OLD FRIENDS REUNITE ON DAY TWO AT THE ACADEMY

12th annual Basketball Academy
When: Friday thru Saturday
Where: Hill Field House, Morgan State University
Tickets: $10 at door (children under five years old free)

New Town vs. No. 4 Digital Harbor
When: 2 p.m.
Outlook: The Titans hope the third time’s the charm. The Owings Mills school have lost to Top 10 teams in Randallstown and St. Frances Academy, but does have a decisive victory over No. 20 Dunbar (at Michael J. Gilbert Foundation Tournament in D.C. during holiday). Junior point guard Stuart Clark is the catylst along with Kendrick Brown, but James Black have proven to be solid contributors. Though Justin and George Jackson have garnered most of the headlines for Digital Harbor, Jermaine Edwards, Gary Brannon and Kevin Davis have been critical to the Rams’ success.

Riverdale Baptist girls vs. No. 1 St. Frances
When: 3:30 p.m.
Outlook: With the sting of an embarassing home loss to No. 2 Seton Keough still fresh, St. Frances will try to get some payback against Riverdale Baptist. The Crusaders, ranked No. 6 in the Washington area, defeated the Panthers, 53-41, in the opening round of the IAABO Invitational Tournament at Prince George’s Community College as Kandice Green went down in the final quarter with the game tight. Green, who returned to action Monday, spearhead the front line with junior Sophy Ngobeni and sophomore Briana Hutchen. St. Frances will have to slow down sophomore forward Ataira Franklin, who scored 24 points in the first meeting.

Dunbar (D.C.) vs. No. 11 Mervo
When: 5 p.m.
Outlook: Dunbar hopes to have a better showing than its previous visit to Charm City. At the season’s opening Baltimore-D.C. Challenge in December, the Crimson Tide were dominated by Lake Clifton, 83-50, but are 8-2 since. Dunbar is young, with only two seniors inclduing starting forward Leonard Cole. The Mustangs, who defeated Dunbar’s league rival, Ballou by 25 points at the Baltimore-D.C. Challenge, are led by senior forward Byron Westmoreland.

No. 6 Douglass vs. No. 5 Randallstown
When: 6:30 p.m.
Outlook: Like the classic Celtics-Lakers rivalry of the early 1980s, this is arguably the Baltimore high school version. Randallstown defeated Douglass, 86-70, in the Class 2A North Region finals enroute to a third straight state championship. The Rams from Baltimore County don’t have the star-power in previous seasons, but are still a force with a deep and athletic squad led by junior forward/center Alex Jackson and senior point guard Tione Womack. Senior guard Omar Strong establishes the pace for Douglass, which will be playing its second straight Final Four opponent in as many as days, following Largo from Prince George’s County.

Riverdale Baptist vs. No. 2 Lake Clifton
When: 8 p.m.
Outlook: The Crusaders from Prince George’s County will get another opportunity against one of Baltimore City’s best. The Lakers will depend on their talented backcourt of Derrious Gilmore, Antoine Allen and Jason Sharp. Lake Clifton should have a good idea how to attack Riverdale Baptist, which plays Thursday evening against No. 20 Dunbar. Brian Wilson and Thomas Robinson lead the Upper Marlboro private power.

No. 3 St. Frances vs. No. 14 Walbrook
When: 9:30 p.m.
Outlook: These teams scrimmaged each other at North County High in Anne Arundel County back in late November, but this matchup will count. The Warriors have a young, but talented squad with 6-foot-7 sophomore Roscoe Smith, who has scholarship offers from the University of Maryland and Georgetown, sophomore Jerrod Briscoe and juniors Donte Stuckey and Dashion Knight. Though senior Sean Mosley sets the pace for St. Frances, its hopes lie with freshman point guard Ronald Williams and sophomores Wayne Sparrow, Dante Holmes and Gregory Lewis.