LuHi Makes Statement; Wins Beacon 158 Chip
BAYSIDE, NY- Greatness is always the goal that Long Island Lutheran sets for themselves at the beginning of every season, and the EYAC Beacon 158 Back to School Tournament provided the Crusaders the platform to make an early statement that they are well on their way this season to achieving the greatness that they strive for.
They ran through the regular season undefeated, but were pitted against one of the PSAL favorites this season in Wings Academy on Tuesday in the Beacon 158 Championship Game in a game that looked as if it could be a NYS Class "AA" Federation Title Game preview.
If greatness is the goal for the Crusaders, greatness is close to what LuHi got in the title game here as they played as good a first half as anyone could've expected, opening a quick 20-point lead before cruising in the second half for the 75-49 Beacon 158 title game victory.
For LuHi head coach John Buck the preseason is all about setting a tone for the regular season, and having his team play a full game from start to finish the way he demands of them, and on Tuesday in Bayside, Queens he pretty much got just that.
From the very start Long Island Lutheran put their stamp on the game when Esam Mostafa '19 was triple teamed down low off an entry pass, but he was able to throw over the top of the defense and find Brandon Jacobs '17 wide open for a 3 to get the Crusaders on the board.
That was just the beginning of what was a dominant and complete first half for LuHi as Donatas Kupsas '18 was near unstoppable with the ball in his hands around the rim, and with Chris Coalman '17 doing a great job in transition finishing time after time on the break, the Crusaders could jump out to a 23-5 lead with 7:15 to go in the half.
It wasn't just the offensive rhythm that controlling the game for LuHi, it was the defensive intensity and pressure they were putting on the Wings guards once they got the ball over the half court line. They forced turnover after turnover early on and didn't allowed either Boubacar Kamissoko '17 or Jose Perez '17 to get good looks squaring up at the rim.
Brian Mitchell '18 was a bright spot for Wings Academy in the opening half as he was able to get into the lane and connect on a pair of floaters, but with Kupsas dominating the game to the tune of 12 first half points, and Coalman adding 9, LuHi took a commanding 40-19 lead at the break.
While the opening half was about as crisp a 20 minutes that Long Island Lutheran could play, they came out to start the second half and continued the tremendous play as with both Jacobs and Harrison Warnock '18 each lighting it up from behind the arc, the Crusaders took a 59-27 lead at the midway point of the second half, in firm control and en route to a big championship game win.
Kupsas continued to be able to finish with reverses and a nice array of post moves around the rim, as did Mostafa, but to Wings Academy credit they didn't quit and did a nice job of pressuring the ball more in the closing minutes of the game, allowing them to chip away at the deficit.
Kamissoko was able to create off the dribble more, while he and Perez were able to finish off mistakes by LuHi, getting the Crusaders lead down to 65-46 with 3:45 to go in the game.
It was a strong effort at a comeback but the deficit that Wings got themselves in was just too much to overcome as Coalman could score in transition late as LuHi never relented, keeping their starters in for most of the game as they made a point not just to Wings Academy, but to everyone in New York State as they rolled in this one, dominating one of the PSAL's best to win the Beacon 158 Championship in convincing fashion, 75-49.
With a game, high 26 points, Kupsas was named Championship Game MVP but it wasn't just him who really brought it in a major way in this one. Coalman had 18 points, Jacobs added 12 points, and Mostafa had 9 points along with being a major defensive presence and weapon in the paint.
For Wings Academy, after a strong Beacon 158 Tournament, it was a tough title game as they never got on track against a determined LuHi squad. Perez led Wings with 14 points, while Kamissoko added 10 points of his own in the defeat.
Truly proving to be the best, Long Island Lutheran ran through the Beacon 158 Back to School Tournament and were crowned well deserved champions.
Greatness is what Buck wants from his team, and with the high school season right around the corner this tournament, and this title game showing, certainly has the Crusaders pointed in the right direction towards reaching the heights of success that he and the team have set for themselves this season.
