SMARTBall Quarterfinals: Class Warfare

HARLEM, NY - This year’s SMARTBall Classic should be renamed the SMARTBall “Exposed” Classic with all the Class AA upsets and near upsets that have transpired thus far in Abraham Lincoln Park. Here are recaps of the tournament’s quarterfinal action.

Hayes appeared to get off to a good start by implementing good defense and getting offensive rebounds. Terry Dawkins ‘18 (12 points, 6 rebounds & 2 steals) helped put the reloading squad up 4-zip early but the senior laden Curtis squad was unfazed.

A surge started by Samuel Majekodunmi ‘17 (19 points, 3 assists & 2 steals) and finished by Malik Martin ‘18 (18 points & 5 rebounds) soon catapulted the Staten Island public school over their Bronx rival. Curtis held a 5-point lead to start the second quarter and never looked back.

Cardinal Hayes’s defense was able to produce turnovers but the young team was unable to convert. A brief spurt by PG Jalen Smith ‘20 (6 points & 4 steals) would pull the Cardinals to within 2 points but sloppy play, a missed dunk and turnovers allowed the Warriors to extend its lead to 36-23 at the half.

Joe Toussaint (13 points, 3 assists & 3 rebounds) did a good job running the point and kept Hayes within striking range but like a veteran heavyweight, Curtis was simply biding its time. Martin and Ransford Aqyeman ‘17 (15 points, 2 rebounds & 2 steals) would spearhead a Curtis run, late in the third quarter that left Hayes flailing in a 25-point hole at the top of the final quarter.

As the Warriors lead swoll up, all indictors favored Cardinal Hayes throwing in the towel and the white flag but the Catholic school showed a never-say-die attitude. Perimeter shots by Jalen Nesmith ‘19 (9 points & 1 assist) along with penetration by Tyrese Williams ‘18 (11 points & 3 rebounds), Toussaint and Dawkins sliced their deficit to 10 points with 3:25 remaining in regulation. While it was a valiant comeback effort, Martin eventually retaliated and finally stuck a fork in it as Hayes had expended too much energy.

Curtis, the Class A PSAL team, has been a Class AA dragon slayer throughout the tournament. The Warriors will face Monsignor Scanlon in Wednesday’s semifinal match. Scanlon, who recently moved up to Class AA from Class A, knocked off Boys & Girls in Monday’s quarters.

The SMARTBall defending champion Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters started the evening off with a dunk by 6’10” Othello Smith '18 and slid into the second quarter up by 10 point even without Donald Flores ‘17 who arrived late. But what started off as a walk in the park quickly turned into a rodeo as W.H.E.E.L.S. began to fight back.

Owen Roberts ‘19 (14 points & 2 rebounds) became a one-man wrecking crew in the paint and slowly cut into Lincoln's lead. The Railsplitters' advantage dwindled to 2-points before Flores (8 points, 4 steals & 2 assists) shifted the momentum back in the direction of Coney Island.

Lincoln led 30-21 to begin the third quarter and once again W.H.E.E.L.S. proved to be resilient with Ryan Rye ‘18 (5 points, 6 rebounds & 2 assists) running the point. Roberts scored inside and a trey by Bryan Ortiz '17 (5 points & 5 rebounds) capped off an 8-0 run that pulled them to within a point of the lead. Another basket by Roberts inside and with 6:10 Lincoln was suddenly down by a point.

The Railsplitters regained the lead and would never relinquish it again but not without a fight. As Michael Reid ‘17 (13 points, 2 rebounds & 1 assist) extended the lead, Raheem Ragselais ‘18 (14 points, 4 rebounds & 3 assists) help drop it back down to one-point again. W.H.E.E.L.S. turnovers late in the quarter negated their progress and resulted in Lincoln baskets.

Ahead 44-38 to start the fourth quarter, Flores and Klay Brown ‘18 (9 points & 3 rebounds) stepped up their games and with 5:40 left to play, Lincoln was now up by 11 points. Baskets by Ragselais along with late three-point bombs by Marlon Moreta '17 (9 points & 1 rebound) reduced The Railsplitters lead to 4 points but steals by Flores thwarted W.H.E.E.L.S. comeback attempt.

On Wednesday in the second semifinal game, Lincoln will face-off against F.D.A., the other Class A team, who shocked and eliminated St. Raymond’s in Monday’s quarterfinal matchup. F.D.A.

The SMARTBall Championship: More than just a game