Two Teams Exposed at Tru-Ballaz

BRONX, NY -There’s a good reason why we watch games, no matter how lopsided they appear to be on paper, because you never know. Wednesday evening at FDA III proved to be two of those type of games as Stepinac took on Wings Academy followed by Mt. Saint Michael versus All Hallows in the Tru-Ballaz H.S. Preseason Classic.

Even without the services of Alan Griffin ‘18, who was injured, the Stepinac Crusaders looked to have the depth to still be able to take down its Public School opponent. Wings Academy had a different vision. “People are doubting us,” said 6’6” guard Mohammed Fofana ‘18 who got the party started by draining a three-ball early.

The Crusaders responded with an offensive onslaught led by R.J. Davis ‘20 from the perimeter and Xavier Wilson ‘18 inside. A 16 – 3 run seemingly put Stepinac in the driver’s seat, up by ten points to end the first quarter.

The beating continued for Wings as the second quarter got underway. Baskets by Kyle Atkins ‘18 and freshman AJ Griffin ‘21 pummeled Wings and increased Stepinac’s lead to 17 points with 6:41 remaining until halftime.

While the White Plains, NY Catholic school was scoring more points, Wings Academy was slowing winning in the hustle points department. Increasingly Wings was getting the 50/50 balls. Soon that began to translate into the bottom line which is to get beckets.

What was once a 17 points advantage for the Crusaders was whittled down to only a 30 – 29 advantage at the half as Wings Academy mounted a 22 – 6 comeback of epic proportions. Davis put up some points as did Joel Soriano ‘19 that gave the Crusaders some breathing room but the Bronx, NY school continued to breath down Stepinac’s neck.

Barely holding on to a 3-point lead in the fourth quarter, Stepinac lack the cohesiveness that is usually their trademark. Conversely, Wings was running on all cylinders and sacrificing their bodies for every loose ball.

Fofana drained a trey with 1:42 left to play that finally gave Wings a 1-point lead but it would ebb and flow as Stepinac fought to stay alive and cross the proverbial finish line first. The lead swayed back and forth as the hour glass slowly wound down. It was anybody’s game and until it wasn’t as Brian Mitchell ’18 drained a dagger that gave Wings Academy the 1-point win as time ran out.

Mitchell led Wings with 17 points with Fofana adding 14 points. Davis was high man for Stepinac with 15 points.

Having lost a few seniors to graduation, Mt. Saint Michaels were discombobulated as they searched for continuity. All Hallows on the other hand found what the Mountaineers lost. Starting off the game with a 9 – 0 run, the Gaels took off and never looked back.

In a collective effort paced by budding star Nicolas Johnson ‘19, All Hallows turned a 7-point first quarter lead into a 26 – 11 halftime lead. Mt. Saint Michaels received a brief burst of energy from Mike Green and Ibrahim Waterra ‘20 but it was not enough.

The tag team of Johnson and Elvys Ceballos ‘19 punished the Mountaineers who still trailed by 17 points to start the final quarter. With All Hallow’s holding a full tank of momentum and Mt. Saint Michael running on empty, the Gaels stretched its lead to 20 before the Mountaineers put a slight dent in the lead at the buzzer.

Johnson was the high scorer for All Hallows with 17 points with Ceballos contributing 11 points. Green scored 15 points for Mt. Saint Michael with no other player scoring in double digits.