NYCHoops.net - iS8/Nike Playoffs (2nd Round) Pt. II

October 25, 2009

Deborah N. Harris
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

The playoff second round games, which featured Sports University v. Starret City, Playaz (Seniors) v. Hillhouse H.S. and Panthers v. Metro Hawks, were held Saturday at the iS8/Nike Fall Tip-Off Classic in Queens, NY.

Let's take a look at the remaining hardwood action that took place this weekend at the iS8.

Sports University Takeout Starret City (108-91)

Sports University (NJ) appeared to be up against a grind-it-out team with a helter-skelter style of play that still got the job done. However, Starret City melted under the heat that Sports U. was firing up.

Sports U. spent the whole first half preventing a bubbling Starret City from offensively bucking up by forcing turnovers and picking opponents pockets on the defensive end. Meanwhile on the offensive side of the floor, Sports U. seemed to be having fun, with Rucker Park-esque passes and high flyers to the rack.

At halftime, Sports University led Starret City 54-36, stifling the offensive fluidity of Starret so much that not one player recorded more than six points on the stat sheet at the break.

Sports University continued the trouncing into the third quarter, being up by as much as 25 points, 80-55, about a minute before the close of the period. In the fourth phase, Starret tried to stage a late comeback, chipping the deficit down to as little as 11 points twice down the stretch, thanks to the perimeter work of Starret's Massiah Merritt (22 points, 17 in the second half alone) and Eian Davis (24 points, 13 in the second half).

But, Sports University charged ahead with the strong, dominant effort of Derrick Williams (29 points), Eli Carter (23 points) and Jayon James (22 points).

Sports University will face New Heights (Seniors/A) at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday in the iS8/Nike playoff quarterfinal.

Playaz (Seniors) Outlast Hillhouse H.S. (80-75)

Hillhouse (New Haven, Conn.) and Playaz (Seniors) both started out the game with great hustling. Hillhouse's Jengodji Gates (26 points) and Spencer Smith (16 points) were making buckets happen from the perimeter to the interior. But, their efforts were matched by Playaz Fuquan Edwin (24 points) and Cameron Ayers' (20 points) inside-outside game.

The game was knotted at 18 at the close of the first quarter.

In the second period, an assist from Playaz' Ayers to Edwin put the New Jersey squad up by a deuce, 20-18. Ayers followed it up on a step through to the lane to hit off Shondell Steward (11 points) for a four-point advantage. However, back-to-back buckets by Hillhouse tied the game at 22. Hillhouse and the Playaz battled back-and-forth, as Hillhouse stayed within striking distance but, ultimately, the NJ squad led by two, 34-32 at halftime.

Hillhouse tied the game early in the third quarter. And, two consecutive three-pointers by Hillhouse's Freddie Wilson (10 points) gave the Connecticut team a six-point advantage, 40-34. A slam dunk by New Jersey's Daevon Boardingham (16 points) and a pair at the line for Edwin brought the Playaz back within two points, 42-40.

Later in the third period, Hillhouse went on a 11-4 run, capped by a Gates' three-pointer, to give the CT squad a nine-point advantage, 53-44. By the 1:15 mark of the tertiary period, Playaz chipped the deficit down to regain the lead with a 10-0 surge, 54-53. New Jersey led Hillhouse by three at the close of the period.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Hillhouse tied the game at 61 after a trey by Brian Patterson (13 points). Hillhouse did eventually hold one more lead, but Playaz kept consistent on the offensive end, when baskets were not falling for Hillhouse and regained the advantage. This time, the Playaz held the lead for the remainder of the quarter, defeating Hillhouse 80-75.

Playaz (Seniors) will play the Panthers on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in the iS8/Nike quarterfinal.

Panthers Clobber Metro Hawks (92-68)

The Panthers saw a slight competition with the Metro Hawks in the first half, but the Hawks ran out of gas, unraveling at the seams by halftime when the score was 42-33. The Panthers held a lead of as much as 27 points, 71-44, with seconds remaining before the close of the third.

With the one-two combination punch of South Kent teammates and former NY high school standouts, Russ Smith (27 points) and J.J. Moore (23 points), the Panthers took the Metro Hawks out of its element and cruised to a 92-68 victory.

Metro Hawks' Kelvin Amayo and Shaquille Thomas recorded 16 and 15 points, respectively, in the loss.

The iS8/Nike defending champions will tip-off against the Playaz (Seniors) at 1:00 p.m. to wrap up the quarterfinal games on Sunday.

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