Beacon 158 Back-to-School Classic: Friday

BAYSIDE, NY - A couple of teams looking to take that next step up in the PSAL this season met in the main match-up at the Beacon 158 Back to School Tournament in Queens on Friday night when Queens H.S. of Teaching took on George Westinghouse in what proved to be a tight back and forth contest that wasn't decided until the very end.

Wings Academy also was showcased as the Bronx powers looked to be firing on all cylinders against Chaminade. Here is a recap of Friday's action from the Beacon.

Queens H.S. of Teaching schools George Westinghouse, 59-57

A clash between a Brooklyn PSAL team in Westinghouse and a Queens PSAL team in H.S. of Teaching with both teams looking to get their Beacon season started right. On paper the teams looked fairly even, and when they took the floor, it played out that way as well.

The Tigers got off to a quick start as guard Masia Phillips '16 was able to create a pair of turnovers early on which led to him finishing out in transition giving Teaching a 9-6 lead four minutes in. The three ball then started to become the Tigers friend as Wadleigh transfer Rahmel Thompson '16 and Holy Cross transfer Matt Newton '15 connected on back to back treys to give the Queens side the 17-9 lead with 12:50 to go in the opening half.

Westinghouse, which started the game sloppy started to come to life as it was Jaheem Page '15 who used his strength to post up smaller defenders and back his way inside for a pair of buckets as he helped lead the Warriors on a 10-0 run that was punctuated by a putback by Justin Bogle '15 to give Westinghouse back the lead with 9:12 left in the half.

James Augustin '15 broke up the Westinghouse run with a jumper from the elbow and from that point on for the rest of the half it was a back and forth duel. Joshua Nurse '15, who was at Pathways before transferring to a school in Oklahoma, in back at H.S. of Teaching and his defense helped alter Westinghouse offense around the rim, and even though he and Newton finished the half with baskets inside, it was Gerald Williams '16 with a runner in the lane, and a three ball by guard Sheldon Gayle '16 that gave George Westinghouse a 31-29 lead at the half.

Newton opened the scoring in the 2nd half with a slash going down the left side to tie it at 31, but then it was Bogle, who is a long and lanky three point specialist for Westinghouse, Coho buried three straight from behind the arc. It normally would be a momentum changer, but Teaching wasn't letting the Westinghouse offense affect them and what they were wanting to do.

Nurse scored on an and-1 with a short putback in the paint, and the big man followed that up with another putback, this time off a Phillips miss. He was then fouled when he got the ball posting up on the inside, and his 7 straight points gave the Tigers back the lead at 56-55 with just over 3 minutes to play.

Westinghouse had a number of chances to retake the lead, but they had turnovers in three possessions in a row. Phillips eventually took advantage for Teaching as he got free on the left wing and connected on a long jumper to give the Tigers the 58-55 lead with 2:21 to go.

The offenses for both teams started to struggle with both teams missing point blank chances on the inside, and Teaching missing 3 straight from the FT line. Gayle and Williams each had chances to tie, but missed on three point shots, with Gayle's being blocked by Nurse who stepped out to challenge the shot.

Phillips finally made the 2nd of 2 FT's with 14 seconds to go to make it 59-55 for Queens H.S. of Teaching. Bogle came down a missed a three ball from the left side, but Page putback the miss to make it 59-57, but there was just 0.2 on the clock. Bogle used his length to block the inbounds pass, but there was no time for him to get up a shot to tie, and it was the Tigers pulling out an impressive 2 point victory over Westinghouse.

Newton and Nurse each led Teaching with 12 points apiece, with Newton coming up clutch late, and Nurse proving to be a huge defensive weapon in the paint in the big win.

The Warriors in defeat were paced by Page who had a game high 18 points, while Bogle and Williams added 13 and 11 respectively in the loss.

Wings Academy plucks Chaminade Flyers, 81-42

While Wings is known for its 2 Division 1 prospects in Georgetown bound big man Jessie Govan '15 and uncommitted guard Desure Buie '15, it was the supporting cast that really led Wings to the comfortable win over the scrappy Flyers.

Govan and Buie were each solid in the first half, but it was Will Martinez '16 who proved to be a unique weapon who could stretch the defense on the outside, but showed good enough handle to put the ball on the floor and take it to the rim and finish. Wings got out to a comfortable lead of 40-22 at the half and they were just getting started.

Govan sat for the entire 2nd half, and Buie didn't get much time either, but that just let other under the radar players such as guard Shaheen Hopson '15 and forward Jose Perez '17 shine. Hopson was able to push the tempo and score with ease in transition, while Perez was a tough and physical player on the inside who also showed the versatility to step out when needed.

Chaminade to their credit didn't quit, with forward Sean Clark '15 and guard Kevin McNoble '15 each scoring from deep. The Flyers were without their top returning scorer Tom O'Connell '15 who is committed to Maryland for lacrosse, and is currently playing in the Chaminade football team, and without him it was just too much for the young Long Island squad as Wings was able to get out in transition and score from all over the floor in their 81-42 win.

Perez led the way in a true team effort for Wings with 14 points, with Martinez adding 13 as well in the victory.

In the loss, it was Clark who paced the Flyers with 8 points.