FRESH MEADOWS, NY – It was day one of Francis Lewis Holiday Classic's Public School contests on Saturday that ended in a Class AA overtime thriller between Wings Academy and Brooklyn Collegiate. The Lions initially forged ahead by dominating the paint, but Wings compensated in the second half and ultimately beat Brooklyn Collegiate, 66 – 58 in overtime.

“They were killing us on the boards,” said Wings head coach Billy Turnage. “We also had to deal with Mo[hammed Fofana] ‘18 and Brian Mitchell ‘18 who basically sat the whole first half in foul trouble.”

The Lions took an early lead as Charles Brown ‘18 punished Wings down low while Chris Goodwin ’18 scored from the perimeter. Wings Academy was able to clap back with a collaborative effort from Mitchell and Fofana scoring from the arc but Brooklyn Collegiate began to forge ahead as Brown continue to dispute Wings front court.

Down by six-points as the second quarter got underway, Wings was able to close the gap due to the exploits of Mahamadou Nimaga ‘19 and Davonte Smith ‘19 in transition. An impressive defensive stand that resulted in a Lions shot clock violation also faired well for the Bronx high school.

Brooklyn Collegiate continued attacking the paint and Wings started racking up foul as it sought to protect its house. The Lions began to see results as Eryln Ramirez ‘19 weigh in the paint while Goodwin spread wins defense with perimeter baskets.

Wings trailed by 10 with 2 minutes left in the half and the Lions maintained that point spread as the second quarter ended. In a 34 – 24 hole, Coach Turnage took his team aside did what coaches do.

“We broke it down into four-minute increments and we had goals and we reached those goals,” explained Turnage. Saddled with fouls in the first half, Fofana entered the second half with a vengeance. Knocking down two buckets in succession, the senior wing quickly closed the gap. A clutch trey by Smith and with 3:43 left in the third quarter, Wings Academy only trailed by four points.

“Fight with them on the boards,” Coach Turnage passionately urged his squad during a timeout and his player responded. Wings’ senior wide body, Equan Dayson ‘18 started to impose his will in the paint, giving Brooklyn Collegiate a run for its money. With 43 second remaining in the third the senior knotted the game at 43 and Fofana followed that up with a put back after a Lions turnover that gave Wings its first lead since the warm-up quarter.

Brooklyn Collegiate fought back in the fourth, finding offense from Bababukunm Babalola ‘18 and Goodwin but Fofana was in the zone. The lead seesawed back and forth until a 3-ball by Smith with 46.5 seconds left in regulation appeared to seal the comeback win for Wings. That is until Babalola hit a jumper that sent the game into OT tied at 55.

Before the overtime began, Turnage implored his team not to lose their intensity in the overtime. It’s a new game,” he said. “Zero, zero.” Wings seemed to take that to heart in the first overtime as Mitchell and Fofana went on an 11 – 3 rampage for an 8-point win.

Coach Turnage found rays of hope in his team’s performance after being down by 10 at the half. “Two weeks ago, we would’ve been down 20 at that point so we are showing growth in that aspect.” He also spoke highly of the play of Fofana. “We he sticks within the confines of our offense and he allows his teammates to help get him open and not try to do it all by himself, he’s a phenomenal player.”

After scoring only 3-points in the first half, Fofana led Wings with 20 points with Smith and Mitchell adding 12 points apiece. Brown was the high man for Brooklyn Collegiate with a game high 24 points with Goodwin contributing 12 points.

* Westinghouse down Monroe, 49 – 37

High scorer Robert Taylor II ‘20 came alive in the second half with 12 points.

* Hillcrest take out Bayside, 78 73 in OT

Jermain Griffiths ‘19 led the way scoring day one event high 35 points.

* Francis Lewis tops Victoria Academy (Australia), 48 -42

Tyriek Primas ‘19 led the Patriots in a win over visiting Aussie team scoring 15 points