The John F. Kennedy-Truman rivalry hasn’t been much of one over the years. Since taking over the Mustangs program eight years ago, John Burke has beaten the Knights just once. And before that, Kennedy would beat Truman by “60 or 70 points” regularly, he said.
So, Wednesday might have marked just another game between two of the better teams in the PSAL. But for Truman, its exciting, 58-56 win at Kennedy in Class AA girls basketball meant much more. It was the team’s first victory at its rival’s gym, perhaps ever, according to Burke.
“It’s worth getting excited about,” the coach said.
Especially given the circumstances.
Truman (6-2, 5-1 ‘AA’) trailed 36-24 at halftime. Star guard Krystal Pearson was hampered throughout with foul trouble. Sophomore wing Daquana Smith was limping around with knee and ankle injuries. Lynda Fields and Joella Gibson were both under the weather.
Somehow the Mustangs pulled it out, getting within 41-39 on Smith layup at the end of the third quarter, holding Kennedy (6-4, 4-1 ‘AA’) to five points in that frame and making all the plays down the stretch.
“I think it’s a testament to maybe how good we can be, because we played very, very poorly tonight,” Burke said. “What we did play with was a lot of heart. And that’ll count for a lot, too.”
With Pearson saddled with four fouls for most of the second half, Gibson and Fields, the two impact transfers, really stepped up. Gibson, formerly of Bishop Loughlin, had 13 of her 21 points in the second half. Fields, late of Blessed Sacrament, had 11 points and the go-ahead free throws with 24.7 seconds left.
“I was nervous, but I was confident,” Fields said. “I had to make them to win. I had to knock them down.”
This was Fields’ first foray into this Bronx rivalry. But she knew how important this game was to the seniors, especially Pearson. The future Division I player was a freshman on the JV team the last time Truman beat Kennedy. With her on the bench, Gibson became the team’s go-to scorer, relentlessly attacking the basket.
“Krystal is like the heart of the team,” Gibson said. “When she’s on the court she takes control. I knew I had to step up. I’m just trying to do my job on the court and not try to do too much.”
Queen Holquin did a fine job guarding Kennedy star Joya McFarland in the second half. Pearson finished with 19 points and gave Truman a 56-54 lead with a layup at the 1:00 mark of the fourth quarter.
But Knights senior guard Deaisia Acklin’s runner in the lane drew the home team even with 40 seconds left. She finished with 22 points, but it was Fields who decided the game. The pint-sized, steady point guard drove the lane and was fouled, setting up the clinching free throws. Chelsea Custodio’s 3-pointer from the corner with five seconds left was off.
“They wanted it more – clearly,” Kennedy coach O’Neil Glenn said. “We got up by 12 and we just said, ‘Oh, this is just Truman and we’re gonna win.'”
Pearson wasn’t happy with some foul calls, but Burke understands. He realizes that Truman, while talented and touted in the preseason, hasn’t accomplished anything yet.
“As soon as we start winning some of these games, there won’t be that mentality that this is Truman, they aren’t supposed to win these games,” Burke said. … “Talk is cheap. The way you gain respect is winning.”
So far, this might be the greatest victory yet, at least in Pearson’s career.
“This is the best win,” she said, “because now we’re the best team in The Bronx.”