All season, the Mount Carmel boys basketball team has displayed a special chemistry that featured balanced scoring and a united effort on defense.
It showed up early against Woodlawn on Thursday, the opening day of the 19th Baltimore City Public Schools Basketball Academy at Morgan State University.
When the No. 5 Cougars' lead began to dwindle in the second half against the resilient Warriors, they had to pull together once again.
A 9-2 run in the closing minutes of the third quarter proved to be the answer, as the Cougars restored order and won, 69-54.
Point guard Brian Jefferson Jr. scored a game-high 16 points and was one of four Cougars to reach double figures. Shooting guard Frank Webb Jr. scored seven of his 14 points in the pivotal third quarter as Mount Carmel (18-6) claimed their 11th straight win.
The Cougars led 21-7 after the first quarter, but the Warriors (7-6) got hot from behind the 3-point line in the second quarter—– Teron Owens scored eight of his 13 points in the frame — and then went on 12-4 run in the third quarter to pull within 37-36 with 2:58 left.
Webb and the Cougars stayed poised. Webb scored inside off an inbound pass from under the basket to make it 39-36 with 2:47 left and then freshman forward Montez Mathis (14 points) converted a three-point play with 14 seconds left to increase a lead that would grow to 48-38 going into the fourth quarter.
The Cougars maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way. Mount Carmel coach Tom Rose credited Webb's leadership in the key minutes.
"I thought we lost our intensity for a little bit, and to be really good we can't have those kind of lapses," Rose said. "But we came back and showed some good leadership by stepping up."
Will Jenkins III scored 12 points for Mount Carmel, while Woodlawn got 13 points from Cedric Mondjii.
No. 3 Patterson 87, New Town 66: Senior guard Dereck Oliver scored 24 points and had nine assists and senior guard Gary Blackston and sophomore forward Koran Moore added 20 points each as the Clippers took control early against the Titans.
Behind their senior guards Oliver and Blackston, the Clippers (11-2) started fast to build a 41-21 lead in the first half.
New Town (7-3), which got 21 poiints from Devin Smith, was able to cut the lead to 53-43 with 2:18 left in the third quarter. But Oliver answered with a driving basket on the Clippers' next possession and pulled away.
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