Juice Squeezes by 2GZ's (Will); Wins iS8/Nike Chip
SOUTH JAMAICA, NY – There was a lot of talent on the floor during Championship Saturday at IS8. Quite a few kids with D1 talent participated in the final four of the 2016 iS8/Nike Spring H.S. Classic. There were more than a handful of players who already have committed to schools and were playing in the last high school tournament game of their career. Then there are other players who will be playing ball at the next level who also put in some work on Championship Saturday. They haven’t picked a school but you can bet they are definitely getting noticed and contacted by schools and coaches right now.
There was some pretty good action on the court during the first two games. Alpha Diallo hit a game winning three pointer at the buzzer in overtime to get 2GZ’s (Will) over Montibello. Actually, at iS8 it’s a countdown from the person with the mike. Also, Donald Flores scored 30 points, 25 of them in the 2nd half, to help Juice knock off New Heights. Those wins by those teams set the championship game, Juice versus 2GZ’s for the title
Jose Alvarado missed Juice’s semi-final game and the first quarter of the championship. He checked in the game in the second quarter with Juice trailing 2GZ’s. However, Alvarado and the rest of his teammates got back in the game and took control in the fourth quarter, eventually winning the IS8 chip 107-103 over 2GZ’s.
The game was intense from the start with both teams taking turns with the lead. Juice was ahead 9-8 midway through the first period when 2GZ went on a 14-0 run. A Juice turnover led to a fast break dunk by Unique McLean (15 points) to force Juice coach Dwayne “Tiny” Morton to call a timeout.
The timeout didn’t work because Shamorie Ponds nailed a three from the right wing on 2GZ’s next possession. Diallo crossed 6-10 big man Nicholas Richards (15 points) during a fast break for a lay-up. Ponds scored the last points of the run by picking the ball handler at midcourt for a steal and easy finish to make it 25-12. Juice started to recover and by the end of the quarter, 2GZ’s lead was 31-23.
Juice got back into the game in the 2nd quarter behind the long range capabilities of Donald Flores, who nailed 3 triples in the period alone. Flores and Jahlil Tripp (16 points), who was a constant force because he continuously attacked the rim, combined for 19 of the Juices points in the second quarter. The score was 60-58 in favor of 2GZ’s at halftime.
Caheim Brown made a pull-up jumper to start Juices’ second half scoring. A dunk by Richards gave Juice an early 62-61 lead in the third and the led for most of the third. However, the silky smooth Diallo scored twice late in the period and a put back by Ponds helped 2GZ’s go into the fourth leading Juice 82-79.
That was when Alvarado exploded. The junior point guard scored the first 10 points of the quarter including 2 three pointers. Then he found Flores on the left wing with a really neat pass for another triple. The basket made it 92-86 in favor of Juice. They were cooking now, but 2GZ’s did make one final run in the last couple of minutes. Ponds, who did a lot of his work by battling on the boards for offensive rebounds and put-backs, got his last offensive rebound of the game and his put back tied the game at 99.
Alvarado instantly pushed the ball back down the court and finished a tough layup to put Juice back up by two. Not to be outdone, 2GZ’s tied the game again at 101-101 when Diallo was able score inside. However, every time 2GZ’s tied the game, Juice had a quick answer. Flores put Juice ahead for the final time when he scored his 21st point on a lay-up. Brown pounded the final nail when he scored on a spinning lay-up to put Juice ahead by 4, which ended up being the final margin of victory.
It was definitely a full team victory where all the players made huge contributions. Flores, Alvarado, and Brown all tied for a team high 21 points. Flores was named MVP, basically looking like a sniper from the perimeter. Flores knocked down 6 three-pointers in the game. If he found a spot and had his feet set, it was going in.
St. John’s commit Ponds scored a game high 28 points for 2GZ’s, while Auburn bound Mustapha Heron finished with 22. Heron was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the entire Spring Classic. Rasheem Dunn chipped in with 17.
