Brooklyn has developed a rep as the city’s elite borough. This week was a perfect example that perception is often similar to reality.
Brooklyn won the Wheelchar Charities HS Basketball Classic, topping Manhattan, 73-67, behind 15 points from Boys & Girls standout Mike Taylor, 13 from Thomas Jefferson’s Dave Coley and 12 from Deylon Bovell of Transit Tech. Wadleigh’s Malik Thomas led Manhattan with 14 points and teammates Karim Rowson had 11.
Brooklyn broke open a close game with a 24-16 edge in the third quarter as six different players scored. Rowson’s layup cut Brooklyn’s lead to 65-64 with 1:49 remaining, but Taylor answered with consecutive baskets.
GIRLS FINAL
Brooklyn 73, Manhattan 64: Murry Bergtraum’s Doris Ortega made a 3-pointer with 1:30 to cut the Brooklyn lead to 66-59, but Bishop Ford’s Shayra Brown responded with a 3-point play seconds later.
A 3-pointer by Manhattan Center’s Aziza Patterson with seven seconds left got Manhattan within single digits. Thomas Jefferson’s Alicia Cropper had 22 points and was given the most valuable player award. Brown had 16 points and Jasmin Robinson of Medgar Evers, on the same day she signed with St. Francis College, added 12 points.
St. Michael Academy’s Jennifer O’Neill scored 15 points and former teammate Jelleah Sidney and Aziza Patterson, who committed to Wagner College this week, each had 13 points for Manhattan.
BOYS CONSOLATION
Bronx 73, Queens 68 OT: John F. Kennedy’s Jeffrey Short had 28 points and Mount Vernon’s Lateef Belfor chipped in six for The Bronx. Chavaughn Lewis of St. Mary’s (L.I.) had 10 points, Edison’s Ede Egharevba had nine points and Malcolm McGulivary, Kareem Thomas and Ernest Rouse added eight apiece for Queens.
GIRLS CONSOLATION
Queens 58, Manhattan 42: Christ the King’s Ariel Edwards had nine points and her Royals teammate Nia Oden added eight for Queens. DeWitt Clinton’s Sara Smith had 15 points and Sade Jackson of Aquinas had nine for Manhattan.