, Howard 74 4OT
In the longest game involving county teams this season, the Vikings outlasted the Lions behind Deonte Moses' 22-point night. James Bartnik (31 points) led Howard in the loss.
MH (6-6, 7-6): Moses 22, Woodard 15, Glaze 12, Mohilchock 9, Gilmore 9, Dohner 4, Huber 3.
Ho (4-8, 4-11): J. Bartnik 31, Alexander 21, Dyer 14, D. Bartnik 2, K. Hawkins 2, Crisco 2, Marsh 2.
Half: 26-16 MH.
Oakland Mills 69, Hammond 37
OM (4-8, 6-9): Manns 28, Dent 12, N. Zayatz 9, Bradley 6, Tapscott 6, Riss 3, J. Zayatz 3, Lee 2.
Ha (5-7, 6-9): Turner 13, Green 7, Echols 6, Poston 3, Washington 3, Blackwell 2, Woodland 2, Howard 1.
Half: 28-19 OM.
Reservoir 70, Glenelg 42
Re (5-7, 6-8): Christian 12, Booth 10, Toler 9, Kevan 7, Williams 7, Brooks 6, Epps 5, Sponsky 4, Reilly 4, Jackson 3, Usher 2, Kasprzyk 1.
G (3-9, 3-12): Spurrier 24, Hammert 8, Randle 5, Oates 3, Mirano 2.
Half: 31-14 Re.
Boys Latin 62, Chapelgate 42 (Tuesday)
BL: C. Rees 14, Stanwick 4, Heacock 8, Perkins 2, Willoughby 7, M. Rees 6, Shewell 21.
Ch (4-8, 8-11): Frierson 3, Lawrence 2, Bryant 2, Harris-Winn 10, Obi 13, Grandy 7, Sikka 2, Olunuga 3.
Half: 38-17 BL.