Nazareth’s Samson Usilo goes for a finger roll. (Christina Santucci)
Most teams this time of year are playing for titles and history. Nazareth has much more at stake.
The Brooklyn school is likely closing in June for good due to declining enrollment. With a save-the-school campaign ongoing, the players know what it would mean to take some hardware back to East Flatbush.
“Having this championship is uplifting to our school,” senior Mike Megafu said.
Nazareth didn’t leave much suspense Friday night. Star sophomore Samson Usilo started the game with an alley-oop from Naquan Chandler and the Kingsmen never looked back in a 70-47 rout of No. 2 St. Agnes in the CHSAA Class B boys basketball championship game at Fordham University in The Bronx.
“Hopefully this won’t be our last one,” coach Todd Jamison said of this title. “I don’t think it will be, but this is special.”
It is Nazareth’s first boys title of any kind since winning back-to-back ‘A’ titles in 1988 and 1989. The Kingsmen will meet St. Mary’s of Lancaster, the Monsignor Martin ‘B’ representative, in the CHSAA Class B state championship game next weekend either in the city or in Buffalo. The winner goes up to the New York State Federation tournament in Albany.
“Like I told the kids, this is just our third goal,” Jamison said, listing a division title and an undefeated league season as the first two. “We have two more to go.”
Usilo, a 6-foot-4 transfer from Mount Zion (N.C.) via Nigeria, poured in 29 points, including three 3-pointers. Jamison said he knew Usilo was primed for a breakout performance the last few days in practice.
“He’s been waiting for this game,” the coach said. “You could see it. He came into the locker room singing religious hymns and I knew they were in trouble. I feel blessed to coach this kid.”
The soft-spoken Usilo deferred all praise to his teammates. He said he’s been working hard on his shooting ability all season. Jamison, who called Usilo “a high major” Division I prospect, said this was his best day from the perimeter thus far.
“We do shooting every day,” Usilo said. “We have to make our shots from the perimeter. The other team doesn’t know what we’re about to do.”
Shajea Stephenson had 15 points, Chandler had nine points and Megafu, who will be the school’s valedictorian, added eight for Naz (21-6). Dimencio Vaughn, brother of New York Liberty star Kia Vaughn, had 19 points, Kashif Davis had 12 points and Brian Zorrilla added 10 for St. Agnes (13-9).
Nazareth brought along a large cheering section, including its nationally ranked girls basketball team. The school potentially closing is not a topic of conversation among Jamison and his players. It hasn’t been since it was announced early last month.
“We’re focusing on this season and right now,” Usilo said. “The school is still open. We’re not thinking about next year.”
The school’s board of trustees is allowing Nazareth to register kids for next year and it had an open enrollment day on Wednesday. Naz could end up drawing more than 80 incoming students, which would replace the current graduation class.
There is still hope – and championships like Friday night can’t hurt.
“We need these boosts for the kids,” principal Providencia Quiles said. “It’s been tough for them. It’s been tough for all of us. We’re still fighting.”