Smartball Classic WEEK ONE WARMUP IN THE BOOKS
By Rudy King
Week #1 Is in the books at the 2017 Smartball Classic held at Lincoln Playground on 135th St., Harlem USA. Special thanks to Kennedy Center and Dunlevy Milbank for helping us facilitate games during the inclement weather and keeping the activation on schedule. Shout Out to the Coaches and Student Athletes for showing up and competing with a purpose.
The opening games for this year's activation have been competitive and with Smartball expanding to 22 teams, adding the 8th Grade Showcase Challenge Games and Smartball Pop-up Clinics it has been one adjustment after another and our staff has been great. It feels good when your staff works the vision regardless of the bumps.
Week #1 Results
Boys & Girls Pressure Pops Curtis
71-59 Boxscore: BG: Ricard Martelly 18, Marlon Sewell 14, Devarious White 10 -- Curtis: Adeleye Oyekanmi 16, Darnell Askew 16 -- Gamenotes: B&G Advance to Sweet 16 to play Brooklyn Rival, 2016 & 2017 Defending Smartball Champion, 2017 NYC PSAL City Champion, and NYS Federation Champion Lincoln Railsplitters Monday, Aug.14 at 8:00PM
#Movie #Popcorn
Eagle Academy Holds Off Truman 50-45 Boxscore: Eagle: Julian Avilia 14, Floyd Samuels 11 -- Truman: Dimitrie Alston 12, Elijah Edwards 11, Nicolas Mehia 10 Gamenotes: This is Eagle's 1st year in the event and this win wasn't neat but they got the mission done. A quality characteristic about Eagle is, they do have a certain type discipline which is why we predict a solid performance as they advance to the Sweet 16 to play a strong WINGS Academy Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 6:30PM #Movie
Cardozo Handles KIPP NYC 60-49 Boxscore: Cardoza: Dejavaughn Utley 14, Javen Soto 13, Marcus Hammond 13, Jayson Rolanson 11 -- KIPP: Charles Washingron 15, Rodney Summers 10, Louis Garcia 10 -- Gamenotes: Cardoza played well enough to win. Look for Cardozo to be a bit more turnt up in their next matchup. Cardozo advances to Sweet 16 to play a tough, tough stacked Iona Prep Tuesday, August 15 at 8:00PM #Movie
South Shore Bumps Bedford 54-48 Boxscore: South Shore: Femi Oslukale 18, Sekou Sylla 10 -- Bedford: Whaad Johnson 27 -- Gamenotes: South Shore got this one, but they struggled guarding Johnson who poured in 27. South Shore advances to the next round to play against a tough dribble drive offense in Cardinal Hayes who have 3 or 4 Whaad Johnson type guards. South Shore will have to lock up that paint in order to stop the Cardinals and advance. #Movie
BK Law & Tech Stuns W.H.E.E.L.S 81-66 Boxscore: BLT: Larry Moreno 34, Victor Ogbo 18, David Grady 11, Joseph Pena 9 -- WHEELS: Owen Roberts 19, Kevin Green 15, Joan Rojas 14 -- Gamenotes: BLT Guard Larry Moreno went wild in the 2nd and 4th quarters posting double digits in both from every guard scoring area. It was a clinic type performance. BLTs interior game was also solid with Ogbo and Grady was the glue that solidified the mix as the stat stuffer. BLT Advances to play PSAL AA Power Thomas Jefferson. BK Law is dangerous and will give Jefferson a run for their money. This PSAL A vs. AA match up is very intriguing too say the least, which also includes a coaches matchup as BK Law head coach us also an Asst. at TJ. BK Law faces Jefferson, Thursday, Aug. 17th at 8:00PM. #Movie #Popcorn
John Bowne Thumps FDA 61-39
Boxscore: Teequan Holley 17, Richard Selembo 16, Kareem Reid 10 -- FDA: Brian Almante 15, Malik Fofana 10 -- Gamenotes: I'm going to say it now, Don't Sleep on John Bowne because they have athletes, play hard and have size. Bowne advances to play against St. Raymonds. This will be a good game as both teams have experience. #Movie
UPCOMING GAMES
THIS WEEK AUG. (14th - 17th)
Lincoln Playground 135th St. & 5th Ave.
Rainsite: Kennedy Center
Game #7
Mon., Aug. 14th - 6:30PM
Wadleigh vs. Bishop Loughlin
Gamenotes: Wadleigh is seasoned, dangerous and on a mission. Loughlin is on the rebuild, but understands the tough NYC landscape and aren't new to this. Expect fireworks. Prediction: Wadleigh wins
Game #8
Mon., Aug. 14th - 8:00PM
Lincoln vs. Boys & Girls
Gamenotes: This matchup is a Brooklyn tale that has tons history and lots City and Federation Championships. Look for a gritty war on the pavement between crosstown rivals that means everything though it's only summer and the real deal is 3 months away. Prediction: Lincoln wins
Game #9
Tues., Aug. 15th - 6:30PM
Wings Academy vs. Eagle Academy
Gamenotes: Eagle Academy is on the come up and WINGS the PSAL Bronx Boro Champs for the past 10 years is the King of the hill uptown. But... with the departure of some of WINGS firepower this could be interesting. This is a classic David vs. Goliath scenario. Prection: WINGS advances
Game #10
Tues., Aug. 15th - 8:00PM
Iona Prep vs. Cardozo
Gamenotes: On paper IONA is probably and arguably the best team in NYC with a ton of DI talent and mismatch problems for their opponents. But as we all know, this is the summer and Iona has never played in the Smartball Classic. If Iona comes out in All-Star mode on the chill similar to how Loughlin, St. Rays and Jefferson did last year when they had the wheel, all exited 1st round and they will join that list of early watchers. Cardozo is veteran team in Smartball and will come out fast, furious and serious. Prediction: Iona squeaks past Cardozo.
Game #11
Wed., Aug. 16th - 6:30PM
Cardinal Hayes vs. South Shore
Gamenotes: Cardinal Hayes shocked NYC by winning the NYC CHSAA ""AA" Title with team dominated by underclassmen guards. The beauty of this crew is that they play with passion and never take plays off which makes them dangerous. After watching South Shore in their 1st matchup against Bedford, South Shore has to come out more focused or this could get ugly. Prediction: Cardinal Hayes
Game #12
Wed., Aug. 16th - 8:00PM
Msgr. Scanlan vs. All Hallows
Gamenotes: Scanlan is on the rebuild after the 2016-17 season and will feature a cast that looks brand new. But if you've been paying attention you know Scanlan will have a new piece or two. All Hallows is a scrappy, let it all hangout type of team that will never go away because they have a mission to complete. This is a Bronx match up that screams intensity and bragging rights. Prediction: Toss Up, Heads or Tails?
Game #13
Thurs., Aug. 17th - 6:30PM
St. Rays vs. John Bowne
Gamenotes: John Bowne is a team that may shock the city this year because they are deceptively very good, athletic and consistent on both ends but not very deep. St. Rays lost the "Jelly" but there is still a lot of preservatives on shelf and some new flava's. Look for St. Rays to show their experience in this one. The St. Rays backcourt is All-City stud status and then some. Prediction: St. Rays gets it done.
Game #14
Thurs., Aug. 17th - 8:00PM
Thomas Jefferson vs. BK Law & Tech
Gamenotes: Jefferson is the ""AA" Power, but BK Law & Tech is an "A" team with ""AA" talent. If Jefferson lets the big "3" get off early, this can be the same result as last year for the Orange Wave, watching early. BK Law & Tech has everything to gain in this one. Prediction: Upset Central... BK Law & Tech shocks the city again.
SUNDAY NIGHTCAP GAMES
Lincoln Playground 135th St. & 5th Ave.
Rainsite: TBD
Game #15
Sun., Aug. 20th - 5:30PM
Winner GM #7 vs. Winner GM #8
Game #16
Sun., Aug. 20th - 7:00PM
Winner GM #9 vs. Winner GM #10
FINAL WEEK GAMES AUG. (21st - 24th)
Game #17
Mon., Aug. 21th - 6:30PM
Winner GM #11 vs. Winner GM #12
Game #18
Mon., Aug. 21th - 8:00PM
Winner GM #13 vs. Winner GM #14
Game #19
SEMI-FINALS
Tues., Aug. 22nd - 6:30PM
Winner GM #17 vs. Winner GM #18
Game #20
SEMI-FINALS
Tues., Aug. 22nd - 8:00PM
Winner GM #15 vs. Winner GM #16
SPECIAL EDITION GAMES
Wed., Aug. 23rd - 6:30PM & 8:00PM
Game #21
CHAMPIONSHIP
Thurs., Aug. 24th - 8:00PM
Winner GM #19 vs. Winner GM #20
*Special NYC Basketball Tribute 7:00PM
GAMESITE:
Lincoln Playground
5 East 135th St., Harlem, USA
RAINSITE:
Kennedy Center
34 West 134th St., Harlem, USA
AUX. RAINSITE:
Dunlevy Milbank
14-32 West 118th St., Harlem USA
