It's been a long offseason for the Lake Clifton boys' basketball team.
Not much was expected of the Lakers last season -- the team lost in the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association 1A state championship in 2014 with a talented, senior-laden roster. With only one starter returning, outsiders anticipated the 2015-16 season would be a rebuilding one for a program that is usually expected to be one of Baltimore City's best.
Lake Clifton certainly had some growing pains, a likely outcome with four sophomores in the starting lineup. The team dropped 10 games during the regular season, but caught fire in the playoffs, winning three straight games before beating Ben Franklin, 56-44, in the 1A South regional final March 4. After getting past Surrattsville, 49-37, in the semifinal in College Park, Md., March 11, the Lakers were matched up with Pocomoke in the state championship March 12.
