SHOWDOWN IN MOCO

by Derek Toney

Digital Harbor’s boys’ basketball team fell behind 16 points in the opening half, but the No. 3 Rams stormed back for a 56-53 decision over host Winston Churchill in the opening round of Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament in Montgomery County Friday evening.

In an all-Baltimore City finale, Digital Harbor will hook up with No. 4 Lake Clifton Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. The Lakers defeated Potomac from Prince George’s County in the other opening round match Friday.

Sophomore guard Justin Jackson scored a game-high 25 points for Digital Harbor (5-1), which outscored Churchill, 33-24, in the second half. Rams coach Johnny Grimes was impressed with the final outcome.

“We just didn’t play well in the first half, a lot of turnovers. The layoff definitely hurt us,” said Grimes. “They showed a lot of character.”

Grimes said junior forward/center Jermaine Edwards (eight points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots) was key down the stretch despite being sick. Edwards didn’t play until two minutes before halftime.

Rams junior guard George Jackson had eight points and 10 assists. Churchill junior Chase Hicks had 20 points.

Lake Clifton (6-1) punched its ticket to the finals with its 77-54 win over Potomac. Antoine Allen scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds, and Darius Gilmore contributed 16.

The only loss the Lakers and Digital Harbor own came against Friendship Academy from the District. The Rams will be looking for their fourth straight victory against a team ranked in the Digital Top 10.

Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament

at Winston Churchill High
First round

Lake Clifton 77, Potomac 54

Potomac: Perkins 3, Gaines 2, Bonner 4, Carter 14, Morgan 12, Montgomery 19, Loving 3. Totals 19 13-28 54.

Lake Clifton: Allen 20, Brown 4, Duppins 2, Elliot 2, Gilmore 16, Greene 2, Horton
8, Melvin 9, Sharp 11, Smith 2, Jones 1. Totals 31 11-18 77. Halftime: Lake Clifton 38, Potomac 24.

Digital Harbor 56, Winston Churchill 53

Digital Harbor: Brannon 7, G. Jackson 8, J. Jackson 25, Davis 6, J. Edwards 8, Yancey 2. Totals 21 11-17 56.

Churchiil: Jiannangeli 6, Hartman 4, Holzman 6, Hicks 20, Payne 1, Smith 7, Fishman 9. Totals 21 8-11 53. Halftime: Churchill 29, Digital Harbor 23.