Cardinal Hayes Waved Off By Thomas Jefferson

BROOKLYN, NY - Living up to their name was an understatement. On Friday, the #6 ranked Thomas Jefferson came at Cardinal Hayes with Orange Waves of defense. Add to that and a 44 point offensive tirade from Shamorie Ponds and the #3 ranked Cardinals would eventually be swept out to sea, 131-89.

Ponds told NYCHoops.net that being ranked lower in the preseason ranking was a major motivator. "We had to prove that we're the best team in the City and that's it. Whoever's on top of us, we just kill 'em," he said.

Cardinal Hayes started strong as Clive Allen (11 points) scored offense while AK Ojo (4 points) provided defense. It looked as if the Bronx, NY Catholic school was going to out-Big Jefferson in the own house leading by three-points with 3:17 left in the opening quarter

Hayes dominated the boards but the Orange Wave were beginning to gain the advantage in hustle points as senior forward Jordan Colson (17 points). Junior Deante Bridgett (10 points) and sophomore Malachi Faison (4 points) gave Jefferson a 25-18 lead after the first quarter and the Wave began to grow.

Bridgett extended Jefferson as he continued to hit perimeter shots. As did sophomore Rasheem Dunn (18 points). Lead grew to 11 quick as Hayes began having extreme difficulty handling Jefferson's relentless pressure. The intensity grew like a pressure cooker until a hard foul on Ojo produced double techs. The Orange Wave was building and their lead grew to 20 before Hayes responded.

The Cardinals made some headway but with 3:21, Jefferson got their lead back up to 19 points as Ponds got red hot, dropping back-to-back treys. Hayes did get some long distance firepower from Pedro Martinez (16 points), Baron Goodridge (12 points) and Kashif Davis (9 points) but the lead kept expanding as Ponds was blazing from the arc and in transition. A basket off a crossover by Jaquan McKennon (8 points & 10 assists) gave Jefferson an almost insurmountable, 64-40, halftime lead.

Ponds was on fire in the first half scoring 26 points and Hayes was faced with the monumental task of overcoming a 24 point deficit. Good ball movement and relentless pressure by Jefferson only allowed Hayes to exchange baskets early. Colson continued to beast on the offensive boards.

Ponds air-balled a heat check as Jefferson appeared to cool off momentarily but back-to-back treys by the left-handed junior reignited the Wave and let everyone know his offensive heat was real.

Down, 81-48, small forward Jeffrey Hayden (19 points) kept Cardinals with at least a pulse as he battled with reckless abandon in the paint but the game soon became a layup drill for Jefferson. Hayes Head Coach Joe Lods looked down his bench for signs of life but most of his Cardinals had already checked out mentally. His bench players often times included Ojo who was saddle with foul woes throughout the contest

100-63 would be the crater that the Cardinals Hayes would need to crawl out of as the final quarter began but Ponds put a fork in it as he continued to light up the Brooklyn skies with long balls. Hitting is 44th point to go with 5 assists, 10 steals and 10 rebounds, Orange Wave Head Coach Lawrence "Bud" Pollard mercifully removed Ponds teeth for Hayes hide as the junior was finally subbed out with five minutes left in regulation. Jefferson had a commanding 45 point lead in a game that left the building a long time ago.

Ponds said that Coach Pollard laid out a strategy to beat the Catholic school powerhouse. "The strategy was to block their only two guards. Put the ball in the bigs hands and let them bring the ball up the court."

According to Ponds, the Orange Wave is a rising tide. In the Brooklyn PSAL Class AA, the junior says his team's toughest competition will be "Boys & Girls and Westinghouse."

Jefferson remains undefeated at 4-0 while Hayes remains winless at 0-1.