Manchester boys reach Region 6A semis

There was no if. Just when.

The run would come, the Manchester Lancers knew it, and they would, without question, be ready.

They had worked too hard, you see, and dreamed too big to surrender to nerves, pressure, and the best intentions of the Western Branch Bruins.

In fact, their ability to fend off a spirited comeback by the indefatigable visitors from Chesapeake only enhances the 32-minute narrative that concluded with their well-earned 72-58 victory in the Region 6A semifinal Tuesday night.

“We had to stay composed and not do anything out of character,” said 5-10 senior guard Tyler Gibson of the Lancers’ demeanor as their seemingly comfortable 24-point lead early in the third quarter dissipated to 10 with 3:45 remaining in the fourth. “We had to be disciplined with the ball. We couldn’t rush. We had to play at our pace and trust our teammates.”

As was their plan, Coach Josh Karlson’s guys opened fast, raced to a 21-8 lead after a quarter, and extended their advantage to 34-15 at the half.

“At this stage of the season, we’re in playoff mode,” said Karlson. “It’s fight or go home. You have to win to keep going, and we can’t have that luxury of not playing right out of the gate.

“What we preached to these guys from the beginning is that the second you leave the locker room for warmups, we have to be ready to go. Mentally and physically, we have to go out and play.  If we play tough from the beginning, all the momentum will be in our favor.”

Using a very mobile and aggressive 1-2-2 zone with 5-9 junior Jeremiah Davis pressuring the ball, the Lancers kept the Bruins off balance as Desmond Bolton (two 3-pointers and a layup) and Desmond Clark (one 3-ball and two layups, the first off a nifty, crowd-pleasing Eurostep move) ignited their offensive charge.

“We have very good team chemistry,” said 6-3 senior Camari Crawford. “We like to speed up the game and get up and down the court.”

Which the Lancers (19-2) did with aplomb, even as the Bruins (15-9) added 1-2-1-1 zone pressure to their man-to-man in the front court.

Karlson’s halftime message, though laudatory, was cautionary as well.

“Our coach congratulated us for the things we did well,” Crawford said. “He told us to reset and it’s a zero-zero game and to keep the mentality that we hadn’t really achieved anything until we finish the game.”

Bolton opened the second half with a 3-pointer from the right corner off a drive-and-kick-out assist from Clark.

Crawford’s drive and layup a minute in increased the Lancers’ lead to 39-15.

That’s when Western Branch intensified its defensive effort and found the range from the field that had been missing for two-plus quarters.

Two 3-pointers by Brandon Rodgers and two buckets from the paint by Jaden Walker lit the spark, and by the end of the third quarter, the Bruins had halved their deficit to 48-36.

In the first minute of the fourth, Crawford converted a steal into a layup, and Devin Butler scored from the paint off Clark’s entry pass, drew a foul, and swished the and-one to put Manchester up 53-36.

Walker’s three buckets, all from close range, and Rodgers’ strike from behind the arc facilitated a 13-6 rally that enabled Western Branch to close to 59-49 when Ta’Shawn Cuffee scored from inside with 3:45 remaining, at which point the Bruins called timeout.

While the break gave the visitors a chance to catch their collective breath and review the principles of their pressure defense, it also allowed Karlson to review the press break and compose his guys for the final whirlwind stretch.

Manchester responded with poise and intentionality.

Crawford scored three times from close range in a two minute span to stop the Bruins’ rally, and the Lancers hit 9-of-12 free throws in the final two minutes to secure the victory.

Crawford led the Lancers with 17 points. Bolton added 15, Gibson 14, and Clark 10. Walker scored 23 for Western Branch. Cam Clark added 14 and Rodgers 10.

All told, Manchester shot 24-for-45, outrebounded the Bruins 33-28, forced eight turnovers, and committed 13.

“We have a senior group,” said Karlson, “so when they cut it to 10, teams that have stayed together and know how to play together can hold on when it matters.”

In the 6A championship game Thursday, Manchester, the top seed, hosts No. 3 Landstown, which defeated Oscar Smith 59-47 in the other semifinal. Both finalists advance to the state quarterfinals next week.

“Our guys have worked so hard,” Karlson said. “Every single day in practice, we preach about going out and playing hard. I’m proud of them, but the mission isn’t done.

“We have to come out tomorrow with a goal in mind and see if we can take care of business on Thursday.”