Charles H. Flowers High School rising junior Brandon Green said Jaguars’ boys’ basketball coach Billy Lanier rarely mentions his days at Oxon Hill.

“The only time he brings up Oxon Hill is to tell us that he has rings and we don’t,” Green said. “He mentions Oxon Hill to let us know what it takes to win.”

Two years ago, the Jaguars won just four games. Last year, they won 14 and found themselves in the 4A South Region final in their second season under Lanier, who guided Oxon Hill to Class 4A state titles in 2000 and 2003. Lanier’s passion and confidence has rubbed off on his players at Flowers.

“We feed off him and he gets into us and into our heads,” said Green, who averaged 13.5 points per game last season. “That fuels us.”

Despite losing Tuesday night’s Falconers Summer League game to Gwynn Park, 30-23, the Jaguars understand that championships are built piece by piece and by doing all of the little things that helps teams become successful.

“We just have to keep working hard in the weight room, getting better on our own,” said Flowers rising junior Brandon Holloway.

Meanwhile, Gwynn Park was without a formidable presence on Tuesday, as rising senior guard Eric Batts continues to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee, which he suffered in December. He has faced physical and mental challenges as he rehabilitates.

“It was emotional, especially when I first got the surgery,” Batts said. “Sometimes it felt like I wasn’t going to come back. It’s been real frustrating, especially considering it happened in my junior year, one of the most important years of my high school life. But I have people to push me like my family and my friends. I have great support behind me.”

Batts said he does not expect to be cleared by doctors to resume team activities until August or September.

The Yellow Jackets ended up getting hot at the right time last season, capturing the 2A South Region title before losing in the state semifinals. Batts believes the team’s fortunes may have been different had he been able to play.

“I feel like I brought that toughness to the team,” said Batts, who averaged 7.3 points per game through seven games in December. “I felt that when I went down, they got down a little bit but they got it together and started to win. I think if I would have played, we would have won the state title.”

Gwynn Park coach Mike Glick wants to make sure Batts comes back totally healed.

“I think the most important thing not only for Eric but for anybody is that they’re young and have a lot of career in front of them,” Glick said. “We want him to come back at 100 percent and not too early, and that’s the biggest thing. If he could rejoin us by January and be 100 percent, I would be elated.”

Glick said Batts has almost been like an extra assistant coach while he’s been sidelined, adding that seeing the game from that perspective will make Batts a better player once he’s back on the court.

“We really need his leadership on a team that returns no starters,” Glick said. “He’s had as good an attitude as any player I’ve coach with a major injury. He’s not depressed or down. He’s really been a great leader for our kids.”

thampton@gazette.net