Most of the firepower that propelled the Gwynn Park High School boys’ basketball team into the Maryland 2A semifinals last season was lost to graduation last spring. But a new cast of characters could be on a track similar to last year’s team.

A hot-shooting first quarter that included six 3-pointers was enough for the Gwynn Park to earn a 76-64 victory against Fairmont Heights on Friday night in Brandywine. The Yellow Jackets improved to 6-4 overall and 5-1 in the County 3A/2A/1A League, while the Hornets (3-7) dropped their fifth in a row.

“I think we’re picking up momentum,” said Gwyn Park coach Mike Glick. “We knew that it would take a while for them to develop chemistry with five new starters this season. We knew that as the season moved on we would get better and they’re starting to get to know each other.”

Gwynn Park’s 6-foot-9 senior center Marcel Boyd was impressive, scoring 16 points while grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking three shots. Senior forward Xavier Richards added a spark with 10 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

“This is a breaking point for us as a team,” Boyd said. “We’re starting to come together as a team. We know each other’s roles and what each other can and can’t do, and we’re starting to work and become a better team. I think the second half could shape up really good for us.”

“It all starts in practice,” Richards said. “We play together, developing our chemistry. We just have to keep the same intensity and bring it every night.”

Underscoring the completeness of the effort on Friday, Gwynn Park had a season-high 19 assists as a team.

Junior guard Jalen Harris has been a driving force all season, averaging 18 points per game. He had 20 against Fairmont Heights, and senior Agyei Gregory added 14 points, including four 3-pointers.

Fairmont Heights senior forward Julian Livingston had an outstanding night with a game-high 32 points, to go along with seven rebounds and four blocks. But the rest of the Hornets struggled to play consistently.

“Right now we have a lot to learn,” Livingston said. “We keep making the same mistakes and turnovers. People can’t handle the ball and pressure [defense], and that keeps putting us in bad situations at the end of the game.”

Hornets’ coach George Wake said the team’s experienced leaders need to demand more from their teammates.

“We’re lost at this point, and a car riding down the road without a driver,” Wake said. “We have no leadership. If you’re practicing and practice is not going well, it should be a leader, not a coach pulling the players back in to work hard. You always want a leader that makes the team accountable and we don’t have that.”

Game notes: Gwynn Park will be without senior leader Eric Batts for at least several weeks after he suffered an injury to his reconstructed left knee during practice on Tuesday. Batts, who tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in December 2010 and missed the rest of last season, reinjured his knee when a teammate fell on the back of his leg.

“My knee stiffened up but it’s going to take a couple of weeks,” said Batts, a 6-foot guard. “This year has been frustrating. Before hurting my knee again, I felt close to 100 percent. Every game I’m getting better and that’s what I’m happy about and I’m having a progression right now.”

“He was really getting better and more confidence in his knee,” Glick said. “He’s our most tenacious player, and losing him is a big blow because he plays harder than anybody. He plays bigger than what he is.”

The Yellow Jackets are looking forward to the return of 6-11 senior center Kevin Walters, who has missed all of the Yellow Jackets 10 games this season after breaking his wrist in practice. Glick said he expects for Walters to return within the next two weeks.

thampton@gazette.net

Gwynn Park 76, Fairmont Heights 64

Fairmont Heights 13 12 15 24 — 64

Gwynn Park 25 13 16 22 — 76

Gwynn Park: Jalen Harris 20; Agyei Gregory 14; Marcel Boyd 16

Fairmont Heights: Julian Livingston 32; Jamar Cuthbertson 6; Javon Nance 5; Kavan Sclafford 5