The biggest advantage the Randallstown High boys basketball team has this weekend is experience.
Chasing a third straight title, and fifth overall, the Rams (22-3) enter tonight?s Class 2A state semifinal game against Wicomico (23-3) at the University of Maryland?s Comcast Center on a six-game winning streak behind a veteran-laden roster.
“We have a couple of guys that have a chance to get three state championships as seniors,” Rams coach Kim Rivers said. “I know that?s exciting for them.”
The Rams don?t return everyone, however, from the 2006 2A state champs.
“It?s a big difference because we lost three Division I players in Johnny Higgins, Lyndon Jones and Paul Kirkpatrick,” Rivers said.
Kirkpatrick is a forward with Howard, while Higgins and Jones are Division I prospects at Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts. Both of them will play for the Baltimore All-Stars in the April 1 Charm City Challenge at the Towson Center. The Rams beat Wicomico, 64-54, for last year?s state title under their direction.
This season, senior Darrell Bryant leads Randallstown. The 6-foot-4 forward is averaging 14 points and eight rebounds per game.
“If he plays his game, he can be a force on the inside on both ends of the court,” Rivers said. “He?s going to put us on his back. … If he plays hard, I think we have a chance.”
Aside from Bryant, though, youth pervades the Rams, who start three juniors and a sophomore. Junior forward Kim English is leading the team in scoring at 15 points per game, while adding four rebounds and two assists per contest.
“We have to rely on our players that played last year a lot,” Rivers said. “Hopefully, they can get us over the top again.”
The key for the Rams will be defense. Rivers wants to see more focus there, and rightly so, as Wicomico is averaging 83.1 points per game. The Indians reached triple digits twice so far in the regional playoffs.
STATE SEMIFINALS
(All games are today at the University of Maryland?s Comcast Center)
1A
» Dunbar vs. Fort Hill, 3 p.m.
» New Town vs. Snow Hill, 5
2A
» Frederick vs. Fairmont Heights, 7
» Randallstown vs. Wicomico, 9
