Dozo Boyz eaten by Q.H.S.T. Tigers
BELLEROSE, NY – It is widely known that a wounded animal is the most dangerous. The Cardozo Judges have endured one of its worst seasons, beaten and battered in the standings by other PSAL Queens “AA” teams. Thursday’s borough semifinal game against Queens H.S. of Teaching could have been Dozo’s opportunity to beat back the vultures and once again regain its status as one of the top teams in the county by at least getting to the PSAL Queens Borough Championship round.
While that scenario would’ve been preferable to the Oakland Gardens high school, reality set in as Cardozo suffered its third loss in a row to the Tigers and was eliminated from the Borough playoffs. Although the Judges made a valiant effort in attempts to pull off the upset, multiple injuries ultimately put down Dozo, 84 – 69.
An uphill battle from the start, the Judges were shorthanded with the absence of Dejavaughn Utley ‘18 who tore a muscle during its first-round win against H.S. for Construction. Judges head Coach Ron Naclerio told NYCHoops.net that his go-to-guy may be out for the season.
Q.H.S.T. blew the game open early as William Ellis ‘17 and Kion Hill ‘17 scorched Cardozo from the perimeter. Down 19 -2 with a minute left in the opening quarter, Marcus Hammond ‘18 finally got to the foul line to cut the Judges deficit to 14 points as the second quarter began.
Cardozo tried to make a run in the second quarter as Taj Anderson ‘19 started to heat up but Justin Steed ‘17 countered for the Tigers, draining 9 points from the arc. With 2:28 left in the half a 10 -3 run extended Q.H.S.T.’s lead to 21. A Hammond trey along with two more by Anderson punctuated a 10 -3 Dozo run that closed the gap to 37 – 23 at the midway point.
The Tigers came out in the second half and paced by Hill pushed its advantage to 20 points with 2:46 left in the third quarter but Anderson cut that lead in half with an offensive explosion. Netting 16 points in the quarter, the sophomore spearheaded a movement that cut the Tigers lead to single-digits as the final quarter began.
C.J. Kelly ‘17, who was content being a facilitator up until now, promptly ended Dozo’s run but Nasan Ayala ‘18 pushed back. A bucket by Hammond once again pulled the Judges to within 8 points as the spirited play of Anderson was contagious but with 2:57 left to play all that changed.
After a steal, Anderson tried to split two defenders and fell on his face. The injury required stiches over his eye and prevented him from returning to the game. Coach Naclerio told NYCHoops.net that Anderson may have a concussion.
Already without the services of Utley, when Anderson went down and out you could feel the proverbial balloon deflate. Like a matador fighting a bull, Kelly went in for the kill, pouring in 14 fourth quarter points including a backbreaking and emphatic dunk that pushed the Tigers lead back to 14 points with a 1:25 left to play. With no more fight left in the dog, Cardozo was unable to gain any more ground and tapped out..
Kelly led Queens H.S. of Teaching with 20 points with Steed and Dwight Reed ‘18 pitching in 13 points apiece. Anderson paced Benjamin Cardozo with a game high 25 points with Hammond adding 19 points.
