Manhattan Center seemed to have the game well at hand. The Rams came out strong after halftime and took a six-point lead on McKee/Staten Island Tech.
But then star guard Aziza Patterson picked up her fourth foul and so did guard Kiarah Dunlap and forward Brea Castro Gambrell. It was similar to what happened after the break against Murry Bergtraum on Monday. Manhattan Center got tentative on both ends of the court because of foul trouble.
“We didn’t play aggressive in the third quarter – again,” Rams coach Jaywana Bradley said.
MSIT took full advantage.
The Sea Gulls used a 17-0 run that extended into the fourth quarter to beat Manhattan Center, 62-52, in non-league girls basketball Thursday on Staten Island. Getting ahead in the third quarter actually seemed to hurt the Rams, who are going through some growing pains.
“One thing about us is as soon as we get up, we start getting relaxed,” Patterson said.
Bradley said her players spent too much time complaining about foul calls. MSIT (7-0) did get to the line a ton, including a 12-of-15 clip in the fourth quarter. Manhattan Center (1-2), on the other hand, missed 15 free throws.
“You cannot be missing 15 free throws – not in their gym,” Bradley said.
Patterson had 17 points and Nijah Lacourt added 13 points for the Rams, who cut the lead to 54-45 after Patterson’s personal 5-0 run with 4:06 left. Manhattan Center is still searching for its identity after the graduation of McDonald’s All American China Crosby, who is now starting at the University of Virginia.
“It’s different,” Patterson said. “I can’t complain. She was gonna leave at some point. We just need to make ends meet.”
This was certainly a winnable game, even without Crosby. The Rams had their runs. They were ahead, 18-10, after the first quarter and led through much of the second before foul trouble and the dominance of MSIT guards Kaitlyn Astel (27 points) and Kristen Markoe (22) took over after halftime.
Manhattan Center did show flashes. When Patterson is hot, she can score points in bunches. Dunlap showed improved shooting range and can slash, too. Lacourt and Castro Gambrell, both 6-footers, are more than capable down low.
All are being asked to do more than they did last year and, of course, it’s still early.
“We’re going to be ready to go,” Bradley said. “But it’s going to take some time.”