Maryland 4A South boys’ basketball: C.H. Flowers upsets Eleanor Roosevelt

Understandably, C.H. Flowers guard Brandon Green was tired in the fourth quarter of a close game between No. 14 Eleanor Roosevelt in Springdale on Tuesday night. The 6-foot junior practiced Monday for the first time in nearly two weeks and hadn’t played a game in the same span.

But Green, who had been nursing a sore left hip caused by a previous knee injury, dug deep and scored nine of his game-high 20 points to power the Jaguars to a 67-59 upset of the Raiders.

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“That’s why I was a little out of shape,” Green said. “I needed to get some rest in spurts.”

Green last played two weeks ago, in a 80-64 win over Laurel. But the next day in practice, he couldn’t take the pain in his left hip anymore. The doctors told him to rest. He said when he hurt his right knee earlier this season, which forced him to miss one game, he began favoring the left side of his body and hurt his hip in the process.

The Jaguars carried on without Green, relying on their bevy of athletic guards. But with Green back, C.H. Flowers (14-3, 14-1 Maryland 4A South) had an aggressive scorer.

“I had to show up more when he wasn’t playing, me and my other teammates,” said junior guard Dontae Holloway, who had two key steals in the fourth quarter. “But tonight he was knocking down free throws during the game and coming through for us.”

In a back-and-forth defensive game, Eleanor Roosevelt (15-4, 12-3) used it size advantage and rebounding ability to take a 45-43, fourth-quarter lead. But on the first play of the final frame, Green knocked down a three-pointer.

Five minutes later, with the game tied at 48, Green hit a floating hook shot to pull the Jaguars ahead for good for their tenth straight win.

Green also added four free throws in the final minute to help ensure a comfortable lead. It was the second time the Jaguars defeated the Raiders, the defending Maryland 4A South Region champions. Senior guard Akil Charles led Eleanor Roosevelt with 15 points.

Asked what a healthy Green meant for his team, C.H Flowers Coach Billy Lanier responded: “A lot. He’s been on the varsity since the freshman year and has been our leading scorer the last two years so not having him hurts.”

Added Green: “It’s the fourth quarter and time to show up. We was down going into the fourth quarter and as a team we had to grind out and get every loose ball and make plays.”