WPCNR PRESS BOX. By “Hardwood” Bailey. December 27, 2006: White Plains High survived the pinball rims of the County Center this afternoon, defeating Cardinal Hayes High of The Bronx, 55-46 in their opener of the 2006 Slam Dunk Tournament when nothing was falling except Jamal Cromartie’s free throws which iced the game.
"Mr. Elegance," Sean Kilpatrick(23) taking a baseline pass from Rashad James (1), has just put up an uncontested backdoor layup to make the score 39-34 in the opening minute of the 4th quarter to give the Tigers the backbreaker bucket. Photos, WPCNR Sports
"The Crow" Picks them off -- Jamell Cromartie, fouled five times in the 4th quarter sunk 9 of 10 from the line for the final 55-46 margin.
The uneasy contest, which waited for someone- anyone to get hot all day turned on three backdoor plays at the close of the third quarter by Spencer Smith, Jamell Cromartie and Spencer again with seconds to go staked WP to a 37-34 lead at the three quarter mark. Sean Kilpatrick, missing in action through half the third due to 2 personals in the 1st quarter, took a cross court no-look pass from the left point as he was flying unguarded down the right lane on the backdoor from Rashad James in the first 30 seconds of Quarter 4 to make the lead 39-34 with 7:30 to go in the game.
After two defensive stops creating turnovers by the come and-out-and-get you Tiger Zone, Jordan Griffith, replacing Kilpatrick who fouled out, took a backcourt pass from Cromartie in stride and drove the lane with a windmill dipsy-doodle layup to make it 41-36, Rashaan Johnson, who was betrayed by the rims all afternoon, drove the paint to sink a layup to make it 43-36 with 5:15 to go, putting the Cardinals in a deep hole.
With the Cardinals over the 10-foul limit in a foul-pocked game (40 personals of the ticky-tack variety were called) , the Cardinals kept fouling the best free throw shooter on the planet, Jamel Cromartie who sank 9 of 10 free throws in the Bonus situation to put the contest out of reach.
The Cardinals’ three-point eyes were way off, shooting under 40% for the first half and unofficially matching that futility in the second half, putting in only 21 points in the second half. The Tiger percentage was not better. The ball would not drop today for either team, consistently jouncing around on the livewire County Center rims that reverbed the shots like pinballs.
The Tigers allowed a series of uncontested three-pointers by Randy Garcia in the second half to bring Cardinal Hayes to a 25-25 tie at the half. Had the Cardinals’ eyes been on, the Tigers could easily have lost this one.
THE TIGERS 'MOZONE" -- Third Quarter Turnover City. Randy Garcia, Hayes long range bomber could not hit 3s and penetrations were collapsed.
The Tigers played a more “MOZONE” coming out and challenging shots to hold Hayes to 9 points, and cause by unofficial count about 5 turnovers in the third alone setting up the late third quarter-early fourth quarter mini-breakout that eased the game out of reach at 43-36.
The Tigers record moves to 6-0 on the season and they will play Woodlands Thursday afternoon at 4:30 at the County Center as the 2006 Slam Dunk Tournament continues.
Woodlands defeated Uniondale of Long Island, 45-36; Xaverian defeated New Rochelle, 53-45 and Pelham downed Lakeland, 46-41. Stepinac defeated Peekskill 73-69. Stepinac plays Xaverian at 8 PM Thursday, in the winners bracket. Uniondale plays Cardinal Hayes at 11:15 AM and New Ro plays Peekskill at 1 P.M.
