Wings & Q.H.S.T. Battle in EYAC Chip

OCEANDSIDE, NY - Early during the summer, we interviewed, Wings Academy’s lone rising senior Jose Perez ‘17 who said he has high expectations for his PSAL Bronx Class AA team. “[Next season] I feel we’re going back to the [Federation] State championship,” he said.

If Thursday evening’s defeat of Queens HS of Teaching in the EYAC Spring HS Classic Championship, even without one is its star players Boubacar Kamissoko '17, is any indication of Wings Academy’s potential next season, they give themselves good odds at achieving Perez’s self-fulfilling prophecy. Paced by an M.V.P. performance from the rising senior, Wings Academy came from behind to take the championship from Q.H.S.T, 71-56.

Running on all cylinders early, Q.H.S.T. took a commanding 30-19 leaded with the offense primarily running through C.J. Kelly ‘17 and perimeter buckets coming from Dwight Reed ‘18. Wings made a push late in the first half as Dashawn Davis ‘18 was a blur sprinting up and down the court in transition.

Wings Academy only trailed by 4 points as the second half began. Back-to-back fast break buckets would quickly tie the game at 40 as Q.H.S.T began to brick from outside. Kion Hill ‘17 would temporarily put the Queens, NY squad back on top but Perez became activated and countered attempts by Q.H.S.T. to pull ahead.

With Brian Hill ''18 banging in the paint and Perez becoming more and more assertive, Wings embarked on a 9-0 run. Q.H.S.T. was unable to respond until there was only 4:30 left in regulation.

Down 56-47, Queens HS of Teaching became impatient and their deficit increased to double-digits as time began to run out. Like swimming in quick sand, Q.H.S.T. sank to 15 points down before the game was called.

Perez led Wings Academy with 24 points while Davis added 22 points. Hill was high man for Queens HS of Teaching with 13 points with Jamie Nurse ‘17 contributing 11 points.