With the clock ticking down, Broadneck High?s basketball fans rose to their feet in anticipation. The anxiety level was rising, but the game was already decided. The Bruins led Northeast, 99-56, and the fans were clamoring for one more point. When the buzzer sounded, the Annapolis gym was filled with a chorus of false boos.
It all comes with higher expectations, with the Bruins soaring to an 18-1 record.
“Winning has a tendency to bring people in to watch,” said Broadneck athletic director Ken Kazmarek, a former basketball coach at the school. “There?s been a tremendous following. It?s been a great buzz and we?re looking forward to the playoffs.”
Fans are looking forward to the playoffs as speculation has started around campus. After Broadneck?s football team won the Class 4A East Region title last fall, could the same be in store for the basketball team this winter?
“We?ll see,” said basketball coach John Williams, a 1991 Broadneck graduate. “According to the regular season, I would say we could stack up with any team in Broadneck history.”
Broadneck, which visits Severna Park (11-7) tonight at 6:45, celebrated senior night on Tuesday. At the end of the ceremony, the football team was presented its 2006 regional title patches. On hand for the presentation were a number of the school?s basketball players.
“We play together all the time,” senior Clyde Gross said. “That?s why our chemistry is so good.”
The football team beat Old Mill, 28-7, for the regional title before losing to Suitland in the state semifinals.
“We?ve had some success in our football program, and I think that?s carried over into our basketball season, as well,” said Williams, who was Kazmarek?s point guard for two seasons.
While the football team has made seven state tournament appearances, including a loss in the 2003 state championship, the basketball team has made the state tournament just twice, losing in the state semifinals in 1986 and 1995. This year?s team might be the one to make a run.
“I think we can go far ? real far,” said junior J.J. Hicks, a top skill player in football who leads the basketball team in scoring at 17 points per game. “We?ve got a lot of matchups all over the court, and we?ve got guys coming off the bench like Mike Atkins.”
Atkins led the way with 16 points Tuesday, when five players scored in double figures on senior night. But at 6-foot-4, Atkins is the team?s tallest player.
“The strength is our ability to run,” the 6-foot-2 Hicks said. “We?re not the tallest team, which may catch up with us, but hopefully not.”
While the fans were upset Tuesday night with the team falling one point shy of 100, Williams was upset with the team?s defense. In his mind, team defense is the Bruins? Achilles heel.
“Once we?re able to [limit easy baskets], I think our offense will click through our defense,” Williams said. “Until we do that, I don?t think we?ll reach our potential.”
