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Largo and head coach Ayana Ball-Ward will look to earn a P.G. County title Wednesday night.
Prince George's County Basketball Championships
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School
Girls: Largo Lady Lions (20-2, 3A/2A/1A Champion) vs. Eleanor Roosevelt Lady Raiders (18-1, 4A Champion); 5:30 p.m.
Boys: Friendly Patriots (20-2, 3A/2A/1A Champion) vs. Laurel Spartans (17-5, 4A Champion); 7:30 p.m.
Battle of the conference undefeated
Bragging rights, maybe. Confidence booster, quite possibly. Momentum heading into the state playoffs, definitely.
However you put it, the reasons for wanting to win the Prince George's County basketball title stretch far and beyond what any one person may believe.
Yes, it secures bragging rights for one year, yes, it is a confidence booster, yes it may give you momentum, but there is much more to it.
Four teams will each vie for the title today at Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School for the opportunity to call their team, Prince George's County champions.
"It could definitely provide a little confidence booster," Eleanor Roosevelt head coach Rod Hairston said of what a win could do, "especially against a good Largo team. [Largo head] coach Ball does a great job in getting those girls prepared and it is always a war when we play Largo."
The opening game of a two-game set at Wise will begin with Hairston's Roosevelt team in a contest with the Largo Lady Lions. Both teams played to undefeated conference seasons during the regular season in their respective conference which sets up for a highly-contested game to determine the county championship.
"The girls have been excited about this game all week," Hairston said. "I did all I could do to keep them focused on the last three games [of the regular season] before tonight. They are really looking forward to it."
Laurel boys looking for repeat
First-year head coach Antoine Gaither has led the Laurel Spartans boys' basketball to this year's Prince George's County championship game.
In reaching this game, the Spartans will have the opportunity to win its second county title in as many years.
"We like to win every game on our schedule," Gaither admitted, "but this is more of a bragging-rights game. Our main goal is to stay injury free heading into the playoffs."
Laurel will meet the 3A/2A/1A champion Friendly Patriots who punched its ticket with a Friday-night victory over Gwynn Park.
"The globe expands now," Friendly head coach Rob Garner explained after Friday night's win. "Now, we are just not playing for Ft. Washington. Now, we are not just playing for our family and friends. We are now playing for the whole county. We are playing as representatives of the entire 3A/2A/1A. ... Winning the conference was just one of our goals. We are going to go to Wise wanting to win the ball game."
Both teams come into the contest totting strong defenses with often high-octane offense. Something has to give which should make for a wonderful game to determine the boys' champion.
"One of our goals we set during the pre-season in the fall was to win this game," Gaither said. "No one expected us to be here, and we talked to the team about earning respect."
The boys' game will follow the girls' tonight at Wise.
E-mail: James A. McCray III
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School
Girls: Largo Lady Lions (20-2, 3A/2A/1A Champion) vs. Eleanor Roosevelt Lady Raiders (18-1, 4A Champion); 5:30 p.m.
Boys: Friendly Patriots (20-2, 3A/2A/1A Champion) vs. Laurel Spartans (17-5, 4A Champion); 7:30 p.m.
Battle of the conference undefeated
Bragging rights, maybe. Confidence booster, quite possibly. Momentum heading into the state playoffs, definitely.
However you put it, the reasons for wanting to win the Prince George's County basketball title stretch far and beyond what any one person may believe.
Yes, it secures bragging rights for one year, yes, it is a confidence booster, yes it may give you momentum, but there is much more to it.
Four teams will each vie for the title today at Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School for the opportunity to call their team, Prince George's County champions.
"It could definitely provide a little confidence booster," Eleanor Roosevelt head coach Rod Hairston said of what a win could do, "especially against a good Largo team. [Largo head] coach Ball does a great job in getting those girls prepared and it is always a war when we play Largo."
The opening game of a two-game set at Wise will begin with Hairston's Roosevelt team in a contest with the Largo Lady Lions. Both teams played to undefeated conference seasons during the regular season in their respective conference which sets up for a highly-contested game to determine the county championship.
"The girls have been excited about this game all week," Hairston said. "I did all I could do to keep them focused on the last three games [of the regular season] before tonight. They are really looking forward to it."
Laurel boys looking for repeat
First-year head coach Antoine Gaither has led the Laurel Spartans boys' basketball to this year's Prince George's County championship game.
In reaching this game, the Spartans will have the opportunity to win its second county title in as many years.
"We like to win every game on our schedule," Gaither admitted, "but this is more of a bragging-rights game. Our main goal is to stay injury free heading into the playoffs."
Laurel will meet the 3A/2A/1A champion Friendly Patriots who punched its ticket with a Friday-night victory over Gwynn Park.
"The globe expands now," Friendly head coach Rob Garner explained after Friday night's win. "Now, we are just not playing for Ft. Washington. Now, we are not just playing for our family and friends. We are now playing for the whole county. We are playing as representatives of the entire 3A/2A/1A. ... Winning the conference was just one of our goals. We are going to go to Wise wanting to win the ball game."
Both teams come into the contest totting strong defenses with often high-octane offense. Something has to give which should make for a wonderful game to determine the boys' champion.
"One of our goals we set during the pre-season in the fall was to win this game," Gaither said. "No one expected us to be here, and we talked to the team about earning respect."
The boys' game will follow the girls' tonight at Wise.
E-mail: James A. McCray III
