The Orange Wave doesn’t have a dynamic duo anymore — it has a dynamic trio.
Jaquan “Son Son” Lynch, Jermoine Faison, and Nazai Stokes are ripping up the paint for Thomas Jefferson this season, giving the basketball squad its second victory in two weeks on Friday night as the Orange Wave defeated Brooklyn Collegiate 79–74.
Last year, Lynch and Thaddeus Hall — considered the Batman and Robin of high school hoops — brought Thomas Jefferson a borough title and an invitation to the school’s first city final since 1954. But with Hall moving on this season, Lynch is ditching his roll as a star and create a special three-man dynamic with Faison and Stokes.
“Those are my two buddies,” Lynch laughed. “I don’t like being a Batman person. We’re a team.”
All three players scored 14 points respectfully and their teamwork overpowered Collegiate’s Adrian Williams, who led all scorers with 38 points.
Lynch, who scored 22 points in Jefferson’s opening win against George Westinghouse, did not start the game for disciplinary reasons. But, even with Lynch on the sidelines for most of the first half, Jefferson didn’t miss a beat going into break ahead 39–23.
Players say Lynch’s benching proved to be a positive: the team showed it isn’t overly dependent on the Florida International-bound guard.
“We have to do something, we can’t just ride off of him,” Faison said. “When Jaquan is off, people like me have to step up.”
Faison calls himself the “garbage man” because he does the dirty work of banging bodies and cleaning the boards. His nickname was proudly on display in the fourth quarter when the game got tight and Faison had a put back a dunk off a teammate’s miss.
The Orange Wave moves to 2–0 after the win, but coach Lawrence “Bud” Pollard” says the team needs more work if they want to get back to Madison Square Garden this year.
“Right now we’re not where we need to be,” he said. “Sometimes you need a slap in the face or a set back, and that’s what we got here today.”
Jefferson’s players believe they have targets on their back this season because of last year’s success, but the stiff competition the Orange Wave faces this season doesn’t bother Lynch one bit.
“I know some of the Lincoln players and the Boys and Girls kids are saying they’re ready for us,” Lynch said. “I’m saying the same thing right back to them.”
