Tri-State HS Classic Recaps

BRONX, NY - St. John's bound Samir Doughty and his team Math, Civics & Science (PA) came to the fabled Gauchos Gym on Sunday to face Abraham Lincoln in the finale of the Tri-State High School Classic.

MCS players were adorned with "I Can't Breathe" warmups in solidarity against the recent "alleged" police brutality incidents nationwide but choked when it came to playing basketball up against Lincoln. Dominated from end to end, MCS would get mangled by the Railsplitters, 91-55.

Lincoln Head Coach Kenny Pretlow said the strategy was simple. "To show people that Lincoln basketball is still one of the top programs in New York City. I think people have forgotten that."

Coach Pretlow said that his team was cognizant of Doughty capabilities and presence but wanted to see if the Philly team had any other firepower to go along with that. "They didn't have too much else and we had like five guys that you gotta guard," he said.

6'4" senior guard Ezekiel Charles (19 points & 4 rebounds)) gave Lincoln an early 10-4 lead as the junior got hot from the corner. Doughty cut Lincoln's lead to 4 with 1:20 but the Railsplitters dominated the offensive boards and got second chance opportunities. Free-throws by Donald Flores (13 points & 4 assists) upped Lincoln's lead to 19-11 at the end of the first quarter.

With 5:34, Lincoln led by 9 points as the Railsplitters continued to crush the boards. Doughty broke free with 4:19 narrowing the MCS deficit to 5 but Flores countered. A solid opening half gave Lincoln gave them a 35-25 lead to begin the third quarter.

The ballooned to 18 points with 5:50 left in the quarter as the Philly squad continued to be manhandled. Lincoln was way upfront with 2:24 left in third and took a 66-36 advantage into the fourth as Jahlil Tripp (23 points & 12 rebounds) drains a three-ball from the corner pocket.

Doughty, who scored 14 points, hit a wide open jumper, one of only a few, but committed a charge on the following possession as his frustration increased. After drawing tech late in the third and down by thirty, Doughty sat out most the fourth as did the rest of MCS starters.

The win was punctuated by a massive slam by Paul PJ Persons (15 points & 9 assists).

Pretlow was pleased with the win over the PA school but said he's more aware of the local PSAL Brooklyn AA League challenges on the horizon. "Each game we [have to] get better and better."

Pretlow said at the end of the day, the Railsplitters must simply show and prove. "I told the kids today, in the immortal words of my good friend [Dwayne] "Tiny" Morton, 'The lights [are] on. You gotta perform.'"

Morton, the legendary former head coach for Lincoln, was in the stands in his new capacity as assistant coach for Seton Hall. Former Railsplitters and current SHU players Isaiah Whitehead and Desi Rodriguez were also on hand to watch Lincoln pick-up the win.

HS of Construction blow up Wadleigh, 106-66

In the preceding game, HS of Construction was a weapon of mass destruction. The Wadlegh Tigers became the bomb site as guard Tahleek Weeks (26 points) reigned down eight three-pointers

"I knew I was hot after my second shot, Weekes told NYCHoops.net

Construction led 59-32 at the half.

A layup drill ensued in the third as the Red Hawks advantage grew to 37 points with 6 minutes in the third.

Lenny Kadisha (26 points) led the Tigers offensively but Wadleigh's deficit grew to 40 as Weekes drained his 8th trey ball

Construction's lead inflated to 44 points before Wadleigh countered with a bucket.

A long range bomb by Justin Wright-Foreman (6 points & 4 assists) and baskets by Kyle Allman (26 points & 5 assists) punctuated HS of Construction's total dominance over Wadleigh. The Red Hawks cleared the bench with 5:40 and up by 49 and even they scored three-ball.