After the ROTO Hawks edged the home court Bunky Reid All-Stars in the opener of the Long Island Nike Swoosh Tournament last month, the host would go on to win their next four games with no press coverage.

However, NYCHoops' presence in Bunky Reid Park (in Westbury, LI) must be a secret omen for the home team, as a hungry Pythons squad handed Bunky Reid their second loss of the tourney, 70-67.

In what was a fast paced, back and forth game throughout, neither team was able to establish a double digit lead. Bunky Reid did open up an 18-11 lead mid way through the first quarter though, as 6'0 junior guard Sheldon Hagigal did damage inside while 6-foot-2 senior guard Paris Abrams buried threes from outside. But the Pythons were able to stay on the board with a sharp mid-range game, courtesy of 6'0 Justin Bailey (St. Mary's HS) and 6-foot-3 sophomore Rashad Andrews (St. Anthony's HS, NJ). Although the Pythons failed to regain the lead -after an early 9-8 advantage- Bailey's floaters and 15 footers were the Python's life preserver into the second quarter. For the time being though, Bunky Reid was able to keep their lead intact, and when junior floor general Tyrece Redd converted on a coast to coast keeper, Bunky Reid were up by eight, 25-17. They were also able to clamp down defensively and keep the Pythons from exploiting their height advantage by working the ball down to their taller front line. Bailey would manage to do damage from five to ten feet out though, and his tenth point of the game pulled the Pythons within four, 37-33, at halftime.

As soon as the second half kicked into gear, the Pythons would waste no time continuing the squeeze they initiated at the end of the first. Andrews went strong to the hoop to make the game a one possession affair, and Chavaughn Lewis would catch Bunky Reid snoozing in the seasonably cool night air. He would take advantage of their defensive lapse and steal the ball immediately for a game tying lay-up. Lewis would again convert moments later to give the Pythons their largest lead of the game, 44-39, but the momentum would shift back to Bunky Reid late in the quarter. The smooth scoring Abrams' 9 point third quarter near solo act carried Bunky Reid, and when he canned a pull-up from mid range, they were back on top, 51-48. Athletic senior guard Josh Golson then found himself alone on the break and had a chance to make it a two possession game, but he foiled a dunk attempt in lieu of taking the conservative lay-up and Andrews would answer on the other end. Instead of a five point Bunky Reid lead, the Pythons were back on the creep at the start of the final period, 51-50.

The fourth quarter dog fight featured nine lead changes and three ties, as trading baskets and brief momentum painted the complexion of the game. Hagigal and Mikey Hooks would keep Bunky Reid alive by attacking the hoop and 6-foot-6 center Lucens Victor was able to get a few to go in the paint, but the Pythons made the most of their frequent trips to the charity stripe. Forward Charles McCann (St. Mary's HS, 12 points) gave Bunky Reid life support on an 0-2 trip to the line when his Pythons held a slim 68-67 advantage. With 30 seconds left, Hagigal went to the stripe with a chance to give Bunky Reid a one point lead, but a reciprocal 0-2 trip -with the second free throw being a lane violation- deflated the case. Bailey would convert both freebies on the ensuing one and one, extending the Pythons' lead to three, 70-67. Abrams and Hooks would have a handful of attempts at desperation threes, but the Pythons' defensive squeeze denied them clean looks, and the score remained the same at the final buzzer.

Justin Bailey led the Pythons with 19 points, while Rashad Andrews chipped in with 16. Paris Abrams led the Bunky Reid All-Stars with 17 points, while Sheldon Hagigal added 15 and Mikey Hooks, 12.

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