COLLEGE PARK — The path to the Class 1A state tournament has been a challenging one for the Lake Clifton boys basketball team, but the No. 2 Lakers have shown they like it that way.
Nothing changed in Friday's semifinal against determined Allegany.
The Lakers dug themselves an early 14-point deficit, then dug themselves out with what had gotten them to Xfinity Center: strong team defense, a balanced offense and whatever else it takes to finish with a win.
On Friday, it was free throws from senior guard Gary Jefferson, who made eight straight in the final minute of regulation to seal a 58-51 win over the Campers (22-3).
Jefferson had a team-high 15 points, and fellow Lakers seniors Joshua Parks (12 points), Rashad Hawkins (12) and Derrick Green (10) also scored in double figures. Lake Clifton (25-2) will take on New Town, a 57-53 winner over Joppatowne in Friday's other semifinal, at 1 p.m. Saturday in the final at College Park. The Lakers have won all four state championship games they've made, the last coming in 2012 (Class 2A).
On Friday, the Lakers outscored the Campers 18-6 in the third quarter to take their first lead of the game before having to rally again in the fourth. An 11-4 run midway through the period and Jefferson's work at the foul line finally secured victory.
"I get tired of using this word, but … the season has been a grind. You tell me that's not an example of grinding it out," Lake Clifton coach Herman "Tree" Harried said. "It was bad. It was dark clouds over the gym, and we fought through and found a way to persevere. That just comes from grinding it out, because we could have easily laid down. [Allegany] is a very good team and they played well. We just played better in the second half."
The Campers, who fell to Edmondson, 54-51, in last year's title game, didn't miss much in the first quarter, charging out to a 16-2 lead behind two 3-pointers from senior guard Mario D'Atri. After the Lakers pulled within 24-18 with 2:47 to play in the second quarter, the Campers scored the last five points of the half for a 29-18 lead.
"I didn't like my team in the first half because it wasn't the team I worked with all season long," Harried said, pointing out the team's lack of defensive intensity, poor execution on offense and lack of team ball.
That quickly changed in the second half.
The Lakers came out more aggressively on defense in the third quarter, using more traps that they converted into easy transition points. They also attacked the basket — Hawkins scored eight points in the quarter — and when senior guard Kai Thompson rattled home a jumper with 17 seconds left, they had their first lead, 36-35.
But the Campers weren't fazed. particularly D'Atri, who finished with a game-high 18 points. With the Lakers leading 38-36, he hit a 3-pointer and short turnaround jumper on consecutive possessions to give the Campers a 41-38 lead with 5:08 to play.
The Lakers answered, going on an 11-1 run to lead for good, 49-42, then withstanding one final push from the Campers with Jefferson's effort on the line. Green said the Lakers' defense got them on track.
"We knew we had to come out fighting [in the second half] and staying consistent with our effort," Green said. "We had to turn it up another level because they were executing. So we applied pressure on them on defense and got some breaks and finished them off with some layups."
Recent history is in Lake Clifton's favor Saturday.
The Lakers already have conquered Baltimore City's tough Division I, and they beat defending Class 1A state champion Edmondson in each of their three meetings this season, the last coming in Monday's gritty 39-37 win for the South region title. And the past six Class 1A state champions have come from Baltimore City.
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Boys basketball
Class 1A state semifinal
(at University of Maryland)
2 Lake Clifton 58, Allegany 51
A – Jessie 8, Copman 12, D'Atri 18, Kerns 11, Pendergast 2. Totals: 16 13-19 51.
LC – Green 10, Jefferson 15, Parks 12, Hawkins 12, Thompson 9. Totals: 17 22-28 58 .
Half: A, 29-18