ATLANTIC CITY – New York Lightning coach Shandue McNeil considers Jon Severe and Dayshon Smith two of the most underrated guards in the country.
If Wednesday’s performance is any indication, the high-scoring duo will get their due by the time August comes around. With swarms of Division I coaches in attendance at Richard Stockton College, the two led the Lightning to a big start at Live in AC, each scoring in double figures in a pair of wins as the Lightning clinched a berth into the Gold playoffs.
“They’re as good as any guards in the country,” McNeil said.
In a 93-81 victory over D-One Sports (N.C.), Christ the King’s Severe pourer in a game-high 19 points and Smith, a Bronx native who attended Putnam Science Academy (Conn.) followed with 11. Later on, Sever had 12 and Smith 10 in a 68-61 win over Team Takeover (D.C.). Not to be forgotten, Transit Tech’s Richard Williams had 24 points in the two wins and Zach Lewis tallied a team-high 16 against Team Takeover.
The Lightning is coming off a big showing at the Nike Invitational in Augusta, Ga., when they reached the finals despite having just six players for the five-day event. They aren’t nearly as thin in Atlantic City — Satellite Academy forward Larry Beckett is back from injury — and it showed against Team Takeover.
The Lightning fell behind 45-41 midway through the second half, but rattled off seven straight points, starting with a Severe 3-pointer. When Takeover pulled even at 55, the Lightning scored nine in a row, capped by two Smith free throws and a Severe layup.
“We’re having a good run, playing the way we should,” said Smith, who holds a variety of mid-major scholarship offers. “We could make another championship appearance.”
Lost day for Juice: On the heels of a frustrating showing at the Under Armour Summer Jam in Milwaukee, Wis. last weekend, the Juice All-Stars seemed well on their way to righting the ship. They had nationally ranked CIA Bounce of Canada on the ropes, down a point in the waning seconds of regulation.
Only Juice couldn’t get to a loose ball and CIA bounce forced overtime. Despite the absence of consensus top 2014 prospect Andrew Wiggins, the Canada squad pulled out a 75-68 victory in overtime. Juice dropped its second game of the day as well, to Dorian’s Pride (Mich.), and will meet Team Jersey Elite (N.J.) at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday.
Lincoln’s Isaiah Whitehead and Jefferson’s Jaquan (Son Son) Lynch led Juice with 18 points apiece and Leroy (Truck) Fludd, the uncommitted former Boys & Girls star, had 15. St. Benedict’s Prep’s Tyler Ennis, considered one of the top rising senior point guards in the country, had 20 points for CIA Bounce.
Team Melo bounces back: After a heartbreaking loss at the buzzer against Move Your Feet (N.J.) to start the tournament, Team Melo bounced back in a major way with a convincing 67-48 victory over the Brooklyn Rens.
Uncommitted guard LeBrent Walker of Our Savior New American scored 16 points, former Forest Hills standout Rudy Collins added 14, twice de-committed point guard Jevon Thomas had 10 and Campus Magnet’s Sam Durodola. Team Melo closes out pool play against Mid Atlantic Select (Md.) Thursday at 10:50 a.m. while the Rens face Move Your Feet at 9:40 a.m.
NOTES:
Positive Direction went 0-2 on the day, falling to Team Phenom (Pa.), 59-43, and the Rhode Island Hawks, 87-79. Nick Arnold of Commack scored 20 points and Isaiah Cosbert had 17 in the loss to the Hawks while Cosbert and Omar Williams each scored 10 in the loss to Team Phenom. Positive Direction will look for its first win Thursday at 9:40 a.m. against the Ottawa Guardsmen (Can.) … New Heights-Whit
e dropped a 74-71 decision to South Jersey Select (N.J.). LaSalle’s Chris Polanco tallied 13 points in defeat for New Heights, which meets the Playaz Club-Silver (N.J.) Thursday at 10:50 a.m. … Despite 18 points from Jaleel Charles, the Raising Champion
s were no match for the Playaz Club-Gold (N.J.), falling 52-18. They will take on We R 1 (N.J.) Thursday at noon.