BEL AIR, MD — The Cambridge-South Dorchester Vikings knew their state semifinal matchup against top-seeded Patterson Mill would be nothing short of a battle.
Facing a hostile crowd and what essentially felt like a road environment on the Huskies’ home floor, CSD also had to overcome the long trip to get there. Early on, the miles appeared to show. Patterson Mill stormed out to a quick 7–0 run, feeding off the energy of its crowd.
But Vikings head coach Reggie Parker trusted his group to settle in.
Senior T.J. Wilson quickly helped steady the Vikings in the opening quarter, catching fire from beyond the arc and knocking down multiple three-pointers to keep CSD within striking distance. By the end of the first, the Vikings had weathered the early surge and battled back to a 15–15 tie.
The second quarter turned into a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading runs and momentum. Neither side was able to create much separation, as the lead changed hands several times. Just before halftime, K’Marion Hall buried a three-pointer to give the Vikings a slim 33–32 advantage heading into the break.
Patterson Mill responded in the third quarter, turning up the defensive pressure and forcing several Viking turnovers. The Huskies capitalized, building a six-point lead midway through the period. Once again, however, Cambridge-South Dorchester refused to fold.
Seniors Semaj Pinder and Sterling Perkins sparked the Vikings with aggressive defense of their own, turning steals and rebounds into transition opportunities on the offensive end. Their energy helped CSD regain control, and by the end of the third quarter the Vikings held a 49–45 lead.
The fourth quarter delivered the kind of drama expected from a state semifinal.
Neither team led by more than three points as the game hung in the balance during the final minutes. Patterson Mill had one final chance to steal the game when senior Alex Kropp drew contact on a layup and converted an and-one opportunity with less than three seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to just one.
But Kropp’s free throw attempt rattled off the rim.
The Vikings secured the rebound, and with it, a thrilling 61–60 victory.
With the win, Cambridge-South Dorchester advances to the state championship game for the third consecutive season. Head coach Reggie Parker now has another opportunity to add to the proud tradition of Vikings basketball in Cambridge—one more victory would bring yet another state title back home and further cement the program’s legacy.
