Wings Academy Takes Bronx After J.F.K. Threat

FLUSHING, NY - Wings Academy had already played J.F.K. twice this season, and the neither game was anywhere near close. The first game Wings won by 40 points, and the second by 39. So it would be easy to overlook an opponent since the first two contests weren't close.

After the game a couple of Wings players said they didn't take J.F.K. lightly going into the Bronx borough championship, and it was good that they didn't because the J.F.K. came out determined. The borough championship game wasn't going to be a blowout, and the first half was competitive with Wings leading 37-34 at halftime.

However, things changed when Wings scored the first 9 points of the second half to give themselves a big enough cushion and the momentum to eventually win 68-53 and take the Bronx borough crown.

Wings had to work for this one. They trailed after the first quarter 11-10 and the game was back and forth in the second period. J.F.K. guard Isaac Ahran made two long straightway threes in the period to keep his team in the game. Ahran was the team's high scorer, finishing with 17 points. But he and his teammate's hot shooting went ice cold in the second half.

Kennedy stayed close by basically triple teaming Wings 6-10 center Jessie Govan. Govan is a major recruit who normally draws a lot of attention from opposing coaches. This game was no exception. On pretty much every touch Govan got, J.F.K. sent 3 people at him, determined to stop the big kid from dominating. Govan was laid back and confident when he asked if he was frustrated by J.F.K.'s game plan.

"Coaches are going to try and plan their defense and try to stop me. I got to be ready for everything, every game," Govan said after the game. "I just got to come out strong and whatever happens, happens. Let the defense play how they want and, just go get my buckets."

Govan finished with a game high 22 points despite being swarmed all game long. But it definitely wasn't enough to beat a scrappy J.F.K. team. Wings guard Desure Buie played a nice game finishing with 17 points, the second highest on the team. Buie, who has committed to Hofstra, is the second option on the team and usually has a good game.

According to Govan, they have a couple of other teammates who they expect to step up in different games. One of those players was sophomore Jose Diaz, who finished with 15 points and hit numerous important shots throughout the game.

Govan was asked how important Diaz was to the team, and Govan didn't hesitate. "He's really important. He's our X-factor that can go off for 15 or 20 points in any game. He's one of those dudes, and we expect that out of him, and he did that today."

It was an impressive but routine win for Wings, a team that usually plays deep into the play-offs year after year. But they've never won it and that's their mission this season. The main thing they want to keep in focus is to never let their guard down and lose a game they should win. Last season, Wings was the number 2 seed and got knocked off by #10 Bedford Academy in the quarterfinals. Govan explained the mind set of he and his teammates.

"Definitely in the play-offs, you can't have a mental lapse because any team can knock you out at any time."

The next step is waiting to see where they are seeded in the play-offs. They will be a high seed, but what will be their road to a city championship? Who will they have to face?