NORFOLK, Va. — The Lake Taylor boys squad feels like they have some unfinished business to take care of on Friday from VCU's Siegel Center. They'll face defending Class 3 champion Northside at 8pm. The Titans (25-1) fell last season in the state quarterfinals. What makes this year's team different?
"We've been putting this program together the past three years", says Lake Taylor guard Shahide Battle. "Our chemistry, we're just locked in with each other so we know where everybody is going to be at."
Fellow senior forward Rodney Baines added, "Playing in a state championship really means a lot to us", he said.
It also means a little more for another senior in forward Elijah Washington. He's committed to Syracuse University to play football as a tight end. He could have, like some high school players, graduated early from high school and headed to college to start spring football. Instead, playing basketball in his final season in high school kept him back at Lake Taylor.
"Just to make sure we're leaving a legacy and also getting a ring", he says.
Washington has gotten encouragement from his head coach, Derek "Yogi" Edwards, who was an assistant coach the last time the Titans brought home a state title in 2018.
"Elijah could have gone ahead and focus on football, but for him and I tell him all the time, he's too good of an athlete to leave out of high school without a state championship".