Freddie Lash the latest MLK Classic star

17 January 2012 No Comments Kyle Odegard

Two years ago, little-known Cameron Forte burst onto the scene at the MLK Basketball Classic, scoring 34 points and hauling down 12 rebounds as the McClintock boys basketball team upset No. 1 Sunnyslope.

That performance was a precursor of things to come for Forte, as he led the Chargers to the 4A-I state championship and was named the Tribune’s Player of the Year as a junior.

On Monday, Gilbert guard Freddie Lash was the latest player to springboard into the spotlight at the showcase event. Lash didn’t have a great first half numbers-wise, but it was easy to tell by his fluid movement and solid shot release that he was one of the team’s best players. Lash took off in the second half and finished with 24 points to lead the eighth-ranked Tigers to a 68-52 upset of No. 2 Basha.

Winning a state championship like Forte’s group did will certainly be an uphill battle, but this performance showed the rest of Division I that Gilbert shouldn’t be taken lightly. The Tigers have soundly beaten Mesquite, Highland and now Basha in their past three games.

I asked Lash after the game if he enjoyed pulling off the upset on a big stage, and he laughed.

“Oh yeah, it was really fun,” he said. “What kind of question is that?”