There may not be a team in the city that has as much talent from its freshmen through junior classes as South Shore.
That was clear Thursday night as the Vikings’ least-heralded youngster – freshman Tyrone Johnson, not sophomores Shamiek Sheppard and Terrence Samuel, freshman Doudmy Saint Hilaire or juniors Wayne Martin, Ayodele Akinmola and Kwanique Martin – provided a spark off the bench as the seventh seed advanced to the PSAL Class AA quarterfinals with a 70-64 victory over No. 10 John F. Kennedy in Brooklyn.
Johnson, who averaged just 1 point per game during the regular season and hadn’t scored in the playoffs, tallied all 13 of his points in the second half.
“He’s definitely our energizer,” South Shore coach Mike Beckles said of the 5-foot-9 combo guard. “The kid’s fearless and that’s the thing I love about him. You can put him in any situation and he’ll give you 100 percent.”
Danny Thompson, South Shore’s lone contributing senior, scored 15 points and Samuel added 13. Anthony (Face) Givens paced Kennedy (17-11), which failed to advance past the second round for the second straight year, with 22 points.
Now the Vikings (16-12) move on to face defending city champion Boys & Girls at St. John’s University Sunday at 1 p.m., their first berth in the final eight in Beckles’ seven seasons.
“They’ve been trying to get to this level and get on this stage,” Beckles said. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity. It’s a good feeling. The kids deserve it.”
The two teams met once before, at South Shore on Dec. 2, a game won by the Kangaroos, 69-59. At the time, the Vikings were still trying to find themselves.
Despite high preseason expectations, they started the league year with four losses before righting the ship. They upset top-seeded Lincoln — Johnson’s other big performance as the freshman sank six clutch free throws down the stretch — No. 5 Jefferson and Robeson in the Brooklyn borough quarterfinals. South Shore lost to those teams the first time around, just like Boys & Girls. But there was never a second meeting with the Kangaroos – the Brooklyn school forfeited that contest after a brawl with Jefferson – until now.
“I think we’re just as good as any other team in the playoffs right now,” Beckles said. “I told my team I think we can win the championship from Day 1. They have to go out there and prove it.”