Eagles Swarm J.Y.O. @ iS8/NIKE

SOUTH JAMAICA, NY - It would be a classic battle between Queens and Brooklyn public school players and a game with playoff implications.

J.Y.O. (Cardozo) from Bayside, NY and the Eagles (Robeson) from Brooklyn on Friday at the iS8/NIKE Tip-Off Classic. While J.Y.O. got the first punch in, the Eagles got the second, third and final blow in. In the end, the Eagles woukd swarm J.Y.O. for a 60-44 win.

J.Y.O. inched up 4-0 as Rashond Salnave scored a floater. Big man Isaac Kante finally put the Eagles on the board and with 4 minutes left in the opening quarter, J.Y.O. led 6-4.

Carl Jackson '18 tied the game with 3:24 at 6 and at the two minute mark, Kante gave the Eagles an 8-6 advantage with a turnaround midrange jumper. J.Y.O. would find themselves down 13-9 to start the second quarter

Power forward Israel Farrington '18 and Jackson soon pushed the Eagles lead to 17-9 early and J.Y.O. burned a timeout in an attempt to get it together

J.Y.O. did manage to pull to within 5 points but Kante and company countered. With 2:30 the Eagles were still ahead by seven. Even J.Y.O.'s late arrival Aaron Walker couldn't make a difference as Jonathan "JJ" Murray '16 help to keep J.Y.O. down, 25-16 at the half.

To start the third quarter, J.Y.O. appeared to be back on track as Salnave notched a nice assist to Walker in transition but back-to-back treys Keith Swinton and a steal and bucket by Farrington put eagles up 35-18.

Knowing when to facilitate and when to shoot are the marks of a good point guard evidenced by Salnave who became more offensive minded when he saw that his teammates couldn't get it done. This was primarily due to the Eagles pressure defense. Salnave put on a valiant effort, draining a clutch buzzer beating three-pointer, cutting the Eagles lead to 39-34 at the end of third quarter.

The J.Y.O. comeback temporarily rattled the Eagles who tried to force issue and committed some unnecessary offensive fouls but Salnave would pick up his fourth foul with 4:30 being a bit too over aggressive. To be fair, both teams became heated as Kante drew a foul but also tech and fouled out.

The young Eagles were able to hold onto the lead as Aqwon Butler '18 shook both Walker and Salnave to get to the hoop. With 3:26 left in regulation, J.Y.O. was in an enormous 52-36 hole with time running out quick, fast and in a hurry.

J.Y.O. kept fighting but frustration set in as Walker got ejected due to flagrant foul. The refs eventually called an end to the action.

Kante paced the Eagles with 18 points. Salnave scored a game high 20 points for J.Y.O. The Eagles finish up its pool play with an impressive 3-1 record while J.Y.O. drops to 1-2.