When the final buzzer sounded in the Class 1A state championship, William Thomas made a beeline for the stands. He couldn?t find his father immediately after the game, but he sure could find the ball during it.
Thomas, a 6-foot-4 senior, scored 25 points with 28 rebounds as New Town (23-3) won its first ever state basketball title, defeating storied four-time defending champions Dunbar, 74-69, in double overtime Saturday at Comcast Center.
In doing so, a new Baltimore County-City rivalry might be alive. Dunbar (16-6) is fine with it.
“We accept the challenge of it being a rivalry,” Poets coach Darnell Dantzler said.
Considering the lack of respect the team felt it was getting, New Town senior guard Daniel DeSouse was glad his team had a shot at Dunbar.
“A lot of our critics said we couldn?t beat them,” sophomore guard Stuart Clarke said. “Now we?ve beat them twice this year.”
The rivalry could heat up even more, with the two being aligned into the same 1A North region together next season.
On Saturday, DeSouse and Clarke ? proclaimed the team?s “floor generals” by Thomas and coach Mike Smith ? each fouled out. Thomas took it upon himself to lead the team to victory.
“I knew I had to take over for the win,” Thomas said. “Who remembers second place? Nobody remembers second place.”
Thomas admitted after the game that he doesn?t wear contacts during the game, and has trouble seeing 10 feet in front of him.
“It?s a big round hoop. A big round basketball,” Thomas said. “I?ve got a fifty-fifty chance of making it.”
His rebounding effort was three shy of the state championship record, less than 24 hours after his father, William, told him he needed to improve upon his semifinal performance of four points and 10 rebounds.
“I had a real bad game [in the semifinal],” Thomas said. “My father chewed me out and I was really looking for my father, like, ?Daddy I did it.?”
Thomas scored 13 points in overtime, avenging a state semifinal loss to the Poets last season.
“We?re here. We?re here now,” said Smith, title trophy in hand. “For two years we?ve been battling to get respect in the county.”
In the paint
» New Town grabbed 70 rebounds, led by William Thomas? 28 and Kendrick Brown?s 20. Brown scored 14 points, while Daniel DeSouse and Stuart Clarke both scored 12.
» Dunbar also had four players score in double-figures, led by freshman Corey Spence, who had 16 off the bench. Senior guard Eric Barksdale scored 13, while sophomore Tavon Austin had 11 and senior Maurice Portee had 10.
They have it now.
