By Perry Green
AFRO Sports Writer
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The City College Black Knights captured its first title in 40 years.
(Photo by Jacob D. Howard III)
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(March 18, 2009) - To claim this basketball season as one of the best in City College Black Knights history would be an understatement.
City (21-6) captured its first title in 40 years after beating the Fredrick Douglass Eagles of Prince George’s County, 55-42, in the Class 2A state championship last weekend.
It was City’s first championship victory since they won the Maryland Scholastic Association title back in 1969, and the school’s first 2A state title ever.
“We made history tonight,” junior Jordan Latham told the media following the game. “Forty years since the last title. Ten years since the last regional title. This is real big for us.”
The Knights had three players score double-digits, including outstanding freshman Charles Tapper who recorded 12 points and 11 first-half rebounds. Nardi Bogues also added 12 points, converting 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
“Free throws are a big part of my game,” Bogues told the media. “I practiced them this morning. I knew I had to keep my head in the game and knock them in down the stretch.”
The Black Knights also played outstanding defense, holding the Eagles to less than 30 percent shooting from the field.
Although it took a balanced attack for City to win, one of its players put up a tad more personal effort than the rest.
Following the game, Black Knights senior Maurice Johnson, who led his team with 16 points, couldn’t hold his tears back.
Johnson had dedicated this season to his father, who died in a motorcycle accident last summer.
“I thought of him then,” Johnson told the media. "It was all for him.”