Abraham Lincoln wins summer trifecta
BROOKLYN, NY - For the Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters, this summer was about setting the tone for the upcoming high school season. Already competing in and winning two top local tournaments, Lincoln completed the trifecta on a high note, beating George Westinghouse on Sunday to win the Conrad McRae Youth League championship.
"We just wanted to win to show people that we're one of the teams to beat. We're a force to be reckoned with." said Jahlil Tripp (15 points) after the 59-48 victory.
Advertisement
Earlier in the summer, the Railsplitters won the Rucker tournament followed by winning the SMARTBall Classic over Boys & Girls HS. Tripp, who said he was on vacation with family, missed the semifinal game but cut the trip short to play in the chip.
Tripp spent the majority of the game battling, Westinghouse's Gerald Williams (11 points) who the M.C. nicknamed "The Goon" due to his tenacity. "[Williams's] is very good player one of the best in the city," said Tripp. "They're was a lot of talk going into this game."
Tripp, who earned MVP honor said he wanted to make a point. "I just wanted to come show my talent and me and my team just got the win."
After being ahead, 11-4 Westinghouse recovered and cut their deficit to 14-11 with 6:18 as Arsheen Jones (14 points) scores. Tyler Bourne (12 points) and Tripp created some point separation and the Railsplitters increased its advantage to 6 at the half
Down 28-22 to start the second half, George Westinghouse tied the game at 30 early. Damarri Moore (11 points) put Westinghouse out front by a point. Cahiem Brown (16 points) ties but Moore countered.
The lead changed hands as the clock wound down but a late push by Lincoln put them up by eight with 2:36 left to play and would ultimately win by eleven points.
"I think we're the best team in New York until someone takes us off and nobody has done that," said Tripp.
For Westinghouse, this would be a tough second loss in the Conrad McRae championship. Last season they lost to Thomas Jefferson by a point.