A fully loaded Wadleigh Tigers would take on an equally loaded Thomas Jefferson Orange Wave in the first boys event of the PSAL Tip-Off Classic. In what would amount as the first upset of the season, the Tigers would overtake Jefferson, 62-58.
Both teams sought to warm up but it would be Jefferson that would heat up first. David Coley (26 points) would initiate the action, driving into the lane and dishing off to Davonte Grace (18 points). With 4:37, Tigers head coach was force to burn a timeout as the 3-ball by Grace extended the Orange Wave lead to 12-4.
Wadleigh tried to score in transition but good help defense by Jefferson hampered their progress. Down by 12 with 1:38 left in the quarter, the Tigers managed to shave off 4 points as Karim Rowson (22 points) scored a bucket in the paint followed by 2 freethrows.
Jefferson managed to score quickly leaving Wadleigh down 20-10 as the second quarter began. Coach Crump opted to sit Malik Thomas (16 points) for a good portion of the quarter, unhappy with his production. Rowson continued to be effective, scoring again off a nice feed from PG David Burgos (6 points) and again off a fastbreak lay-up. Jefferson was able to neutralize the Tigers offensive production by capitalizing on their equally porous defense.
As Thomas reentered the game with 4 minutes left in the half, quickly scored off a putback that sparked a Wadleigh run. A Thomas dunk closed the gap to 26-22 with 2:45 remaining and his assist to Rowson sliced the lead to 2. Grace tried to respond with an and1 but got the shot stuffed by Kasahn Townsend (2 points). Wadleigh finally began to coagulate and the half ended with the Tigers only down 28-26.
A Burgos floater quickly tied the score 45 second into the third as Tigers smelled blood. Thomas had the chance to give Wadleigh their first lead but went 0-2 at the line but scored on the next possesion, with 5:51 remaining, to take the lead. Wadleigh increased their lead to 4 as the Orange Wave fought hard to take back their advantage. With 1:15 a basket by Tyrie Orasco (6 points) put the Tigers up by 5 points, a lead which they maintained going the fourth quarter.
In a 41-36 hole, the #9 ranked Orange Wave were 8 minutes from a loss to Wadleigh, a team On the Bubble and knew it. Rowson knew as well and scored on a scoop shot down low to give the Tigers a 7 point lead at the top of the quarter.
Coley responded with a basket and another basket off and inbound steal and just that quick, Jefferson was with points of the lead. Wadleigh was not letting go that easily as Basil Harley (7 points) scored on a drive from the left. Eric Turpin (9 points) did the dirty work for Jefferson on the glass and with 5:10 remaining in the game Grace would hit a bank shot and Jefferson was only down 47-44.
At the 3:13 mark, Wadleigh was able to pad their lead by 2 as Thomas scored on a reverse lay-up. Jefferson pulled to within 3 points but Harley 3 pointer doubled the Wadleigh lead. Jefferson had opportunities to catch up but critical misses on easy basket held them down by 5 points with 1:40 left in the game. Trivante Bloodman (7 points) would knock down freethrows increasing the Tigers lead to 7 while Jefferson continued to struggle from the line. The Orange Wave would scramble down the stretch but dug themselves in too deep of a hole.
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Both teams sought to warm up but it would be Jefferson that would heat up first. David Coley (26 points) would initiate the action, driving into the lane and dishing off to Davonte Grace (18 points). With 4:37, Tigers head coach was force to burn a timeout as the 3-ball by Grace extended the Orange Wave lead to 12-4.
Wadleigh tried to score in transition but good help defense by Jefferson hampered their progress. Down by 12 with 1:38 left in the quarter, the Tigers managed to shave off 4 points as Karim Rowson (22 points) scored a bucket in the paint followed by 2 freethrows.
Jefferson managed to score quickly leaving Wadleigh down 20-10 as the second quarter began. Coach Crump opted to sit Malik Thomas (16 points) for a good portion of the quarter, unhappy with his production. Rowson continued to be effective, scoring again off a nice feed from PG David Burgos (6 points) and again off a fastbreak lay-up. Jefferson was able to neutralize the Tigers offensive production by capitalizing on their equally porous defense.
As Thomas reentered the game with 4 minutes left in the half, quickly scored off a putback that sparked a Wadleigh run. A Thomas dunk closed the gap to 26-22 with 2:45 remaining and his assist to Rowson sliced the lead to 2. Grace tried to respond with an and1 but got the shot stuffed by Kasahn Townsend (2 points). Wadleigh finally began to coagulate and the half ended with the Tigers only down 28-26.
A Burgos floater quickly tied the score 45 second into the third as Tigers smelled blood. Thomas had the chance to give Wadleigh their first lead but went 0-2 at the line but scored on the next possesion, with 5:51 remaining, to take the lead. Wadleigh increased their lead to 4 as the Orange Wave fought hard to take back their advantage. With 1:15 a basket by Tyrie Orasco (6 points) put the Tigers up by 5 points, a lead which they maintained going the fourth quarter.
In a 41-36 hole, the #9 ranked Orange Wave were 8 minutes from a loss to Wadleigh, a team On the Bubble and knew it. Rowson knew as well and scored on a scoop shot down low to give the Tigers a 7 point lead at the top of the quarter.
Coley responded with a basket and another basket off and inbound steal and just that quick, Jefferson was with points of the lead. Wadleigh was not letting go that easily as Basil Harley (7 points) scored on a drive from the left. Eric Turpin (9 points) did the dirty work for Jefferson on the glass and with 5:10 remaining in the game Grace would hit a bank shot and Jefferson was only down 47-44.
At the 3:13 mark, Wadleigh was able to pad their lead by 2 as Thomas scored on a reverse lay-up. Jefferson pulled to within 3 points but Harley 3 pointer doubled the Wadleigh lead. Jefferson had opportunities to catch up but critical misses on easy basket held them down by 5 points with 1:40 left in the game. Trivante Bloodman (7 points) would knock down freethrows increasing the Tigers lead to 7 while Jefferson continued to struggle from the line. The Orange Wave would scramble down the stretch but dug themselves in too deep of a hole.
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