Edmondson boys basketball coach Darnell Dantzler Sr. and his counterpart in Monday’s Baltimore City title game, City’s Omarr Smith Sr., are well aware that their uniquely special times are coming to a close.

Soon, their coach-son relationships with Darnell “DJ” Jr. and Omarr Jr., respectively, will be no more as the two All-Metro senior stars hit the home stretch of their high school careers.

For all four, the emotions are a mixed bag. They come with a shared sentiment.

“Right now, it’s kind of bittersweet, so just trying to live in each moment. It’s like reality is setting in knowing things are close to coming to an end,” Smith Sr. said.

One of the first big moments left comes at 7 p.m. when defending champion Edmondson takes on City at Morgan State in a rematch of last year’s title game.

The No. 5 Red Storm (19-0) have had the better of the play against No. 6 City (18-4) in the two seasons the coaches’ sons have played for the dads.

After Edmondson claimed a 50-45 win in last year’s title game, the Red Storm won this year’s regular-season clash, 68-64. Dantzler Jr., the team’s leader at point guard, scored a game-high 22 points to offset the 13 from swing guard Smith Jr.

For two hours Monday, Dantzler Jr. and Smith Jr. will battle fiercely on the court with their fathers matching the intensity on their respective benches.

Before and after, it’s friendship and respect.

“We all know in this one game, we’re playing against each other, so we’re going to be competitive. But the good thing about it is, we all greet each other with a hug and, at the end of the game, we hug again,” Dantzler Sr. said. “And then once the city championship is over, Omarr goes to compete in the [state’s Class] 3A and we go to compete in the 1A and we’ll be supporting each other. So it’s a real good connection with us basketball-wise and family-wise.”

Smith Jr. was 5 years old when he saw his father, who had just finished his professional career overseas, walking out the door with basketball in hand. He ended up tagging along to the gym and has been by his side ever since.

“Seeing him play basketball at my early age, I was around the game a lot and I think that’s why I fell in love with it so easily. Having him with me and helping me learn the game, along with others close to him, I was able to develop at a young age and that really helped me get to where I am today,” said Smith Jr., a 6-foot-4 prospect committed to New Mexico State.

The Dantzlers share a similar early story.

Dantzler Jr. was 6 when his father, a former Dunbar standout, took him to Madison Square Recreation Center to share his passion. Shot after shot, the younger Dantzler had trouble reaching the rim, so he started trying with a lighter volleyball.

The shots continued until, finally, success.

“He was so determined that he was going to make a shot and he just wouldn’t give up,” Dantzler Sr. said. “Once we started him playing in leagues, I saw little things that showed he was a student of the game and I just said, ‘If you love the game this much and just stay with it and put the hard work in, you’ll see the finished product.’ That’s what we’re starting to see now.”

In his third varsity season at Edmondson, Dantzler Jr., who has committed to play at the University of the District of Columbia, is averaging 22.5 points, 8.7 assists and 3.1 steals per game this season.

He’s led the Red Storm to the past two Class 1A state titles in addition to last year’s city crown.

Dantzler Jr., who along with Smith Jr. is an “A” student, is grateful for the strong bond that basketball has helped create with his father. It goes far beyond the X’s and O’s of the game.

“My father has always been my role model. And to my teammates and all the kids he’s coached before me, he’s been a father figure to them as well. Everybody he coaches and touches, he guides them to be great in life,” Dantzler Jr. said.

For Smith Jr., what Dantzler Jr. has is what he’s determined to get before he moves on to college — a championship. After this chance in the city title game, the Knights will be in the mix to challenge for the 3A state crown. Smith goes onto Monday’s showdown averaging 20.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season.

“One thing that keeps me motivated is I don’t have any high school championships,” he said. “So this is the point where I want to be — getting ready to play for the city championship for a second year in a row and getting ready for another run at a state championship. It feels like that’s what I have left to do and there’s nothing there to stop me from getting it.”

The growth Smith Sr. has seen in his son this season could put the Knights over the top.

“Over the last year, I’ve definitely seen a lot of growth. He has become a lot more assertive with scoring and rebounding, and just taking on a bigger leadership role,” Smith Sr. said. “In a lot of games we may have lost last year, I can honestly say we won this year because of his growth. He started to finish games off strong and we won some tough games on the road and that came from him learning to play in tough environments and learning to push through. It’s been exciting to watch.”

At least Monday, Edmondson has plans to spoil the Smiths’ plans. Dantzler Sr. wants to see his son keep on rolling.

“He’s had a remarkable career, so I’m going to be sad to see him go. But I’m also blessed to see that he’s taking it further to play college basketball. So soon, I won’t be his coach anymore and turn back into a full-time dad. I’ll always support him in all his endeavors,” he said.

Have a news tip? Contact Glenn Graham at ggraham@baltsun.com, 410-332-6636 and x.com/GlennGrahamSun.