Bedford Y goes to W.4th St. chip

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY - The first semifinal game of the West 4th Street Tournament featured a lot of familiar faces. Both teams fought hard to advance to Saturday's championship game and the lead would ebb and flow. In the end, Bedford Y would outlast the Future All-Stars, 73-64, as Mike Taylor and St. John's bound Maurice Harkless closed the show.

Bedford came out hot early as Taylor drained three treys but 6'3" Naiel Smith, formerly of Tilden, and Rakim Lessane played well inside for the All-Stars tying the game at 24 going into the second quarter.

A full court press by Bedford Y would result in a 4 point advantage early in the second quarter as Harkless began to step up. No defense by either squad resulted in a multiple ties until 1:44 remained in the half when knotted at 52, Xaverian's Travis Gill (4 points) and Manny Thomas (12 points) put the Future All-Stars up 56-52 at the midway point.

Harkless and Kelvin Amayo (7 points) would assert themselves in the third quarter and opened up a 7 point lead for Bedford Y. The All-Stars tried to close the game but another three-ball by Taylor put the game out of reach.

Harkless led Bedford Y with 19 points with Taylor adding 18 points. Lessane paced the Future All-Stars with a game high 20 points with Smith contributing 14 points.

On Tuesday at 4:30pm, the second semifinal game will take place between the Stompers and Positive Direction.