Low-Fat iS8/Nike Gets Underway On Saturday

SOUTH JAMIACA, NY - A slimmed down version of the iS8/Nike Fall Tip-Off Classic got underway on Saturday with only 25 teams participating as opposed to the 40 to 60 teams that the tournament increased to during recent years.

NYCHoops.net was on hand to check out two of the more intriguing games of the day.

The Ravens Bend 2GZ's-Will, 74-59

The Ravens (aka St. Raymond HS in the Bronx, NY) gave us a first look of things to come this high school season as they punished their opponent. It was also a coming out party for 6'1" Omar Silverio. While the freshman speaks little English, he showed that he spoke the international language of basketball. Silverio entered the game in the second quarter and torched 2GZ's from the perimeter with a team high 18 points.

2GZ's-Will came loaded with firepower of their own as senior Emile Lewis (WHEELS) and high flying Jonathan Grimsley '14 kept their team competitive in the first half. In the second half, the Ravens with PG Isaiah Washington would steadily pull way for the win powered by Silverio and 6'6" Sid Wilson.

Wilson added 17 points to the Ravens total while Lewis and Grimsley led 2GZ's-Will with 16 points and 14 points respectively.

Ben Gordon All-Stars outshined by and in Prime Time, 66-56

A young but talented Ben Gordon All-Stars (aka Mt. Vernon HS) gave the Shooting Stars all they could handle for about three quarters but were unable to sustain their intensity in the end. Prime Time, a hodgepodge of players from L.I. Lutheran and St. Mary's high schools, would pull ahead by six in the opening quarter.

The BG All-Stars, with their traditional in-your-face defense would eventually tie the game at 16 and took their first lead as sophomore 6'4" Greg Coaxille began to score inside. 6'2" St. Mary's sophomore CJ Kelly would retake the lead and help give the Shooting Stars a 29-24 halftime advantage.

Prime Time would extend their lead to 16 points as sophomore Chris Coalmon and junior Devonte Green found offensive opening outside and inside. The All-stars were pesky and cut their deficit to 10 to begin the fourth.

The squad from Mt. Vernon, NY would further cut into Prime Time's lead as Jarrod Young drained a trey ball and soon knotted the game 47. Prime Time would once again pull away as Kelly and forward Rojaye Campbell took over late. 2:49 remained in regulation and the Long Island, NY team had rebuilt a 9 point advantage and would hold on for a 10 point win.

Kelly led Prime Time with 18 points. Campbell and Green contributed 14 points and 13 points respectively. The leading for the Ben Gordon All-Stars was Marco Morency with a game high 19 points. Coaxille added 17 points.