BRONX, NY - While the St. Raymond Ravens and the Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters may not play against each other during the regular season, the CHSAA and PSAL powerhouses scrimmaged on Monday. NYCHoops.net was on hand to check out all the action.
SET ONE & TWO
During the first two sets, Lincoln dominated the boards as 6’7” senior Tafari Whittingham swatted multiple shots and the Railsplitters kept the Ravens to only one field goal per set. 6’7” senior Daniel Dingle and 6’5” senior NKereurem Okoro remained aggressive and drew fouls which gave St. Rays points from the line. With 2:13 left and solid play from 5’11” junior Shaq Davis in the first set, the Ravens were down 14-3.
To St. Raymond’s credit, they stayed aggressive and as the set ended with an 8-0 run capped off by an Okoro trey at the buzzer
(14-11 Lincoln)
In the second set, Lincoln pulled ahead 11-1 as 6’4” sophomore SG Isaiah Whitehead and 6’1” senior Ian Vasquez provided an offensive spark. St. Ray’s continued to have problems with Lincoln’s defense and found it hard to score. The Railsplitters also got some fire from 6’5” senior Rakim Lessane and although 6’0” senior Larry Graves would finally get through for a drive to the basket for the Ravens, Lincoln would easily take the set.
(18-5 Lincoln)
SET THREE
The team’s benches went up against each other in set three and the game remained close throughout. St. Ray’s would come from behind to win at the buzzer as 5’7” senior Akil Andrews would drive to score
(15-14 St. Raymond)
SET FOUR
St. Ray’s starters would come out aggressive in set four as Dingle and Okoro seemed to finally find their mojo. Okoro nailed a three ball and Dingle powered his way in for a dunk as the Raven went ahead 10-1 and this time kept Lincoln without a field goal for the entire set.
(17-5 - St. Raymond)
SET FIVE
Dingle continued where he left off in the fourth set but Bishop Loughlin HS transfer 6’8” senior Travis Charles would have his best set of the evening keeping Lincoln ahead 8-4. Bothered by the new structure, Charles began to display a pretty reliable midrange shot.
Whitehead who seemed to be a little off throughout the scrimmage, began to find the bottom of the basket and got the ball in there from the perimeter as well as attacking the basket. St. Ray inched closer as Dingle was beginning to unleash his full repertoire. With 2:59 left to play and Lincoln up by 3 points, Whittingham and Davis entered the game for the first time.
The combination of Whitehead’s offense and the size of Whittingham and Charles would soon push the Railsplitters lead to 9 points as the final set ended.
(24-15 Abraham Lincoln)
ANALYSIS:
The absence of 6’1 junior point guard Shane Rector and 6’1” senior Myron Hickman really hurt St. Raymond as Dingle and Okoro appeared flustered with how the offensive sets were being run. In addition, the Ravens bigs were no match for the athletic bigs of Lincoln, when Whittingham was in the game. While Akil Andrews is a competent back-up point guard, he spent more time playing keep away and less time setting up teammates.
Lincoln was missing 5’9” junior PG Ethan Telfair but they didn’t miss a beat. The Railsplitters dictated the game for the majority of the sets and when their primary players were in the game, pretty much ran the show. Charles at times seemed like the odd man out as he searches for his place on the team. Overall, Lincoln seems to be coming together.
This post was edited on 11/22 12:45 PM by mwingate
SET ONE & TWO
During the first two sets, Lincoln dominated the boards as 6’7” senior Tafari Whittingham swatted multiple shots and the Railsplitters kept the Ravens to only one field goal per set. 6’7” senior Daniel Dingle and 6’5” senior NKereurem Okoro remained aggressive and drew fouls which gave St. Rays points from the line. With 2:13 left and solid play from 5’11” junior Shaq Davis in the first set, the Ravens were down 14-3.
To St. Raymond’s credit, they stayed aggressive and as the set ended with an 8-0 run capped off by an Okoro trey at the buzzer
(14-11 Lincoln)
In the second set, Lincoln pulled ahead 11-1 as 6’4” sophomore SG Isaiah Whitehead and 6’1” senior Ian Vasquez provided an offensive spark. St. Ray’s continued to have problems with Lincoln’s defense and found it hard to score. The Railsplitters also got some fire from 6’5” senior Rakim Lessane and although 6’0” senior Larry Graves would finally get through for a drive to the basket for the Ravens, Lincoln would easily take the set.
(18-5 Lincoln)
SET THREE
The team’s benches went up against each other in set three and the game remained close throughout. St. Ray’s would come from behind to win at the buzzer as 5’7” senior Akil Andrews would drive to score
(15-14 St. Raymond)
SET FOUR
St. Ray’s starters would come out aggressive in set four as Dingle and Okoro seemed to finally find their mojo. Okoro nailed a three ball and Dingle powered his way in for a dunk as the Raven went ahead 10-1 and this time kept Lincoln without a field goal for the entire set.
(17-5 - St. Raymond)
SET FIVE
Dingle continued where he left off in the fourth set but Bishop Loughlin HS transfer 6’8” senior Travis Charles would have his best set of the evening keeping Lincoln ahead 8-4. Bothered by the new structure, Charles began to display a pretty reliable midrange shot.
Whitehead who seemed to be a little off throughout the scrimmage, began to find the bottom of the basket and got the ball in there from the perimeter as well as attacking the basket. St. Ray inched closer as Dingle was beginning to unleash his full repertoire. With 2:59 left to play and Lincoln up by 3 points, Whittingham and Davis entered the game for the first time.
The combination of Whitehead’s offense and the size of Whittingham and Charles would soon push the Railsplitters lead to 9 points as the final set ended.
(24-15 Abraham Lincoln)
ANALYSIS:
The absence of 6’1 junior point guard Shane Rector and 6’1” senior Myron Hickman really hurt St. Raymond as Dingle and Okoro appeared flustered with how the offensive sets were being run. In addition, the Ravens bigs were no match for the athletic bigs of Lincoln, when Whittingham was in the game. While Akil Andrews is a competent back-up point guard, he spent more time playing keep away and less time setting up teammates.
Lincoln was missing 5’9” junior PG Ethan Telfair but they didn’t miss a beat. The Railsplitters dictated the game for the majority of the sets and when their primary players were in the game, pretty much ran the show. Charles at times seemed like the odd man out as he searches for his place on the team. Overall, Lincoln seems to be coming together.
This post was edited on 11/22 12:45 PM by mwingate
