COLLEGE PARK — For Largo, Saturday's Class 2A state championship was a chance for revenge. For Carver Vo-Tech, this was a chance to show its resilience.
Score 1 point for redemption.
The Prince George's County Lions pulled away with a late third-quarter score to defeat the Bears 66-52 at the University of Maryland Xfinity Center. With this victory, they avenge their loss to Newtown in the same match a year ago.
Largo (25-2) was led by Cameron Ward's 29 points and 16 rebounds. The highly-selected junior showed an overwhelming performance for the Lions, averaging 28 points and 12 rebounds. When his offense wasn't in control, his defense was causing seizures for the Bears' offense.
Jalen Johnson backed Ward with 17 points for Largo. Carver (21-6) was led by Dorian Sands with 13 points and Karial Colclough added 12 points.
The loss ended Carver's losing streak, and the Bears lost most of their reserves for leaving the bench area during an altercation during the state quarterfinal win at Queen Anne's. I had to win.
After surviving all of that, the only mystery the Bears couldn't solve was Ward.
“This is going to sting,” Carver coach Alvin Parker said. “Honestly, no one expected us to be here. The kids I work with are not Cam Ward. They are four- and five-star recruits. No. We have players who had to work hard. We thought we should have won.”
Carver held out for the Lions in the first half. The Bears briefly took a 16-14 lead on Suns' 3-point shot with 3:59 left in the first half. After that, the Lions started making their defense work. They ended the first half on an 11-5 run and held a 25-21 lead going into intermission.
Early in the third quarter, Carver seemed to be finding his groove. With 6:19 left in the third quarter, the Bears went on an 8-4 run on Suns' free throws, tying the score at 29.
Carver-Votek's Rayvon Hasleberger #4 is fouled on a shot attempt by Largo's Cameron Ward during the 2A boys final game of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships on Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver Votech's Desmond Handon attempts a 3-point shot against Largo's Rooney Joseph during the 2A boys final game of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championship Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Largo's Rooney Joseph looks to take on Carver Votech Mekai Tindall #1 guarding the basket in the 2A boys final of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championship held Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Largo's Cameron Ward makes a diving stop to prevent the ball from going wide and Carver Votech's Kaiden Matthews during the 2A boys final of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships held Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. approached the play. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Largo's Jalen Johnson attempts to block a shot attempt by Carver Votech's Rayvon Hasleberger during the 2A boys final game of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships on Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver Votech's Dorian Sands takes a shot right into the middle of Largo's defenders during the 2A boys final of the MPSSAA basketball state championships Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver-Votek's Desmond Handon takes a shot over Largo's Shawn Johnson in the 2A boys final of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships on Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver Votek's Dorian Sands blocks a shot attempt by Largo's Jalen Johnson during the 2A boys final game of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships on Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver Votek's Dorian Sands attempts a shot past Largo's Letl Yorn during the 2A boys final game of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships on Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver Votech's David Ross tries to take a shot under defensive pressure against Largo during the 2A boys final game of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships held Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Largo's Cameron Ward's shot is shot by, from left, Anthony Ross, Karial Colclough and David Ross during the 2A boys final game of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships held at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Saturday. The Carver-Votek trio stopped it. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver-Votek's Desmond Handon dribbles the ball and calls plays with Largo during the 2A boys final of the MPSSAA basketball state championships held Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Largo players rush onto the court to celebrate their victory over Carver Votek in the Class 2A boys state championship final Saturday at the University of Maryland Xfinity Center. (Brian Christa/Staff)
Carver Votech teammates Mekai Tindall and Cayden Matthews receive finalist medals after losing to Largo in the 2A boys final of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships held at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Saturday. greet each other. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver-Votek men's basketball head coach Alvin Parker hugs a faculty member after his team lost to Largo in the 2A boys final of the MPSSAA basketball state championships Saturday at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
Carver Votek men's basketball head coach Alvin Parker holds his final trophy after his team lost to Largo in the 2A boys final game of the MPSSAA Basketball State Championships held at the University of Maryland's XFINITY Center on Saturday. Receive it respectfully. (Brian Christa/Staff Photo)
The match was tied again with 5:08 left in the third set when Largo started to pull away, and caught up at the 33rd minute. After David Rodd hit a layup for Carver, Johnson hit a 3-pointer, followed by another from Aiden Ashe to give Largo a 39-35 lead. After the Bears' offense again whiffed, Johnson was fouled on a layup. Despite missing the free throw, Largo extended its lead to 41-38. They held the lead for the rest of the quarter and entered the fourth quarter with a 48-41 advantage.
Carver managed to cut the lead to 50-46 with 6:42 left, but it was close. Largo stepped up its zone defense, but the Bears couldn't find an answer. In the final 6 minutes, 42 seconds, Largo outscored Carver 16-6 to take over the game.
“The zone stifled us a little bit. We didn't execute. We couldn't play at our pace,” Parker said. “We dribbled too much and deviated from our principles. We never got the flow. We're used to stretches in 9- to 11-point sprints. Today. Then that never happened.”
The title was the third in school history for the Lions, but Carver is still looking for its first.
Carver — 9 12 20 11 — 52
Largo — 12 13 23 18 — 66
car: Karial Colclough 12, Dorian Sands 13, Anthony Ross 3, David Ross 7, Desmond Handon 11, Kaiden Matthews 3, Rayvon Hasselberger 3
Lar: Cameron Ward 29, Jalen Johnson 17, Looney Joseph 2, Aiden Ashe 9, Jared Mobley 9.
