So far, the season for the City boys basketball team – featuring a vastly different roster from last year's Class 3A state title team — has had its expected up and downs.
It's been a season in which every game — every quarter, for that matter — has been, an opportunity for the No. 15 Knights to grow and get better.
The fourth quarter of Friday's game against Thomas Stone at the 19th Baltimore City Public Schools Basketball Academy at Morgan State University can serve as a confidence boost.
After its first half double-digit lead was cut to 51-50 early in the fourth quarter, City took control in the closing stretch to come away with a 64-54 win over the Cougars from Charles County.
LaMarr Mitchell scored 16 points, Ben Stanley had 15 and Blair Davis added 14 as the Knights improved to 10-4.
"We just have to learn from every game," said Davis, a senior guard who is one of two returning players. "We're climbing a mountain and it's one game at a time."
After Thomas Stone's Justin Singleton hit a driving layup to make it 51-50 with 6:36 left, Stanley answered with a basket on the Knights' next possession and then blocked Singleton's shot on the Cougars next possession. Mitchell then converted his second three-point play of the quarter to give the Knights a 56-50 lead with 5:53 to play.
After Thomas Stone cut the lead to 56-52, consecutive baskets came from Randy Miller, Mitchell and Blair. Defense played a big part in the run.
"We just turned it up a notch in the fourth quarter to get the breathing room," Davis said. "Our on-ball defensive pressure turned up and people that was off the ball, they just denied and made it hard. They got rattled and it made for some turnovers and we got easy baskets."
After upsetting Lake Clifton and giving No. 3 Patterson all they could handle before falling in overtime, the Knights were comfortably handled by No. 2 Edmondson on Tuesday.
Due to expected poor weather, Friday's game was moved from 6:45 p.m. to 4 p.m., but the Knights came ready to play. They built a 36-25 lead late in the first half, with Stanley scoring 13 of his 15 points before intermission.
"We needed a win coming off two losses and hopefully this will help us turn the corner," City coach Daryl Wade said. "Knowing that we can turn it on when we need it, it's great."
Basketball Academy games scheduled for Saturday — nine in all — were canceled due to the weather forecast. Organizers said they would try to reschedule games for Feb. 7, but had not selected a location.
No. 6 Lake Clifton 69, Friends 34: Four Lakers scored in double figures in the comfortable win at the Basketball Academy at Morgan State University.
Derrick Green scored a game-high 15 points and added eight rebounds; Joshua Parks had 13 points and 13 rebounds; and Kai Thompson controlled play with 13 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who improved to 11-2 on the season. Gary Jefferson also scored 13 points for the winners.
Friends got 13 points each from Myles Douglas and Rossano Jones.