Positive Direction Sweeps West 4th

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY - Setting off what would be a duo of championships for the organization, the Positive Direction Royals took down Bedford Y to win Kenny Graham's West 4th Street Tournament.

Led by former Boys & Girls HS star Malik Nichols, PD would come from behind to upset Beford, 70-66.

Bedford Y struck first as Jabari Peters (7 points) nailed a trey. Moussa Kone (2 points) also chimed in and midway through the first quarter, PD was in an 11-3 hole. Nichols almost singlehandedly brought the Royals from the abyss and with 1:06 left, they would take the lead. Mike Taylor (12 points) would regain the lead briefly but a buzzer beating jumper by Nichols would leave Positive Direction ahead by a point going into the second quarter.

Both teams battled and the shifting lead reflected it. Swaying back and forth between teams for the entire quarter, Kelvin Amayo (18 points) would be the last to score in the quarter for Bedford Y giving them a 31-28 lead at at the midway point.

Bedford would extend their lead early but Ta'Jay Henry (11 points) would be a presence in the post, keeping the Royals within striking distance.

Up by 2 points to start the fourth quarter, Amayo and Maurice Harkless (18 points) would spearhead an 8-0 Bedford run, early in the quarter, extending their lead to 12 points. With 3:18 left to play, Positive Direction managed to whittle down Bedford's lead to six as Nichols appeared to be unstoppable.

A full court press by PD cut into Bedford's lead even more and with 2:30 left in regulation, their advantage was only two-points.

Henry would finally give the Royals the lead but Amayo countered one last time for Bedford.

Nichols, however, would come up big in the final minutes, regaining the lead, a four point win for Positive Direction and the MVP with a game high 37 points.

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