It?s a split ballot at Lake Clifton.
The faculty and some students are buying the hype surrounding the top-ranked Lakers.
But some students ? most of them, jealous, according to sophomore guard Jason Sharp ? are still “hating” on Lake Clifton.
“A lot of kids are saying we?ll lose, but the teachers have our back,” Sharp said. “They?re going to come out and support us. The other team will have a lot of fan support, so we?re trying to match it.”
The Lakers have been fueled by raucous crowds that have gotten larger as the season has progressed, but they?ve also been motivated by those who claim the team won?t win its first state title since 1999, said Lakers coach Herman “Tree” Harried.
“I?d rather for them to get doubted,” he said. “I think kids are too immature to handle getting patted on the back. I?d rather them hear, ?You guys ain?t good.? It gives them a reason to have something to prove.”
There?s no reason to doubt Lake Clifton, which lost just one game ? Dec. 14 at Friendship Collegiate Academy, 57-56, on a shot as time expired. The Lakers, however, avenged that loss two weeks later, defeating the D.C. private school on the road, 50-46.
The Lakers (25-1) enter this afternoon?s Class 3A semifinal against eighth-ranked Long Reach (24-2) at Comcast Center at 3 on a 22-game winning streak, but they more concerned with their next two games than reflecting on previous triumphs.
“Still not talking about it,” Harried said, noting his team hadn?t mentioned the streak in about a month. “We?re a couple steps away from our goal. Winning streaks don?t win you titles. It gets you there. But winning games, one game at a time, is what gets it done.”
But Long Reach, which is on a 14-game winning streak and won the 3A title in 2006, is not intimidated by the Baltimore City champions.
“They?re tough,” Long Reach coach Al Moraz Jr. said. “They?re an extremely talented team. They?re big. We?ll just hope to break their pressure. Their guards are extremely talented. It?s going to be fun and we?re excited.”
The Lightning is led by senior forward Obi Ukwuoma (16.5 ppg, 10 rpg, 4.5 apg) and senior guard Deon Queen (13 ppg, 5 rpg, 3, apg).
Lake Clifton counters with a deep starting lineup, led by junior point guard Derrious Gilmore (14 points, 8 apg), senior forward Antoine Allen (16 points, 8 rpg) and Sharp, who averages nine points and is making 40 percent of his three-point shots.
“Winning a championship would mean a lot,” Sharp said. “All that hard work we?re putting in is paying off. It?s working. We?re putting in a lot of time. We got this far. Now, we just want to finish it off.”
