Going into the boys basketball regional playoffs, all the talk concerning Class 2A North was centered on the top half of the bracket, which features two-time defending state champion and City, ranked sixth, and No. 7 Edmondson.
In Monday night's quarterfinal at No. 13 Lake Clifton, Digital Harbor reminded everybody that there was also some talent in the lower half of the bracket.
While the host Lakers showed plenty of fight in coming back from an early deficit, it was the Rams who showed character in the final minute of a highly competitive and intense game.
Senior guard Kevin Smith's jumper from the left corner with eight seconds left provided the difference as Digital Harbor advanced with a 72-70 win.
Guard Daquan Cook scored a team-high 20 points — including two layups after midcourt steals in the final 1:29 of play — and Smith added 17 for the Rams, who improved to 12-7 as they prepare to face the Randallstown-Eastern Tech winner in Wednesday's semifinals. Forward Antonio Mann finished with 15 points and made a key 3-pointer to tie the score at 68 with 42 seconds left.
Lake Clifton, which rallied from a 12-point first half deficit to take its first lead in the fourth quarter, ended its season with a 16-7 mark.
The Rams, who started the season with a roster full of transfers and high expectations look to be finding their form at just the right time.
After the win, Smith, a transfer from Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, declared: "This is the real Digital Harbor — we're coming. Comcast [Center], here we come."
Getting to the regional semifinals was no easy task for the Rams.
The visitors had a 22-10 lead early in the second quarter, only to watch the Lakers, who got a game-high 21 points from sophomore guard Daquan Ross, climb back in the game.
After Lake Clifton senior guard Leron Fisher (15 points) hit a driving basket and senior forward Trae Summers (16 points) finished off a Digital Harbor turnover with a dunk for a 68-65 lead with 46 seconds left, it looked as if the Lakers had finally taken hold of the game. But Mann answered with a clutch 3-pointer to tie the score with 42 seconds left, and then, after both teams exchanged baskets, Smith gave the Rams the lead for good. The Lakers had one last chance at the buzzer, but Cortell Henson's off-balance shot from near the free-throw line hit hard off the rim.
Digital Harbor coach Johnny Grimes was pleased with his entire team's effort but singled out his backcourt duo of Cook, a transfer from St. Frances, and Smith.
"All year, I've been waiting for them to play the way they played tonight. It's mostly been them feeling themselves out," he said. "The will … the kids are starting to get it and understand it."
DH—Cook 20, Smith 17, A. Manns 15, N. Manns 10, Barnes 7, Johnson 3. Totals: 26 14-23 72.
LC—Ross 21, Summers 16, Fisher 15, Parks 11, Henson 3, Lee 2, McLean 2. Totals: 26 12-17 70.
Half: DH, 31-29.