Conrad McRae Semis: The Set the Stage

BROOKLYN, NY - If anyone questioned whether or not Brooklyn's public school rivalries were still alive and flourishing, Saturday's semifinal games between the four of the borough's finest during the Conrad McRae Youth League playoffs, answered that in duplicate with two exciting semifinal match-ups.

Lincoln Re-Beats Boys & Girls, 76-71

In a barnburner, the Lincoln Railsplitters would best the Boys High Kangaroos for the second time this summer to advance to the championship round. Their first win was during the recent SMARTBall Classic held in Harlem.

PG Tyler Bourne (19 points) and Cahiem Brown (30 points) gave Lincoln early lead but Jamir Cheeks (19 points) for Boys got steals and scored. 8-4. 6'7"Jaquan Lightfoot (23 points) and Cheeks eventually gave Boys High an 11-10 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the half but Donald Flores (13 points) led a 6-0 charge that put Railsplitters back on top, 16-11 at the eight minute mark.

With his nemesis Jahlil Tripp apparently out sick, Lightfoot began to eat inside, starting with a dunk on Brown. Lincoln remained in front as Brown countered and began to hold his own on defense. Bourne scored from the perimeter and Lincoln led 37-28 at the half.

Brown heated up to start the second half and Lincoln was soon up, 51-36 with 13:03.

Gianni Ford (11 points) and Nehemiah Boone (6 points) tried to make headway but with 7:47 left to play, Lincoln still led by 11 points. Even with a putback dunk by Lightfoot, Boys & Girls trailed, 58-49.

Two defensive plays by Lightfoot momentarily froze Lincoln and with 3:17, Ford scored. Cheeks hits an and1 to make it a four point game as Lincoln was down to 4 players. Boys got it down to 69-63 and Ford draws a foul with 51 secs. 69-65.

The crowd got pumped up in what looked to possibly be a photo finish. Brown gets fouled with 48 secs and extends Lincoln lead back to 6 points. Boys got it down to 3 points with 7 secs but mike10 shut down the Kangaroos chances from the line.

Westinghouse Pounds Jefferson, 60-56

In a highly anticipated confrontation, George Westinghouse jumped out in front 8-4 as Malik Riley (11 points) scored a dunk over the top of defenders. Thomas Jefferson Campus was able to turn the tide even without Shamorie Ponds who was on an official visit to St. John's University due to strong play early on from Curtis Smith (18 points) and Rasheen Dunn (16 points).

Gerald Williams (22 points) ties game at 20 with a minute left in the half, scoring a coast to coast dunk and a put back dunk. Westinghouse would then take a 24-22 lead at the half.

Ponds would arrive to start the second half without a warmup only scored 9 points. Although he started out with a nice block on the defensive end, he shot an air ball on his first offensive possession. Jefferson ties game at 26 as Dunn scores in transition.

Riley and Damarri Moore (8 points) scored for Westinghouse but Jeff regained lead and moved ahead as Ponds extends lead with slam.

George Westinghouse charged back as Wright powered up and with 2 minutes left to play Westinghouse was still up by 6. Ponds nails a trey with 51 second and Jefferson was within three points but could get no closer.

Abraham Lincoln is slated to play against George Westinghouse in the championship on Sunday (8/30/15) at 4pm in the Conrad McRae section of Dean Street Park in Brooklyn, NY.