By: Badi Cross
The Lanham Christian Lions defeated the Takoma Academy Tigers Monday, as they rode their offense to a 20-point victory in their first of two matchups.
As the public address announcer introduced the starting lineups, roughly 35 parents and fans spread around the bleachers of a tightly packed church gym in Lanham, Maryland.
The announcement proclaimed that the Feb. 12 game would put the victor in a tie for first place in the Maryland Independent Region. Monday’s game was one of the final games before the Maryland Christian Schools Tournament (MCST).
The Tigers won the opening tip but promptly turned it over. After some more erratic play, Lions junior forward Jamar Payen scored the game’s first points on a strong finish.
The guards on each team faced off as the brothers Naz and Diego Joy ran the show for the Lions. The brothers worked off of each other, motioning and talking almost in unison.
This is the Joy brothers’ second year playing together for the Lions, which they say has helped them become a successful pairing.
“It’s a pretty good feeling,” said Naz Joy. “I’m always knowing where he’s going to be. We’re on the same string.”
Joy Naz, a junior, dropped five points and six assists in this game, many of them to his brother. Diego, a sophomore, scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Lions to the win.
“It’s actually pretty easy,” said Diego. “We’re with each other all the time, so we know each other’s tendencies – what we like, what we don’t like – so we always know where we are.”
That connection showed on the court, as both brothers passed to each other and their teammates 11 times for assists during the game.
With 30 seconds left in the half, Diego Joy made back-to-back three-pointers to increase the Lions’ lead to 10. With a 30-20 lead going into the half, the Lions began to play harder on defense to solidify their lead.
At the start of the fourth quarter, with two quick steals, Lions forward Tre Ray brought the score to 59-40.
The exchanges of made baskets would continue throughout the quarter. Despite their best efforts, Takoma couldn’t complete the comeback. The Lions beat the Tigers 71-51.
Now sitting at a 20-3 record, the Lions are an undefeated 7-0 in regional play. Head coach Byron Mouton said the team hasn’t performed this well in the regular season since he took over in 2016.
“This is probably our best season in eight years,” said Mouton. “I got a bunch of young players, and I’m just trying to make them understand how to win.”
Mouton, a former University of Maryland star player, highlights the team’s progress under his leadership. He led the Lions to multiple MCST Division 1 championships, including last year.
Tia Patterson, the mother of sophomore forward Jordan Houchins, said she believes part of the team’s success this season comes from the trust they’ve built among each other as teammates.
The Lions will head to Takoma Park for a rematch against the Tigers on Feb. 15 at the Takoma Academy gymnasium.
