Jefferson Coach Lawrence “Bud” Pollard and his players may have been the only people in New York City who believed they could beat top-seeded Abraham Lincoln, which had to them three times this season already.
But the No. 4 Orange Wave stunned defending city champion Lincoln 77–74 in the Public School Athletic League Class AA boys’ basketball semifinals at Long Island University on Wednesday night, sending shockwaves through the five borough’s basketball landscape.
The only one not surprised was Pollard, who had actually expected victory over the Railsplitters at their last meeting, in the borough final.
“I gave us a shot,” he said. “Last game I predicted we would beat them because we are a better team. They have Isaiah [Whitehead]. He is the best player in the city. They have Desi [Rodriguez] who is the best forward, after that, we are better than them.”
Jefferson (21–9) ended the first half on trey by Shamorie Ponds, who finished with 21 points and was the spark to the team’s offensive attack. The Orange Wave came out of the half in a tight game with the city title favorites, but used a 15–4 run to take a 58–43 advantage midway through the third quarter. Patrick Brown, who led all scorers with 23 points, said the team played with confidence in the second stanza.
“We came out and played hard,” Brown said. “Coach told us to come out and play the same way. Play hard, keep attacking the basket, and keep going.”
Jefferson’s win ended any hope of Lincoln coach Dwayne “Tiny” Morton ending his tenure as a city champion. Wearing a Seton Hall hat after the game, Morton, who reportedly will be taking a job on the Pirates’ coaching staff next season, said he thinks this is his last game as Railsplitters’ coach after 15 years and eight city titles. He also said there is a “good chance” he ends up at Seton Hall with Whitehead and Rodriguez. His next move will be announced at his retirement party on May 20.
“You definitely want to go out as a winner, but I feel more relief right now to be honest, because I don’t have to worry about practice tomorrow,” Morton said. “I want to go out as a winner, but sometimes there’s a lot of stress.”
The coach felt his team, which had not lost to a New York City squad all season, looked past Jefferson towards the title game. Whitehead, a McDonald’s All-American, had 18 points in his final game at Lincoln (26–4).
The Railsplitters made a run to try and make a late comeback, down 72–60 in the final minute. Lincoln went on a 10–1 run to make it 73–70 with under 20 seconds left. Brown extended the Jefferson lead with a pair of free throws to make it 75–70. Lincoln cut the lead to three again with eight tenths of a second left, but Elisha Boone’s prayer three-pointer fell short of the basket.
“We were passive, not very aggressive going to the basket,” Morton said. “A lot of jump shots. I think Isaiah did a terrible job leading at the end of the game.”
Whitehead agreed that the Orange Wave wanted the game more, but he said he is ready to move on to a new chapter of his career.
“It’s on to the next level,” he said. “Just try to get better. It is always going to be disappointing to lose. But like I said, everything happens for a reason.”
Pollard and the Orange Wave will take on No. 3 Benjamin Cardozo in the city title game, which is being held at the Barclays Center instead of Madison Square Garden on Saturday at 2 pm. The Judges beat No. 10 Brooklyn Collegiate 73–49 in the other semifinals.
Pollard is more than content that he and not Morton will be breaking in the new venue.
“I am happy I sent him out of here,” Pollard said. “One thing, he will not be at the Barclays. He had a run at the Garden, but not the Barclays. I am glad he didn’t get to the Barclays.”
