Sports

Bedford suffocates Joyner and South Bronx’s run comes to an end

Despite trailing by eight points at halftime, Doug Porter felt good. South Bronx wasn’t playing its best, but was hanging tough, within striking distance.

Unfortunately, it didn’t get better for the Phoenix. It got worse.

Bedford Academy started the third quarter on a 17-6 run and never looked back, cruising to a 76-63 victory in the PSAL Class A championship game at St. Francis College in Brooklyn.

The loss ended the career of star Dashawn Joyner. He scored 24 points, but against constant pressure made just 8-of-18 shots from the field and had little help, as the only other teammate in double figures was Jonathan Rivera with 13. Joyner hit their only two 3-point field goals.

“The other guys were not really ready for the big stage,” Porter said. “I think we played tight, other than Dashawn.”

South Bronx has been at its best when Joyner is distributing the ball and scoring only moderately. The Phoenix went 18-0 in Bronx A East with Joyner averaging a triple-double. He entered the final averaging 23 points per game, but was held to 14 in the semifinals. That worked out well for The Bronx school as five other players had between eight and 13 points.

Joyner had 11 points by halftime on Saturday, but was limited to two free throws in the pivotal third quarter. Bedford Academy began double-teaming him upon every touch, picking him up with two defenders at half-court, forcing others to beat them. Nobody did.

“We needed a couple of guys to step up and play, and unfortunately we didn’t get that,” Porter lamented. “Dashawn was tired; of course he never wants to come out. He had to carry the load and it’s a lot on his shoulders.”

He later added: “Its disappointing, but my team had a great year.”

Of course, part of the credit for South Bronx’s ineffectiveness performance on offense Porter gave to Bedford Academy. The Panthers forced 22 turnovers, blocked nine shots, held a 46-35 rebounding advantage, and held the Phoenix to 37 percent shooting from the field. Although Joyner got his points, they did a fine job on him, rotating guards Brent Jones, Sean Snagg and Tavonte Reid.

“We made him uncomfortable,” said senior forward Anthony Mason Jr., who had 26 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots. “We know he likes to play up and down, and dribble a lot. We didn’t let him do that.”

As for the future of the program, South Bronx has a lot of holes to fill. Joyner, Rivera and shooting guard Luis Sanchez all graduate. The up-tempo style, Porter said, will remain the same, and he expects success to follow.

“We’re not gonna rebuild,” Porter promised. “We’re gonna reload.”

zbraziller@nypost.com