ATLANTIC CITY — It’s been an up-and-down AAU season for the Long Island Lightning, and Thursday at Live in AC was the latest such example.
After perfect opening days, the 17’s and 15’s split four games, leaving the older group eliminated and the younger one in the Gold quarterfinals against powerhouse Team Takeover from Washington, D.C.
The 17’s, coached by Shandue McNeil, won their pool after topping Threat 220 (Md.) 77-66, but fell in the opening round of the Gold playoffs to the Rhode Island Hawks. Down by as many as 16 points in the second half, they went on a tear and got within one before falling, 67-59, despite 20 points from Christ the King’s Jon Severe and 13 from Satellite Academy’s Larry Beckett.
“I thought we took that team lightly and they made shots,” McNeil said. “They executed and they were well-coached. They took advantage of our lack of intensity.”
The Lightning did finish 4-1 after nipping Mid Atlantic Select (Md.), 50-49, behind 12 points from former Transit Tech star Richard Williams and 11 from Putnam Science Academy’s Dayshon Smith. They will wrap up the July live recruiting period this weekend in The Hoop Group’s Buzzer Beater Classic at Basketball City in Manhattan.
After manhandling Positive Direction 67-51 Wednesday night, the 15’s blitzed Team Philly (Pa.), 68-37, as impressive St. Mary’s center Jesse Govan scored 16 points and Holy Cross guard Cheyenne Nettleton had 15, but after waiting an hour for referees to arrive, were flat in a 42-25 loss to the Playaz Club-Black (N.J.). Their run, however, isn’t over, as Dana Dingle’s club will meet Team Takeover in the quarterfinals Friday at 9 a.m.
Brooklyn Rens making noise in Silver bracket: Both Brooklyn Rens teams began Live in AC in less-than-stellar fashion, going winless at the outset. Yet the two teams rebounded with pool play victories on Thursday and are still alive, in the Silver playoffs after finishing strong on Thursday night.
The 17’s knocked off South Jersey Select (N.J.), 56-55, as Transit Tech’s Fabian MacDonald scored 19 points and Thomas Jefferson’s Jermoine (Flirt) Faison had 10, and will meet Team Adidas in the quarterfinals Friday at 10:15 a.m. The 16’s, meanwhile, are in the Silver semis after knocking off the Jersey Shore Warriors (Pa.), 69-59. In the victory, Brooklyn Tech’s Ellis Niles scored 19 points and South Shore guard Doudmy St. Hillaire added 12. They face the N.J. Roadrunners Friday at 10:50 a.m.
NOTES: The New Rens 15’s will face the Playaz Club-Black (N.J.) in the Gold quarterfinals Friday at 9 a.m. after going 2-1 and finishing second in its group in pool play. On Thursday, the Rens fell to Team Takeover (D.C.), 70-50, but defeated the Ottawa Guardsmen (Can.), 82-63, as Boys & Girls’ Marvin Prochet poured in 18 points and fellow Kangaroo Jamie Killings had 16. … The Juice All-Stars’ struggles continued in Atlantic City. The 17U club went winless and pool play and their lone win, over Team Melo, came via forfeit. They will face the Ottawa Guardsmen (Can.) in the Silver quarterfinals Friday at 10:15 a.m. … Led by nine points from Bishop Loughlin’s Jordan Nanton and eight from LaSalle wing Chris Polanco, New Heights-White topped Move Your Feet (N.J.), 48-42, and will face D-One Sports (N.C.) in the 17U Silver quarterfinals Friday at 10:15 a.m. … Team Fisher won its pool, though one of its wins came via forfeit, and it was hammered by Team Takeover (D.C.), 52-26, in the 16U Gold quarterfinals. They have a consolation game Friday at 2 p.m. … Team Melo forfeited both of its games on Thursday.