BROOKLYN, NY - And they’re off. Saturday marked the begin the high school basketball season with the 13th Annual Hersh Tip-Off Classic featuring non-league PSAL games. Of the day’s games, the most intriguing on paper was between #10 ranked Curtis HS and the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (W.H.E.E.L.S.) Wolves. It was determined early on that basketball is not played on a paper court. In what would end up being a day of nail biters and harsh beat downs, the Warriors of Staten Island demolished W.H.E.E.L.S., 84-67 in real time paced by Malik Martin ‘18.

Curtis pushed ahead early with Martin in attack mode from start to finish. The game was close until a 12 – 4 run put the Staten Island public school up by 10 point to start the second quarter. Martin was joined offensively by guards Ranford Agyeman Budu ’17 and Samuel Majekodunmi ‘17 in the second quarter to initiate a 10 – 2 burst. Curtis was now buckled into the driver’s seat with an 18-point lead midway through the second quarter. Though W.H.E.E.L.S. did receive some scoring from Raheem Ragsdale ‘18 and Miguel Rosso ‘17, they were outrebounded and trailed 52-31 at the half.

Owen Roberts ‘19 tried to chip away at the Warriors advantage aggressively driving to the hole and getting to the line but Martin erased any signs of life. Perimeter buckets by Chris Fabozzi ‘17 help to keep Curtis’s point spread at 22 points going into the final quarter.

Martin kept the pressure on all afternoon netting a jaw dropping 29 points and earning Most Valuable Player accolades. Majekodunmi and Agyeman Budu adding 15 points and 14 points respectively. Roberts led W.H.E.E.L.S. with a game high 20 points all scored in the second half.

IN OTHER ACTION:

* Brooklyn Law smashes Kipp NYC College Prep, 100 – 69.

Larry Moreno 32pts, Mikko Johnson 12pts 11 asst

* Wagner defeats Bedford 72-65

Wagner was lead by game most outstanding player Frank Reali 25pts

* Eagle Academy beats Westinghouse in OT triller, 87-82

Eagle was lead by Demarley Smith 31 pts & Westinghouse was lead by Rashad Staten 16pts

* Thomas Jefferson Campus busts up Banneker, 110 - 80

Malachi Faison 26pts 19rebs, Khalil Rhodes 22pts, 12 assts