iS8/NIKE Saturday Week 2

SOUTH JAMAICA, NY - The iS8/Nike Tip-Off Classic continued on Saturday at Intermediate school #8. Other than one blow-out, all six games were competitive. Here are brief recaps.

Fearless/Matrix, fearful & fearless

It was a mixed bag for Fearless/Matrix at the iS8. They first went up against at Double AA public school then followed that up later in the day going up against one of the better single A public school squads

HS for Construction Topples Fearless/Matrix, 60-58

The High School for Construction took an early lead against Fearless/Matrix sparked by Wesley Nelson (14 points) and Bryson Bryant (12 points). The PSAL AA team led by three points after the warm-up quarter.

That lead soon increased to ten points as Construction got transition baskets. Unable to stop players like Marcus St. Fucey '16 (11 points), in the second quarter Fearless/Matrix found themselves down, 35-20 at the half.

Powerful play inside by 6'3" Tyriek Desinor '17 (16 points) helped to add some momentum to a Matrix team that seem anything but fearless but Construction still managed to take a 9 point lead into the fourth quarter.

Desinor, who plays at Canarsie HS and Westinghouse's Damarri Moore (9 points) made a concerted effort at a rally, slicing their team's deficit to 50-47 with 5:10 remaining in regulation. Fearless/Matrix also stepped it up on defense and pull to within one point before HS for Construction could respond

Jordan Wright (11 points) came through late and pushed Construction advantage back to ten with a minute left on the clock. Fearless/Matrix would suffer its first loss

Fearless/Matrix inches by FDA, 40-39

Now 1-1, Fearless/Matrix was now fearful of falling to 1-2 in pool play of they lost to their next opponent, FDA high school from the PSAL Class A division. A tight game throughout, the Matrix would eek out a one point victory against a well-oiled FDA squad.

While Fearless/Matrix led by a sliver early, FDA would respond with strong defense and scoring from Lassana Camara '16 (11 points) and lead the Matrix by three points to begin the second quarter

Camarra and Steven Curry (8 points) mounted a potent second half offensive that kept Fearless/Matrix on its heels. They also rebounded by committee against a taller Fearless/Matrix and led 28-18 at the break.

The third quarter would be pivotal as Fearless/Matrix began to inch closer, capitalizing on FDA turnovers and the loss of Camarra who suffered a leg injury. The Bronx school still led by 9 points to begin the fourth quarter but Fearless/Matrix was building momentum by the play as they began to more than match FDA's offensive output.

Desinor (13 points) was a one-man wreck crew and eventually tied the game at 35 midway through the final stanza. Travis Cox briefly put FDA back in charge as the lead swayed back and forth in the final minute. It would be efforts by Shaquille Ricks (17 points) that would put Fearless/Matrix over the finish line by a nose.

Shooter Stars Realign; Dismantle All Long Island, 81-71

The Shooting Stars struggled early against a game and ready All-Long Island squad. Perimeter shots and baskets by 6'4"Andre Morgan '16 (10 points) from Copiague HS put the Shooting Stars in a 14-9 hole early.

High octane Darien Jenkins '17 (22 points) entered the game in the late in the opening quarter and pushed All Long Island to a 10 points lead with 2:40. The Long Islanders increased it advantage to 21-9 before Shooting Stars Head Coach Karriem Memminger called a timeout in an effort to stop the bleeding

All Long Island's lead grew to 14 points with buckets by Kellenberg's Kyle DeVerna '16 (12 points) before Devonte Green (27 points) nailed a long ball. 6'6" shooting Khalid Moore (9 points) from Molloy HS also added some firepower. All Long Island appeared to be heading into a slight freefall but 6'1" Alex Sorensen '16 (10 points) nailed a three pointer at the buzzer, keeping his team ahead 25-15 at the end of first quarter.

Jenkins continued to provide offense to begin the second but Jordan Tucker (14 points) stepped up with key assist and a block that set Temple Gibbs (23 points) up for a three that closed the gap to 28-27. Jenkins helped pushed the L.I. lead back to ten but with 32 seconds, Gibbs helps shave Shooting Stars deficit back to 40-37. Sorensen would match his first quarter exploits, nailing another Buzzer beater at the half 11. 43-37 at half.

Only down 53-37, the Stars soon tied the game at 43 at top of third as Rojaye Campbell (5 points) and Tucker put up points. Soon All Long Island was down 48-44 and were forced to call timeout.

Jenkins broke his team's drought with an and1 but L.I. trailed by two. Morgan ties at 49 and the Long Island team managed to get back on top with 5 mins left in third. Tucker puts a step back three and an assist and to start the fourth quarter led by nine points

Green puts Stars up 12 in the fourth and while Jenkins shaved the lead to 9 points, All Long Island was all out of gas

In other action:

B.B.A. knocked off S.E.S. (Barringer HS in Newark, NJ), 66-47

X-Men Cross Off S.E.S., 68-63

HNY/2 the Rack Crushes NYC Finest, 71-38