Baltimore Ready to Lead the Lions Back to the Postseason. By: Brad Davis
After a disappointing ending to the 2024-2025 basketball season, Manila’ s Carson Baltimore is ready to step up and lead his team back to where they are accustomed to being. The senior guard has not only worked on his game, but has also worked on being a leader for the Manila Lions.“ I am a true competitor at heart, so I can’ t stand to lose,” Baltimore explained.“ Last year and the previous year’ s loss were a devastating blow to me. This year not making the state tournament is out of the picture in my eyes. These previous two years have been disappointing to the previous decade of our program. I want this year ' s team to bring Manila’ s brand of basketball back to where it should be. We know what it takes to win and I know the team wants it just as bad as I do. We just have to take it one game at a time and make any adjustments we need to.”
So, what does leadership look like for the All-Conference guard?“ It means I have to come in every day and bring the intensity to practice that we need in order to succeed,” Carson explained.“ It means I am supposed to set the standard for the rest of the team. I do this by making sure the team and I are going 110 % all of the time. Also, by being the voice on the floor during games, by making sure we all are on the same page each play. It means being a respectable leader on and off the court.” These are things Baltimore says he learned playing this game he loves.“ Playing basketball has shaped me into someone who is personable, disciplined, and respectful,” he shared.“ It has shown how to fight through situations even when they are difficult or when faced against the odds. It has also taught me that hard work is the key to success in life.”
Hard work is one of the main things that being a Manila Lion has instilled in him.“ One skill I will take with me is work ethic,” Baltimore explained.“ This is something that basketball has taught me from a very young age. If you don’ t have a good work ethic then you will not make it in this sport. Learning how to be dependable and showing up to practice is comparable to having a job. Learning how to take criticism from your coach is like having a boss. You have to be coachable in life.” There are many other attributes Baltimore has picked up from teammates over the years.“ As a freshman moving up to a state championship winning team was a blessing,” he said.“ I want to thank Coach Wimberley for giving me that opportunity. I was able to learn so much from that team and it really shaped me into the player I am today. Those guys had such great confidence in their game, and is something I see in my game today. Those guys were also tremendous leaders and made sure everyone did their part to win. With the team this year, I am making sure we all do our parts because my main goal is to win.”
Now it’ s his turn to lead a young group of Lions and influence them.“ I am very proud of how close I have been able to get with my team now and the teams in the past few years. I know that these friendships are something that’ ll last a lifetime. I am also proud of the person that I have become today through basketball.”
The Manila Lions are traditionally at the top of the tough 3A-3 conference. Typically, games with Osceola and Rivercrest in February are to decide the conference title. Now, add an up and coming Newport program, and usual tough games with Harrisburg and Walnut Ridge, and the league is as tough at the top as ever. Getting through the 3A-3 and an even tougher region can give a team a lot of confidence heading into a state tournament. Baltimore loves the big games in his home gym.“ I am a little biased, but playing in our gym is something that I will never forget,” he explained.“ Basketball is such a big part of our school and town. When everyone shows up and packs the stands it is a feeling like nothing else in the world. I remember being a kid in the stands watching my brother play and thinking how awesome that place really was.”
His brother is a major part of his journey and a big influence on his game.“ My brother taught me everything I know about basketball,” Baltimore remembered.“ I was out in the driveway playing with him before I even remembered. Competing against each other was like second hand nature to us. Of course, the older brother always has the advantage when you are younger. He was always trying to do some crazy dunk on me, but I believe dealing with that is what made me a better player. We still play from time to time, but these days the results aren’ t the same as they used to be. He’ ll tell you otherwise though. Having him around to ask about the game and having him do drills with me has really helped me to advance my game.”
At the end of it all, Carson Baltimore has built his leadership on his faith.“ I credit my faith to helping me handle the pressure of those big games, he shared.“ Knowing that I am still loved by God through wins or losses has really helped me to be able to go out there and play loose. If I got God on my side then who can stand against me?”
If there is one thing everyone knows about playing the Manila Lions, it’ s that they will compete and give it everything they have each and every night. Something that has been instilled in generations of Lion players. Leaders have shown underclassmen how to play the“ Manila Way” and now it is Carson Baltimore’ s turn to be that leader and pass this along. All signs indicate that this team is in good hands with his leadership.