Edmondson wins second straight MPSSAA Class 1A boys basketball championship

Chase Foster leads the Red Storm in a close battle with Cambridge-South Dorchester

When Lake Clifton boys basketball coach Herman “Tree” Harried gave the MPSSAA Class 1A boys basketball state championship trophy to Edmondson coach Darnell Dantzler at the end of last year’s awards ceremony, it was one of most endearing acts of sportsmanship in recent memory at the state public championships.

It was also a coronation for the Red Storm, who extended its championship tenure Saturday with a 69-65 victory over Cambridge-South Dorchester. Chase Foster had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots for Edmondson (26-2), which won its fourth state title since 2013

Last year, Edmondson, with a talented but inexperienced roster, defeated Lake Clifton, 60-46, in the 1A final, denying its Baltimore City rival a fourth straight title.

Edmondson claimed its second straight MPSSAA Class 1A boys basketball state title Saturday. The Red Storm held off Cambridge-South Dorchester, 69-65, at the University of Maryland's Xfinity Center / Photo courtesy of the MPSSAA

The Red Storm went undefeated through the grinding Baltimore City league, capped with a fourth quarter rally (down 10) against then-defending Class 3A and city champ City in the title game at Morgan State University.

It’s the first time the West Baltimore school, which won state titles in 2013 (2A) and 2014 (1A), claimed the Baltimore City crown and a state title in the same season. Edmondson’s only loss came against Baltimore Catholic League Tournament champ St. Frances and a two-point decision to Mount Zion Prep.

“It’s a remarkable season that these guys had and to go 26-2 playing the tough schedule we played, my hats goes off to them for playing as hard as they played,” said Darnell Dantzler, whose team also defeated state 2A semifinalists Carver Vo-Tech and C. Milton Wright.

Experience matters for Edmondson

The Red Storm’s experience pushed it over the championship finish line Saturday. Senior forward Josiah Brown finished with 13 points and five rebounds and junior guard DJ Dantzler added 12 points and six assists.

Leading by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, Edmondson led just, 52-51, midway through the fourth quarter. Foster, a 6-foot-9 sophomore, got an offensive rebound off a miss and Brown converted two free throws.

Brown and Kyrie Sherrod knocked down 3-pointers, pushing Edmondson out to a 60-51 advantage before Cambridge-South Dorchester (25-3) made it a two-score game, 60-56, with two minutes left. DJ Dantzler dropped a shot in the paint and Brown scored, giving the Red Storm a 64-57 advantage with 1:15 remaining.

“Last year [was DJ’s] first playing varsity and Chase as well, so we went through growing pains,” said Darnell Dantzler. “And then this year, we were more battle-tested and they were doing all the little things — diving on the floor, blocking shots and all the little things needed to win.”

Last year, Brown struggled with injuries and personal issues before coming up with a team-high 19 points - including a dunk for the lead late in regulation - in the state championship game win over Lake Clifton.

He had eight of his 13 points in the final frame Saturday.

“Last year, I was fortunate to win,” said Brown, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward. “All season long our goal was to go on top.”