Tip of the Hat HS Classic
GARDEN CITY, NY -The Tip of the Hat H.S. Classic got underway at Adelphi University on Sunday and some of the top teams in Long Island participated. NYCHoops.net was on hand to check out the main event. Here are brief recaps.
Long Island Lutheran bounces Boys & Girls, 70-55
The Crusaders of Lutheran were never really in jeopardy of losing but not totally snuff out the unranked Boys & Girls Kangaroos. For the entire competition, the Roos, the only NYC team in the tournament, managed to keep themselves within a one or two runs from taking the lead to the dismay of LuHi Head Coach John Buck whose face after the game told the story. Although the Crusader won relatively easily, better is always better according to Buck .“The second half was beyond sloppy," he told NYCHoops.net after the game.
The Crusaders jumped out to an 8-1 lead as 5’11” point guard Brandon Jacobs '17 (12 points & 5 assists) did a good job feeding Devonte Green (11 points) and Donatas Kupsas (12 points). Gianni Ford (24 points) spearheaded a Boys & Girls comeback draining a trey after buckets by Isaiah Forde (10 points) set the Roos off.
LuHi vacillated between a 10 point lead and a 7 point lead after taking a 9 point advantage into the second quarter. This was primarily due to midrange Boys & Girls buckets by Najee Scott (9 points) along with slashing baskets at the rim by Ford. The Crusaders continued to stave off the Kangaroos throughout the quarter, ending the half on a positive note as Chris Coalmon (14 points) scored at the buzzer to put LuHi up, 37-22 to begin the third quarter.
With Jacobs doing a superb job at setting the tempo and hitting the open man, Charles Manning (14 points) began to carry the Crusaders offensively. While Boys & Girls put up a valiant effort, they still trailed by nine to begin the fourth.
The length and balance of Lutheran continued to slay the undersized Kangaroos who would soon run out of steam and real estate in the final quarter en route to a 15 point shortcoming.
Manning earned MVP honors with Ford taking home the sportsmanship award.
In other Action:
St. Dominic topped Roosevelt, 77-61
Kellenberg Edged Smithtown West, 52-49
Half Hollow Hills West Flogs Valley Stream Central, 72-40
Baldwin Overwhelms Deer Park, 68-52
Our Savior of Lutheran Beat Up OSNA, 64-52
