Boys’ Latin falls to Lancaster Catholic in Class AAA game

LANDISVILLE, Pa. - Maurice Watson emerged from the locker room, plopped onto the concrete floor, placed his head between his knees and allowed himself a good cry.

The session didn't last too long, but the pain was deep.

Watson, a 5-9 1/2, 155-pound junior guard, is the leader of Boys' Latin Charter's basketball team, but Friday night that tag could not be spelled with a capital L.

"That's why I'm taking this so hard," he said. "I'm supposed to show my guys the way, and I didn't do that tonight. I played bad overall and I especially didn't do the job energywise. I couldn't pick my guys up.

"I always feel this way: If I don't have a good game, as a player and leader for my team, then we're going to struggle."

BL fell to nearby Lancaster Catholic, 74-59, in a PIAA Class AAA first-round game at Hempfield High and, truthfully, the issue was decided long before the stretch run.

Watson, the son of coach Maurice Watson Sr., settled for a miniscule-for-him 11 points and never found his rhythm.

It likely makes sense to forgive him for the sub-par performance. As much as Watson tried to perform his usual miracles, at least a part of him was also thinking about this morning. He'll be taking a crack at the SAT and a solid score could solidify his future.

Watson, who lives in West Phillly and boasts a 3.8 GPA, is pumped about trying to gain entrance to Penn.

"I go to some of their games and I call them regularly," Watson said. "It's going to depend on my SAT. They're definitely interested in me."

As disappointed as Watson was, he knew it made much more sense to look forward than to spend too much time in Despairville.

The Warriors' rotation included just two seniors and the team's next best players aside from Watson were junior swingman Carlos Taylor (24 points, seven rebounds) and sophomore Yahmir Greenlee, a whirlwind guard.

"This leaves a sour taste," Watson said. "And we're going to use that taste to fuel our energy for next season. I'm already looking forward to it. If our whole team does come back [never a sure thing in the transfer era], we're going to be good to go.

"My senior year is going to be exciting. Some people are saying we'll be the team to beat."

Additionally, many are expecting Watson to become the No. 2 scorer in city leagues' history behind 2003 Strawberry Mansion grad Maureece Rice (2,681). After a 590-point junior campaign, Watson boasts 1,659. Wilt Chamberlain (2,206 for Overbrook, class of 1955) currently stands second.

Late in the third quarter, BL appeared to have hope after a follow by Erik Lark (of four other misses) cut the deficit to 47-39. LC stormed to 17 of the next 24 points over seven-plus minutes, however, and BL was deficient in hitting the glass and getting downcourt to prevent fast breaks (even ones capped by the Crusaders' center, Devonne Pickard).

"Our big thing tonight was defending the three," Watson said. "We did that pretty nice up until halftime. They hit a couple early in the third quarter, though, and that took away [a positive outlook]."