Premium Story: iS8/Nike Top Performers
SOUTH JAMAICA, NY - The High School Basketball season is almost here. The reason we know this is the 2017 iS8/Nike Fall Tip-Off Classic started on Saturday.
New Jersey Tops Queens
Northeast Basketball Club played its second game of the day against Aycool All-stars. They won their first game of the day and were working on remaining undefeated in the tournament. However, Aycool was ready to compete and prevent that from happening. The game ended up going down to the wire in one of the better games of the day, and NE Basketball club pulled out a 79-78 win.
NE Basketball was down 78-75 with less than a minute left. Ja’Quaye James stepped up defensively and picked the pocket of the ball handler in the corner near his own basket. He drove to the rim and missed his layup, but he grabbed his own rebound and made the put back.
Aycool missed the shot on their possession, Northeast got the rebound and James ended up with the ball in his hands again. James drove and got another layup to give his team the lead with 16 seconds left in the game.
Alejandro Vasquez had a chance to put Aycool back on top with the last possession. He got the inbounds pass and drove the length of the court, going one on three and trying to get the layup. It was a contested shot, but makeable. However, Vasquez didn’t get it to drop and Northeast Basketball Club had their second victory of the day.
Vasquez led all scorers in the game, netting 29 points for Aycool. James only had 11, but his last two baskets were the most important of the game. Joel Ntambwe was the leading scorer in the game, dropping 17 points for Northeast.
1 Spot Flies Over Eagles, 72-70
1 Spot held a 53-47 lead at the end of the 3rd quarter and seemed to be in control of the game for the most part. But the Eagles dug deep and started to make a comeback, eventually going ahead midway through the final period when Aquarn Butler ‘18 hit a pull-up three to complete the comeback and take a 63-32 lead.
However, 1 Spot guard Lester Quinones answered with a turnaround jumper to get 1 Spot back on track. That was followed by a put back dunk from Andre Toure and 1 Spot was back in the lead 66-65.
Butler, who led the Eagles with 21 points, answered those scores with a fast break lay-up for the Eagles. They looked to be in a great position to win right after that basket because 1 Spot had an air-ball from the three-point line, followed by a travel.
However, the Eagles advantage was short-lived, the momentum went back to 1 Spot when forward Precious Achiuwa was fouled and made two free throws to put his team back on top 68-67. Achiuwa then blocked a 3-point attempt that looked open for a split second, but the 6-8 junior closed fast and got his hand on the shot. 1 spot was able to hold on for the victory.
Quinones was the team’s leading scorer with 22 points, including 6 three pointers. Achiuwa contributed 15 points for 1 spot.
Other games at IS8:
Castle Athletics Overthrows PD Nation, 66-49
Northeast BB Club Splatters Team Price, 80-58
D1 Stars cut off Road to Riches, 65-55
Beacon Elite snuffs out 6Henshaw, 89-60
