For B-CC boys, three out of four ain’t bad

Largo 73, Bethesda-Chevy Chase 64

‘‘We’re sad; but we’re very proud,” Thompson said. ‘‘We’re very proud of being here three out of four years. Austin _ how many people get a chance to be here and play three out of four years? So that’s really something.”

‘‘I’m sad, but I’m not really disappointed,” Cooley echoed. ‘‘I can’t ask for more out of my teammates; I’m proud of them. I’m happy we made it this far. I’m sad we couldn’t make it farther, but I’m definitely content with what we got.”

Cooley’s final game in a B-CC uniform resulted in team-highs in points (19), rebounds (9), steals (3) and assists (3). He missed eight full games and parts of two others this season with two broken fingers, but averaged 18.1 points in the 16 full games he played.

This was the only season in which Cooley actually led the team in scoring. He was a bit player as a freshman, had his sophomore season cut short by academic ineligibility, and shared the spotlight last season with center Maurice Pearson, now plying his trade at the University of Ohio.

As the main focus this year, of both the offense and opposing defenses, Cooley could have scored even more. That he didn’t is a point in his favor, in Thompson’s book.

‘‘Austin is, by far, the best player that I’ve ever been around,” Thompson said. ‘‘But also, he’s a stellar, classy guy. He made this team a team. He could have easily been a guy that tried to go out and score 30, 35 points and get a big-time scholarship offer, because he has all the tools to do that. But this truly was Austin’s team to make, and he did that.”

The team came together over the last month of the season, soon after Cooley’s return. Dropping four of eight games in his absence, the Barons (18-8 record) were a middling team for much of the season. From last year’s state finalists, they had graduated not only Pearson, but two big, athletic forwards in Jonathan Gregg and Jordan Herrera, and floor general Darren Smith.

But then, they made a characteristic late-season run, winning five straight games to close the regular season and three more in the regional playoffs. Spurred not only by Cooley, but also classmates Jordan Wheeler (14 points Thursday) and Tyler Henry (6 points, 5 rebounds), they overcame their graduate losses to once again become the best team in the region.

But in Largo, they ran into the best team in all of Class 3A. B-CC knocked off the Prince George’s County squad in last year’s semifinals, but the Lions got their revenge last Thursday.

‘‘Coach Thompson has been great with me over the years, and it’s kind of a friendship,” Largo coach Lewis Howard said. ‘‘So we’re 1-1 against each other in state semifinals. I’m glad to be on this side this time.”

Realistically, Thursday’s outcome wasn’t in doubt for long. The Lions led wire-to-wire, with senior Darren Clark converting a three-point play 21 seconds into the game. They led by eight midway through the first quarter, and that was as close as B-CC would get in the final three periods. The lead was 20 with 2 minutes to go, and the Barons’ reserves outscored Largo’s, 10-3, at the end of the game to cut the final margin into single digits.

But the feat did not diminish what the Barons accomplished this season, or over the last four.

‘‘It’s definitely been the best basketball experience I’ve had so far,” Cooley said. ‘‘The best coaching staff I’ve had so far. All four teams have been the best teams I’ve had so far. I have no complaints, no regrets. I’m happy I was put here, I’m happy I didn’t leave.”