With four local teams winning state titles and a fifth sweeping the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League championships, a number of players stepped up this season.
Nobody, however, played bigger in the biggest moments than Will Robinson Jr., a 6-foot-5 forward who brazenly led No. 3 Oakland Mills (24-3) to the Class 2A state title.
In a 64-55 win over Patterson in the title game, the St. Frances transfer scored a game-high 26 points, had 11 rebounds, scored the go-ahead basket that gave the Scorpions the lead for good and made three free throws in the closing minute to seal the outcome.
In the semifinal round, a 66-61 win over Oakdale, he scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. In winning the South region, the Scorpions' biggest obstacle in recent years, he scored 10 straight points in the fourth quarter — finishing with 15 — in a 73-70 overtime win against Frederick-PG.
Robinson, who is weighing college options, averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game this season.