Upsets @ iS8/NIKE Saturday

SOUTH JAMAICA, NY - The iS8/Nike Tip-Off Classic marched into its third weekend on Saturday at Intermediate School #8. The competition was fierce and there was even two unexpected upsets. Here are brief recaps of each game.

Eagles Shock 2GZ Entertainment, 70-67

The Eagles a/k/a Robeson HS made its official "WE'RE HERE" announcement with shocking two point victory over 2GZ, a team which not so long ago took home the iS8 championship hardware. Although 2GZ was without the services of Shamorie Ponds and Tareq Coburn, they were still a force.

With an early 5 point advantage, the Eagles held back 2GZ. The lead doubled before Rasheen Dunn would end 2GZ's sleep walk midway through the first quarter.

Powerful 6'5"forward Isaac Kante '17 put up a formidable defensive stand that translated to the Eagles hold on to a substantial half time lead. 12 on helped 2GZ somewhat get back on track but PG Jonathan "JJ" Murray '16 ended the third quarter with a layup in transition to keep the Eagles ahead by 8 points entering the final quarter

At the top of the quarter, the Eagles extended its lead to 56-42as Earl Jackson drains a trey but with 4:10 left to play, 2GZ found a since of urgency and made a run as Mustapha Heron netted three. Dunn then sliced the deficit to 63-59 with 1:12 remaining.

Kante would come up big down the stretch, holding off a hard charging 2GZ on the boards and on the foul line for the win.

Kante was high scorer with 27 points with Murray adding 14 points and numerous assists. Dunn paced 2GZ with 18 points

B.B.A. Hoops Erase X-men, 59-49

Jumping out to a ten point first quarter lead, it was clear from the pre-game lay-up line that this game would be an uphill battle for the X-Men. B.B.A. Hoops a/k/a St. Anthony (NJ) lunged out in front 22-8 before the X-men responded.

The combination of Georgetown bound Jagan Mosely and Asante Gist pushed lead to 30-19 at half

The X-Men would final put it together in the third quarter and closed the gap to three-points late in third quarter but B.B.B.A. Hoops closed out strong with a 45-33 to start fourth

Things went from bad to worse in the fourth quarter and with 2:40, the X-Men were down almost 20 points and although they were able to cut their deficit in half, it would be too little too late.

Mosely scored 19 points for B.B.A. Hoops with 19 points with Idris Joyner adding 16 points. David Williams and Khalil Muhammad contributed 9 points each for the X-Men

Team Albany uncorks NYC Finest, 71-63

After a loss in its last game, NYC Finest came out the box storming versus Team Albany. Ahead 9-2 out the box, Christian Hinckson and Marcus Young keeps NYC Finest up, 16-8, early. A late 7-2 run by the upstate squad spearheaded by Arsheen Jones, would pull Team Albany back to within a point after 1 quarter.

Malik Riley gave Team Albany a brief lead, 21-20, but 20 took it back. The lead bounced back and forth for a hot minute but with 2 minutes left to halftime, Team Albany was once again in front 32-27 as 22 and 12 scored. A trey by 3 and NYC Finest was down 10 and recovered some lost ground although still in the hole 37-31 at the half.

In the second half, NYC Finest cut their disadvantage to a mere three points but a strong finish by Gerald Williams helped to extend Team Albany's lead back to 12 where it remained.

Riley and Quadri Oduluwa were high scorers for Team Albany with 23 points and 16 points respectively. Young led NYC Finest with 13 points.

Construction Basketball Club smashes Brooklyn Ballers, 75-57

In a game that was over almost before it began, HS for Construction jumped out in front of the Brooklyn Ballers, 12-3 and never looked back. Down by 12 points at the end of one, a befuddled Ballers squad was in a 45-23 crevice at the half.

Things only got better in the third quarter from Queens, NY squad as Construction was firmly ahead by 25 points to begin the final stanza. This game would simply fade to black.

Wes Nelson, Jr. and Bryshawn Bryant led Construction with 15 apiece. Jordan Wright added12 points. C.J. Smith scored a game high 24 points for the Brooklyn Ballers in a losing effort.

B.B.A. Hoops blindsided by Ben Gordon All-stars,55-57

The second upset of the day occurred as the St. Anthony crew took on the Ben Gordon All-stars a/k/a Mt. Vernon Knights. The lead went back and forth in first quarter as both teams dung in on both ends of the court but Ben Gordon came out on top by three points after the warm-up.

You could feel B.B.A. Hoops starting to bend backwards as Ben Gordon's notorious defense began to kick in. 3:15 remained in the second quarter and the Westchester team still held on to an 8 point lead due to a balanced scoring attack.

B.B.A. Hoops had some comeback in them and started to display it in the end of the quarter. Ben Gordon would only hold a 30-37 lead to start the third quarter.

In the third quarter, Ben Gordon found their second wind and held back B.B.A. Hoops 41-36 after three quarters. Frustration set in as BBA fought to get lead but Mosely came up and tied game at 45 with 5:45 to play. The game would knot up again at 50 with 5 minutes but Mosley puts the New Jersey power up 53-50 with 3 minutes on the clock.

Heading for a photo finish, Jason Douglas-Stanley and Jamie Whiltshire regained lead for the Ben Gordon All-stars but Shyquan Gibbs tied the game at 55 with 1:30. Both teams committed turnovers giving All-stars the last bite at the apple. 6'7" Greg Coaxitle 16 bit in with a vicious dunk at the buzzer for the upset victory.

Douglas-Stanley paced the Ben Gordon All-Stars with 16 points with Coaxitle holding down the paint while adding 12 points. Gist netted 15 in defeat.

In other action :

Juice All-Stars decimate S.E.S. Sports, 82-55

Jahlil Tripp '16 led Juice All-stars with 17 points followed by Tyler Bourne '18 with 16 points. Rheaquone Taylor was high man for S.E.S. Sports with 16 points.