Pool play finale @ MTG Summer League

ST. ALBANS, NY – Pool play at the highly competitive More Than a Game Summer League came to close on Wednesday as two games took place. The evening opened with NYC Finest going up against Pro-Level followed by Positive Direction facing off against the Brooklyn Avengers.

With Christian Hinckson ‘18, Kareem Reid '19 and Alejandro Vasquez (John Bowne ’19) M.I.A. due to out-of-state obligations with other Travel teams, NYC Finest Head Coach Rob Diaz had his hands full attempting to orchestrate a win. Two eighth graders replaced the starters but the Queens based squad as other players raised their games.

6’4” Richard Selembo (John Bowne ’18) and 6’5” Gary Grant (St. Raymond ’20) countered early efforts by Pro-Level to pull away using firepower from 6’5” Jack Shannon (Iona Prep ’19) inside along with 6’1” Isaiah Gray (Manhattan Hunter School ’19). The game was tied at 8 but a 11 – 4 Pro-Level run gave them a 7-point advantage with five-minute left in the half. NYC Finest responded with an 11-5 run capped off by a trey from Grant but Pro-Level still led 24-23 as the half ended.

The teams continued their neck and neck battle as the second half got started. NYC Finest took an early lead as Selembo attacked the rim and Grant slammed home a bucket. De’Sean Richardson and Masaiah Olowokere (George School ’19) kept Pro-Level in the hunt and with 6 minutes left in regulation, NYC Finest was once again the prey as they trailed 50 – 43.

Grant upped his game as the clock wound down by not only scoring buckets but by snaring rebounds and issuing out assists. The rising sophomore’s 19 second half points along with additional baskets from Selembo and Tequan Holley (John Bowne ’19) resulted in a 13 -0 run that left NYC Finest ahead by three-points. With 2:20 left in the game, Pro-Level was unable to close the gap.

Grant led all scores with 25 points for NYC Finest with Selembo adding 15 points. Shannon paced Pro-Level with 16 points.

Being on time can sometimes be its own strategy. Case in point. The Brooklyn Avengers technically outscored Positive Direction by a point but because the team arrived late, they began the game down 8 – 0 in addition to time off the clock. P.D. took full advantage of their handicap and its inherent momentum to beat the point spread by one-point for the win.

Justin Forest (Campus Magnet ’18) and Quincy Brown (Edison ‘17) put up points for Positive Direction with 6’9” Max Amadasun (Our Savior Lutheran ’20) enforcing the paint. As the Brooklyn Avengers struggled to get warmed, P.D. swarmed them.

At the half, the Brooklyn Avengers found themselves in a 21-8 hole but Marcus Patterson (Boys & Girls ’19) would go off. Three perimeter shots by 6’3” Bababukukunmi Babalola (Brooklyn Collegiate ’19) pulled them to within 5 points with 6:20 left to play.

The twin tower of Amadasun and 6’7” Amadou Sylla (Our Savior Lutheran ’18) proved to be the downfall of the Brooklyn Avengers. The two big men dominated the paint on both end of the court, keeping the Avengers at bay until time ran out.

Forest was high man for Positive Direction with 12 points. Amadasun added 7 points along with 15 rebounds. Patterson scored a game-high 15 points for the Brooklyn Avengers.