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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Never tell Long Reach the odds.
The eighth-ranked Lightning overcame a 10-point deficit at the start of the final quarter to upset top-ranked Lake Clifton, 62-59, in a Class 3A semifinal at Comcast Center in College Park on Thursday.
Lake Clifton junior Derrious Gilmore bounced a desperation shot off the backboard from nearly half court to give Long Reach (25-2) its second state title appearance in three years. The Lightning won the school’s first championship two years ago, thanks to a 15-point comeback against Lackey.
Combined with River Hill’s 3A title last season, it is the third straight berth in the classification’s state final for a Howard County team.
Still, many pegged the Baltimore City champion Lakers (25-2) to advance to Saturday’s final at 3 p.m. against Largo (22-4).
“We love the underdog,” Long Reach coach Al Moraz Jr. said. “We just fight, non-stop, all-year long, to continue to raise the respect level for Howard County.”
Behind seniors Obi Ukuoma and Deon Queen, Long Reach battled back from a 47-37 deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter, starting with an 8-0 run.
“Third and fourth quarter is when we have to put in work for our team,” Queen said. “When they see us working hard, it forces them to play hard.”
Queen finished with a team-high 19 points, and Ukuoma scored 15. Junior forward Mario Lloyde, whose jump shot with 1:04 remaining gave the Lightning its first lead since 9-7 with 3:02 left in the first quarter, finished with 13 points.
After Lloyde’s jumper from the left wing, Lake Clifton’s Jason Sharp hit his third three-pointer of the game with 39 seconds left. But Queen converted two free throws, and made a lay-up after senior guard Steve Bell’s steal with less than five seconds to play. Ukuoma stole the ensuing in-bound pass and hit one free throw before Gilmore’s last-ditch effort missed.
Lake Clifton led at the intermission, 27-21, after closing the half on an 11-0 run.
Moraz rallied his group at halftime, and the fourth quarter was the difference.
“It was a crazy fourth quarter,” Lakers coach Herman “Tree” Harried said. “They made some good shots down the stretch, and we missed some down the stretch.”
Long Reach shot 54.3 percent from the floor, including 60 percent in the fourth quarter. Lake Clifton shot just 37.9 percent for the game.
The Lakers got 24 points and 15 rebounds from 6-foot-8 center Cleveland Melvin, and 14 from Gilmore, but turnovers and miscues in the final quarter cost the team a chance to play in its third state title game and first since winning it all in 1999.
“They played well,” Lake Clifton senior Antoine Allen said. “It just didn’t go our way today.”
swelsh@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:29 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008 re: "Raiders wiped out by Paint Branch"
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Examiner Reader said:
Julianne is my cousin
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
'SHOCKED' hunh? that's very interesting. one would think that the shock would come when reading he has TWO yes TWO children who's lives he plays no active role in. as you stated you only know Mr. Stewart from afar. i'm sure at least TWO of his biological children can say the same. came from nothing has made something of himself? hmmmmmmm law of gravity states what goes up must come down. it must be an angry person to put Mr. Stewart out there like that. somewhat disrespectful but so what so is being a no show father. i think this article should have been a little more personal,dug a little deeper, before praising a man for what seems to be a full circle of success. seems it should have been titled 'Stewart Paints a Pretty Picture'. but what do i know? a mans success should be measured by how he actually lives his life, not what looks good on paper. save your shock for ten years from now and the success of those TWO kids who made it even without the guidance of this great role mo
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Eric it was a great pleasure to watch you develop the last two years. I wish you continued success.If you need anything you can call on me. Mr.Don
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I think you should check the brackets for who's playing who in the state championship.
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I am shocked that someone would air Mr.Stewarts personal affairs with so much disrespect. I only know Stewart from watching his career as well as following it through out his years over seas he came from nothing and has made something of himsef and his life to my knowlege Mr. Stewart has 3 children all from his wife of 10 years...This man has accomplished a great deal and that is what the article is about.It's not personal.
51 agree | 47 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Eric,if you care about academics as well as Basketball, then COME TO DUKE!! My daughter (class of '01) lost her dad to cancer just prior to her senior year. Though not a BB player, Coach K embraced her. All of the Duke coaches are GREAT mentors. You cannot go anywhere better. Join our Duke family. If you live 100 years you will never regret it. Love ya, widowed Duke mom.
77 agree | 87 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Eric Atkins is a terrific young man with a wonderful family unit who is there to keep him moving foward in the absence of his dad. Being part of Eric's life right now is such a blessing to me and my family so thank you for highligting him and paying tribute to his dad.
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Achilles said:
interesting
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Ben Williams II said:
All those high school teams in DC MD and VA are cheaters....and that KIMA school was the worst of all of them. It was like if a player wanted to play they let him, no matter how old he was. But even though their record wasnt that great, they did have some good players like Goodson, Peguero and Coleman. It shocked me to see Coleman play for such a organized team since the teams he usually play with are disfunctional. He and Peguero would make a nice 1+2 combo for college, but Coleman has to prove that he can dribble the ball. But he has my vote because he has changed him game enormously compared to his recent years, and why hasnt he and Peguero signed to any D1 schools?? The staff is HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
300 agree | 279 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'd like to know which kids Larry is talking about expressing something to in the 7/26/06 article he refers to, because it amazes me that he would care about any other kid in the world other than the ones he mentioned in the article being as though he has 2 other children, another 12 year old daughter and another 10 year old son which he plays no active role in his life what so ever nor does he pay the child support he is suppose to pay. He has alot more to achieve than a degree. He has a 10 year old son that he needs to be a father and role model to.
882 agree | 243 disagree
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Tony Gaujot said:
People must have not been paying attention last year. I am saying this because Kevin Durant had the best season for a freshman of All-Time and people still are saying Oden should be the # 1 pick by a 3to 1 margin. Durant is the most complete front line player I have ever seen. It's going to be sick when he adds 20-25 lbs. of muscle. Now I am not knocking Oden, but I think he is a bit overrated. To say he is the best center prospect in 25 years is laughable. Did the guys spouting this mess forget about Shaq? When Oden puts up 25 and 13 like Shaq did for most of his career and wins 4 titles then get back to me. To be honest, I am not sure Oden will ever average 20 ppg in the NBA. Besides, if you look at need, the Blazers already have Aldridge and he is very promising. If they took Durant to play the "3" their front line would be Durant, Zach Randolph, and Aldridge. Can you say UNSTOPPABLE?There really isn't room for both Aldridge and Oden. Durant = Bird but much more athleti
546 agree | 194 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I think Jamar Harrison is a C-USA, A-10 type talent right now, and if he improves his "3" he will become a guy that can play for money one day. it may be oversees, but he has the athletic ability to get there. A JUCO or prep school may actually be good alternatives for him, because he will continue to get lots of game action. If he goes to a solid D-1 program, he may sit for a year or two waiting his turn. He is, however, better than many of the guys some of the D-1 schools are signing.
290 agree | 293 disagree
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Steven Forte said:
That center Rodney Goodson is soft.
336 agree | 289 disagree
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Arnold Kennedy said:
Yes, Harrison should be getting tons of letters. He was clearly top 5 in the SG category, plus last year he squared off against Coleman and won the scoring battle 27-15, then in the next game, although they lost, he outscored Coleman 22-15. Now, even though Coleman had a horribly selfish PG in Harris, he still should have produced more last year as a Colt. But he did improve his defense this year. I went to all but two of KIMAs games and he did well, not great but well, considering that he had not played man to man defense at Coolidge. But yes, Harrison should be getting more letters. If he was maybe 6'6 instead of 6'2-6'3, he'd get way more offers. And Coleman really has an upside. Although he averaged about 22 last year, his average dropped to about 12-13 this year, but he didnt have the team he had last year. Coolidge needed a better point guard.
315 agree | 291 disagree
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Jamie Krystal said:
KIMA and Dunbar respectively had their share of talented SG's. But if they were to go head to head, Id give the advantage to KIMA. Dunbar's center Roberson I think is too weak against KIMA's Goodson...plus Goodson outweighs him by about 60 pounds.Goodson would dominate the whole game. Plus Coleman would chip in about 20 5 and 5, and that little point guard would give you some good minutes and some smart decisions. I think KIMA should have been ranked in the post top 20 instead of Dunbar.
313 agree | 292 disagree
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Tony Gaujot said:
Why isn't Jamar Harrison getting more offers? He was one of the 3 or 4 best SG's in the DC area last year. He has the game and the grades, but hardly any D-1 schools are noticing. It does not make any sense. It looks like not playing AAU ball really has hurt him. I hope a D-1 comes in late and gets him. He will produce. If not, maybe he should go to a prep school for the 07-08 season.
306 agree | 347 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
They didn't feed the big man enough, but yes that Lionel Coleman really knows how to put on a show....did you see him in the lay-up lines?? Insane. Drew Smith
696 agree | 355 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Man that kid Coleman really helped bump that team over the edge...he was a difference maker the whole season...
329 agree | 318 disagree
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