The Frederick Douglass Hurricanes have a long basketball history, with three district championships and one city championship in the last five years, and they came within a three-point shot from winning the district championship last year.
Redemption could be right around the corner.
The Class B state playoffs, which start in March, could go a long way toward easing the memory of Consortium High School’s last second win over the ’Canes, who won the PSL league championship this year with an 8-1 record. The team is 10-7 overall this year.
In league play, the ‘Canes defeated most opponents by at least 15 points.
The team opens the state playoffs against University Prep Science & Math High School. The Panthers are 6-1 in league play and 13-2 overall.
Douglass Head coach Pierre Brooks says he likes his chances heading into state play.
“I can see where we improved and I’m liking our odds,” says Brooks. “Team unity plays a good part and that's what we have, including the coaching staff.
“But we are not finished yet. We still have a long season and have lots of obstacles that will try to slow us down,” says Brooks.
Returning players include James Smith III, Branden Davis, Jarnard Smith, Antwaine Hawkins, Edward Banks and Karmar Graves. New players are Corey Wells, Carlos Walker-Byars, Kelly Broadus and Robert Hurst.
Wells, the small forward, says the team has the players and coaches “to put it all together.”
He added: “I feel we can make it the Breslin Center” in East Lansing, Mich., where the championship game will be played.
Smith, the team’s point guard, says the team has a good chance of “winning it all.”
“In order to do that,” he says, “everyone on the team has to show commitment and attend every practice we have.”
