Tru-Ballaz Pre-HS Classic: Thursday

BRONX, NY - Thursday night action at the Tru-Ballaz Pre-High School Classic two NYC team and two Westchester teams faced off.

They say hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard but when talent works hard, the results is blowouts. Here are recaps of both games.

Wings Academy Runs Over W.H.E.E.L.S., 79-55

In what could arguably be one of the most interesting preseason games, two competitive teams locked horns. Highly touted Wings Academy from the Bronx, NY faced off against up-and-coming recent Class AA upgrade W.H.E.E.L.S. from New York, NY.

Wings jumped out in front early as 6'9" Jessie Govan altered shots inside but with 3:50 remaining in the opening quarter, the Manhattan school sparked by a bucket from Morrissana Camara tied the game at six for W.H.E.E.L.S. Wings would respond as senior off-guard Randy Corporan and PG Desure Buie caused turnovers. The Bronx squad still led 11-6 and started the second quarter up by 4 points.

W.H.E.E.L.S. pressure defense kept Wings somewhat contained and midway through the quarter, the game was tied again at 17. With Govan catching a breather, W.H.E.E.L.S. took first and only lead, 22-20. The advantage was brief as Buie got to the foul line as he attacked the rim. Soon, Wings was back up by nine. W.H.E.E.L.S. closed the gap with brief offense from Emile Lewis and Camara but could not contain Wings defensively and trailed 36-31 at the half.

In the third quarter, Govan reentered the game after sitting most of the second with foul trouble. W.H.E.E.L.S. Immediately attacked the Georgetown commit and early in the quarter, Camara drained a bucket cutting Wings lead to three points.

W.H.E.E.L.S. however had no real answer for Govan on either end of the court and fell back into a 51-39 hole with 2:47 left in the quarter. The quarter ended poorly for W.H.E.E.L.S. as Lewis got stripped by Corporan who then fed the ball to Govan. Wing Academy was ahead by 14 to start the final stanza.

With 3:36 remaining in regulation, Wings was comfortably ahead, 66-46 and the bench highlighted by a step back jumper from 5'6" sophomore Elijah Chapman would help put on the afterburners to take home a 24 points victory.

Govan led Wings Academy with 22 points and numerous rebounds and blocks. Buie added 15 points. W.H.E.E.L.S. was paced by Lewis with 17 points.

Iona Prep skates by New Rochelle, 74-57

Without the services of Matt Ryan who's not quite at 100%, Iona Prep needed someone to step up. Tom Capuano was that guy. Scoring 21 of his game high 25 points in the first half, the senior guard almost singlehandedly held a hard charging New Ro squad down 36-31 at the midway point.

New Rochelle did not relent but Iona Prep led by Virginia-bound PG Ty Jerome pushed the lead to 13 at the end of three quarters.

Flanked by sharpshooters like Capuano and Jon Brennen with Pat Fleming banging inside, the Ryan-less Gaels would withstand New Ro to remain undefeated.

Jerome was Iona Preps second leading scorer, adding 16 points. Justin Mickens led New Ro with 16 points.