As expected, not much came easy for the Lake Clifton boys basketball team Friday with undefeated Edmondson visiting.
As hard as it was for them, the Lakers made it harder on the Red Storm.
In a typical, grinding Baltimore City Division I league game, the host team was a little tougher. Lake Clifton defended a little better, matched the taller Edmondson team on the boards and hit big baskets and free throws when they were needed most.
Seniors Derrick Green and Gary Jefferson were the catalysts, both scoring 17 points and anchoring the defensive front as the No. 5 Lakers came away with a 55-46 win over the No. 4 Red Storm.
"It was very intense and what it took was for us to keep our composure and play tough down the stretch. That's when we have to execute and have composure the most," Green said. "We stuck together through all four quarters and didn't get caught up in the hype."
Leading 20-19 after a tight first half, the Lakers (8-1, 2-1 Baltimore City) were finally able to get some separation with a 16-point third quarter to take a 36-30 lead into the fourth.
Two straight baskets from Joshua Parks (9 points) and two free throws by Green built the lead to 42-33 with 5:25 to play, but the Red Storm (8-1, 4-1), which got a game-high 22 points from Keandre Cook, would quickly get close again. Demetrius Haskins hit a 3 pointer and Kani Coles (12 points) converted a three-point play to cut the lead to 42-39 with 4:10 to play.
The Lakers got important stops on defense, and — after going 3-for-14 from the free throw line in the first three quarters — made 8 of 9 in a pivotal stretch to help bring the lead back to 48-39 with 3:04 to play. A jumper from Kai Thompson and an emphatic dunk from Green sealed the win.
Under veteran coach Herman "Tree" Harried, Lake Clifton's foundation is playing strong team defense. Mixing in a couple of zone defenses and some man-to-man helped contain the Red Storm's strong inside game.
"It's the only way you can win the game — that's a good team," Harried said. "We worked, we played hard and we matched their size with our lack of size — we rebounded and we defended. Our defense kept us in when we weren't making free throws or making the right shots. But throughout, we kept defending."
Edmondson has a chance to bounce back in a big way on Tuesday when it visits No. 1 Patterson.
"We're still learning, still growing as a team," coach Darnell Dantzler said. "There's going to be a learning curve. We were fortunate to win some tough games early and this was a real tough one. I appreciated their effort. They didn't quit and I saw more positive things than anything negative — just some things we need to work on. We'll be fine."