Gaels unable to fly with Wings
BRONX, NY - On Thursday, we got our first look at the new-look All Hallows, a program that’s been floundering for a few years. Now with Coach Marv McCullough entering his fourth year and some new players, the Gaels wasted no time, jumping into the fire against an always tough Wings Academy, during the pool play rounds of the Tru-Ballaz Pre-High School Classic held at Frederick Douglass Academy III.
The Bronx, NY Catholic school fought valiantly throughout the contest, as was sometimes not the case with previous Gaels teams, but on this occasion only missed crossing the proverbial finish line first by a nose against the Bronx PSAL powerhouse. All Hallows simply ran out of real estate and fell short, 65-64 to the players of Wings Academy.
Jettisoned out front, 14-4, early in the first quarter, Wings appeared to be heading for a cakewalk victory over the Gaels. Fearless leader Jose Perez ‘17 and young upstart Mohammed Fofana ’19 attacked All Hallows defenders and quickly had them backpedaling.
Towards the end of the quarter, All Hallows seemed to say enough with the body blows as 6’4” Kieffer Punter ‘17 went on an offensive tear. A 9-5 run pulled the Gaels to within 6 points of the lead as the second quarter began.
Fofana, a promising 6’7” sophomore wing, displayed his diversity at the one through 4 positions and spearheaded Wings Academy’s re-extension of their lead but All Hallows was resilient. Carnell White ‘17 would help reduce All Hallows deficit to 36-32 at the half as he and his teammates attacked the rim and the boards.
Perez took charge in the third quarter with help from Boubacar Kammisko ‘17 and soon Wings was back up by eight as the final quarter began. The momentum seesawed relentlessly throughout the fourth quarter but pendulum was slowly swinging more in the direction of the Gaels as Wings pushed back.
Suddenly, White cut Wing’s lead to four points with six seconds left to play. Pressure defense by All Hallows then resulted in a Wings turnover and a three-point shot at the buzzer by Joel Simpson ‘19. The Gaels however would come up 1-point short as time ran out.
Perez scored a team high 19 points for Wings Academy with Fofana contributing 10 points. Punter netted a game high 20 points for All Hallows with White adding 12 points.
In other action at FDA III:
* Deer Park was able to hold off Truman HS, 48-44. Malik Edmead ’20 had 14 points.
