NYC PSAL: Manhattan Bracket Review

Before the exciting NYC PSAL playoffs where teams face off to compete for the varsity championship, the four main boroughs hold their own boroughwide championships to crown a boroughwide championship. This year, ten teams faced off and while only one team brought home the hardware, all ten teams brought out their best basketball. <h3>Octofinals</h3> Seward Park @ Percy Sutton | 70-67 In a close win by Seward Park, the Bears experienced a dominant performance by Bruce Tulloch(16.7ppg, 8rpg, 3.3apg), who led the way with 18 points and 8 rebounds, somehow doing it all and scoring everywhere. Ameer Dyson(12.5ppg, 11.9rpg, 1.7apg) continued his season as a dominant big with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Travon Mack(11.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 6.9apg) came out as a facilitator, putting his teammates in great positions to score with 10 assists. On the other side, the Percy Sutton Senators had a one-man show with Trent Lomax. Lomax(24.7ppg, 8.4rpg, 4.8apg) did everything he could to keep his team in the game, showing superstar potential with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. Lomax demonstrated his "superior scorer" quality, showing he can put the ball in the hoop from all over the court, including his ability to get to the line and cash in from the three. Nydir Tucker(5.8ppg, 8.3rpg, 0.5apg) helped out in the paint with a 12 point, 12 rebound double-double. Washington Irving @ Louis Brandeis | 74-81 The Brandeis Bulldogs came away with a win behind sophomore Dylan Crooke(10.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 0.7apg), who exploded to become a 20 point, 6 assist player. Junior Romahar Trim Joseph(4.1ppg, 4.0rpg, 0.7apg), also exploded from his regular-season self and netted 16 points. Supporting them were Brayn Garcia Pena(11.1ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.1apg) and Jayson Lee(7.5ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.1apg), who added 14 and 13 points, respectively. Irving experienced a superb scoring performance from Oussema Saddi and Sitony Diedhiou. Saddi(16.6ppg, 11.5rpg, 1.2apg) scored 26 points, while Diedhiou(23.2ppg, 16.3rpg, 2.8apg) added 21 of his own, both ended their season by continuing their reputation as scorers. <h3>Quaterfinals</h3> Seward Park @ Thurgood Marshall | 82-99 The Thurgood Marshall Panthers entered the tournament as the top seed, and they definitely proved why.[player_tooltip player_id="945017" first="Kevin" last="Dinkins Jr"](18.6ppg, 16.5rpg, 4.9apg) led the team and almost recorded a triple-double, with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. John Easley(14.7ppg, 8.6rpg, 6.4apg) brought about his guard presence and set up everyone, earning 9 assists while getting in 19 points of his own. Brandon Nesmith and Omar Nkonde showed their impact in the box, controlling the rebound game with 11 and 14 rebounds, respectively, with Nesmith also adding 12 of his own points. Seward Park, while loosing, experienced a surprise. Bruce Tulloch and Travon Mack brought the same game they brought to the Octofinals, with each scoring 19 points, and Travon having another dominant passing attack with 10 assists. However, it was Xavier Bell who surprised the crowd. Bell(11.1ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.3apg), who had been quiet all season, had a breakout game. Bell scored 29 points, and most with offensive flair as 24 came from 8 3 point shots. While the Bears had their Manhattan playoffs ended, they did everything they could to keep it competitive. Beacon @ Manhattan Center | 60-54 In a low scoring game, the emphasis was placed on defense instead of offense, so the winner would be who can make the toughest baskets.Manhattan Center’s Macky Sow(14.8ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.4apg) and Odanis Done(10.0ppg, 8.0rpg, 4.1apg) both almost reached double-double land, with 21 point and 8 rebounds against 16 points and 9 rebounds, respectively. The team did have to rely on the clutch shooting of Efrain Davila Jr(13.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.9apg), who scored 18 points and had a stressful, but fruitful, 11-12 game at the free-throw line. On the other end, Beacon was led by junior Samuel Pohlman(15.7ppg, 2.9rpg, 5.3apg) and senior Fauzi Cizmesija-Ulmer(11.3ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.4apg). However, it wasn’t offense that kept them in the game, but defense. It was a team effort to limit the Manhattan Center offense to only 60 points. Louis Brandeis @ Washington Heights | 59-89 The Washington Heights Wolves entered the game as the numbered two seed, and played like a number two seed throughout the game. The team was led by junior [player_tooltip player_id="945530" first="Randy" last="Crosby"](22.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.2apg), who led the offense with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Senior Jerimiah Davis(13.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.6apg) exploded from his regular-season production and scored 21 points, demonstrating his shooting by scoring all his points from seven made three-pointers. The Brandeis offense was limited by tenacious defense, but they still had decent production. Finding their groove was Jayson Lee, who scored 10 with 6 boards, and Brayn Garcia Pena, who scored 11 while showing grit and making numerous trips to the foul line. Graphics Campus @ Murry Bergtraum | 92-102 The roster of Murry Bergtraum is stacked with talent, and they demonstrated it today. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="945527" first="Dior" last="Davis"](26.4ppg, 17.7rpg, 15.8apg) put on a performance of dominance, earning a 32 point, 17 rebound, 10 assist triple-double. Davis facilitated his team, scored all over the floor, and was a monster in the paint. Fellow Juniors Keianu Woodward(10.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 11.5apg) and Kasai Fontanez(14.6ppg, 12.3rpg, 6.7apg) had shows of their own, with 20 points and 13 rebounds and 18 points and 11 rebounds, respectively, while Cameron Sweeney(8.6ppg, 22.1rpg, 1.8apg) had a 15 rebound night. Sophomore Donnell Campbell(12.4ppg, 11.7rpg, 8.0apg) scored 12 on 11 rebounds, while freshman Seck Zongo(6.9ppg, 16.2rpg, 7.3apg), who already received a college offer, was one point shy of a triple-double with a 9 point, 10 assist, 15 rebound night. Graphics Campus took the phrase "fight fire with fire" to heart, and had to put on an offensive show to match Murry Bergtraum. Seniors Damani Claxton(22.8ppg, 0.7rpg, 4.0apg) and Joselito Rosario(15.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.7apg) formed a dangerous scoring duo, with 28 and 23 points. Soufaine Diakite(5.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 0.4apg) played his best game of the season with 16 points. <h3>Semifinals</h3> Manhattan Center @ Thurgood Marshall | 62-67 The first seeded Thurgood Marshall edged out a win to defeat Manhattan center. The team was led by the Dinkins brothers, Kayson and Kevin, who shined, impacting the game from all over the floor. Overall, however, the game was more focused on defense, with senior Omar Nkonde rising up to the task at hand and showing great athleticism for a forward, showcasing elite rim-protecting skills as well as rebounding, helping his team get ready for the next offensive play. On offense, senior John Easley took command of the ball and used his vision to set up his teammates in great positions to score. In terms of Manhattan Center, it was a three-man game. Unsigned senior Macky Sow led the way with 19 points and 9 boards, showing scoring from everywhere, including showcasing a deadly jumpshot. Sophomores Odanis Done and Ethan Davila Jr didn’t let age decide their game, as they finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds and 18 points and 4 rebounds, respectively. While this is the end of the road for Manhattan Center in the borough championships, their rising juniors should make for a worthy opponent in the next two years. Murry Bergtraum @ Washington Heights | 88-91 Washington Heights barely edged out Murry Bergtraum, and it was due to offense. Randy Crosby led the way on offense, and literally scored from everywhere on the court ending with 22 points, going with some 5 boards and 4 dimes. Supporting him was Jerimiah Davis, a walking bucket scoring 19 points, with 5 three-point field goals. Sophomore Edwin Daniel Linares scored 15 of his own, but his contributions can best be expressed with his 16 rebounds, five of which are offensive. Justin Soto and Jalen Sabino helped out with the scoring, but more importantly, they set up their teammates better, teaming for 13 assists. Murry Bergtraum had a great offensive engine too, but ultimately came up just short. Junior Dior Davis put on a one-man show, with a 34 point, 15 rebound, 10 assist triple-double night, literally doing everything he can for his team. Aiding him was forward Cameron Sweeney, who dominated the glass with 19 boards, 9 of which are offensive, and putting most back in for his 14 points. Lengthy freshman Seck Zongo demonstrated enormous potential, and ending with a 10 point, 11 rebound double-double of his own. <h3>Finals</h3> Washington Heights @ Thurgood Marshall | 63-56 Washington Heights led the way in a low-scoring game, with junior Randy Crosby shining once again. While defense was the theme, Crosby didn’t let that stop him as he cruised to 25 points, including a perfect night at the line and a deadly outing from the three. Assisting him-- literally-- was Justin Soto, setting up much of the team and picking apart the other defense with speed and handling. Thurgood Marshall lost their game, but they haven’t lost their spirit. Every game they played was a defensive one, and that didn’t end today. Kevin Dinkins Jr and Omar Nkonde were the main faces on defense, with their presence forcing turnovers all over the floor. On offense, it was John Easley, scoring 10 points with 7 rebounds.