The difference in Francis Lewis from its last game wasn’t just what was apparent on the court. It was mental, too.
In the Patriots’ season opener, they led for three quarters against South Shore before letting things slip away by one point. On Friday night at improved Grand Street Campus, Lewis hung tough for a 59-51 win in a PSAL Queens/Brooklyn Class AA crossover.
“We did not give up at all,” Patriots junior guard Jasmine Davis said. “We didn’t put our heads down at all. We always knew we had the game. South Shore, we doubted it.”
There were plenty of points Friday when doubt could have seeped in. Grand Street (4-1), ranked No. 7 in the PSAL by The Post, is on its way to its best season in a long time. The Wolves were within 54-49 after back-to-back baskets by Clarissa Gallagher and Quanisha Ratley with 2:21 left in the game. But No. 5 Lewis (2-1) kept its poise and did something it didn’t against No. 2 South Shore – make free throws.
The Patriots were 6-of-8 from the line in the fourth quarter and 23-of-30 for the game. Compare that to just a 4-for-14 clip against the Vikings and that was the difference between winning and losing. Lewis coach Steve Tsai said the team always works on free throws in practice, but their worth was readily apparent in the South Shore defeat.
“A lot of free throws in practice, because free throws win games,” senior guard Theodora Alexandrou said. “We needed to knock them down.”
Alexandrou was a significant key – she’s made strides since last year on both sides of the court. She helped shut down Gallagher, a 3-point specialist, in the first half, had a pair of steals and finished with 10 points, including a pair of 3s. Most importantly, she was sure-handed with the ball and has emerged as someone Lewis can trust in bringing it up and getting the team into its improved offense.
“Theo has always been steady, but she wasn’t always comfortable,” Davis said. “She’s definitely a big part of the team – big, big, big.”
Davis had seven of her 16 points in the fourth quarter and junior forward Tyese Purvis had 14 points before fouling out with 3:18 left. Starting junior guard Jazmine Hamlet was also mired in foul trouble all game and fouled out with 27 seconds left.
Lewis was just up 56-50 at that point and its momentum had dissipated. Gallagher, who finished with 18 points, had gotten hot from behind the arc – she had three second-half 3s – and Ratley (19 points) was slashing successfully to the basket.
But the Patriots pulled things together, something they didn’t do against South Shore nor much last year, especially after star point guard Kelly Robinson (now at UMass) tore her ACL in December. Tsai, who now has two seasons under his belt, has said that he’s more comfortable getting tough with this group. It has served to make Lewis mentally tougher.
“At the end of running set plays, some people have to make plays,” Tsai said. “Now we have girls who are willing to make plays and be aggressive. And when we say make plays it doesn’t necessarily mean scoring.”
Added Davis: “We didn’t really have it down pat last year. Everyone was doing their own thing. We’re jelling more.”
