As seniors on the defending Class 1A state champion Digital Harbor boys basketball team, small forward Davon Usher and point guard Justin Jackson are well aware it is their turn to lead.
In the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's game against last year's 3A state champion Lake Clifton, the two took turns doing just that.
In a rematch of last year's Baltimore City championship game, comfortably won by the host Lakers, it was Usher and Jackson who took over in the important minutes, doing the little things and combining to score 46 points to lead the No. 11 Rams to a 72-64 upset of the No. 4 Lakers.
Leading 36-34 going into the fourth quarter, the visitors went on a 14-4 run to take a 50-38 lead midway through the period and never looked back.
Jackson (15 points) converted a steal into a layup early and then scored another inside basket and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Usher (31 points, 10 rebounds) outworked the Lakers for the rebound and converted a 3-point play that gave the Rams a 45-38 lead. The minute's worth of work from the two set the tone for the rest of the game. The Rams (7-3) converted 28 of 34 free throws to also key the win.
"We all came together as one unit and we had each other's back through the whole game," Usher said. "Everyone knows the rivalry we have against each other for the past couple years and this is a real humble victory. We just got to continue to grow and mature from this and keep playing hard."
The Lakers (2-3) got a 36-point performance from senior guard Josh Selby and enjoyed a 23-18 lead at the half, but it wasn't enough to offset the Rams.
The visitors shot 63 percent (seven of 11) from the floor in the third quarter to take the two-point lead and then dominated the boards and made their free throws in the pivotal fourth. Malcolm Brown added 13 points in the win.
DH-Usher 31, Jackson 15, Brown 13, Toran 9, Robinson 1, Johnson 2, Williams. Totals 22 28-34 72.
LC-Selby 36, Johnson 13, Washington 6, McCormick 4, Fisher 2, Gilliam 3. Totals 18 24-40 64. Half: LC, 23-18.