Wings Academy’s Amdy Fall had 14 points and 18 rebounds in the 72-66 win over Wadleigh. (Damion Reid)
Wings Academy’s most important player was on the bench, in uniform but figuratively far from the court. Deonte Houston, the Wings’ lone returning starter and its point guard, wasn’t going to be there for his young teammates Friday evening in Harlem, an ankle injury sidelining the senior.
And that’s fine with Wings coach Billy Turnage – for the time being of course.
“It’s forcing other guys to expand their roles,” he said.
They did enough to pick up a big early-season league victory over Wadleigh, building a big lead and holding on for a 72-66 win in Harlem Friday night.
Filling in for Houston at the point, junior Yoshimar Bernardez scored 13 points and dished out eight assists. Another junior, forward Steven Gomez, led Wings with 15 points and added 11 rebounds, senior Amdy Fall had 14 points and 18 rebounds, reserve Justin Jenkins had 12 and LIU-bound guard Gerrell Martin had nine despite playing on a sore ankle. Basil Harley led Wadleigh (2-2, 1-1 Manhattan AA) with 22 points and Trivante Bloodman had 17.
“It shows that we’re not just a one-man team,” the coach said. “We have other guys, talented guys, that can get the job done.”
Turnage wasn’t necessarily thrilled with his young players afterwards, whom, he felt, weren’t patient enough on offense after taking a 12-point lead early in the third quarter. They fell into Wadleigh’s trap of playing too fast and taking the first shot available, which led to a track meet of turnovers, 3-point attempts and wild shot attempts.
“Our stuff is kind of like organized confusion; their stuff is mass confusion,” Turnage said. “We got caught up in that and we didn’t play smart today.”
Even so, the Wings (2-0, 2-0 Bronx AA) came up with the clutch plays late. After Bloodman’s baseline jumper made it 56-55 Wings halfway through the fourth quarter, The Bronx school reeled off a 9-2 run that was started by Jenkins slicing through a double team and setting up Gomez for an uncontested dunk and was capped by Jenkins’ left-wing jumper. Wadleigh wouldn’t get closer than five the rest of the way.
“When I come in the game, I do whatever it takes to contribute,” said Jenkins, Wings’ sixth man who Turnage said is his Vinnie Johnson, referring to the former Detroit Pistons guard.
For anyone who saw Wings’ magical run to the PSAL Class AA semifinals last year, this team would be hard to recognize. Even the current seniors, Fall and Martin, saw limited playing time off the bench. Houston started, but was more of an orchestrator instead of a leader, the role he is expected to take on upon his return.
Wings is just as talented as that group, Turnage said, though maybe not as deep. Fall brings a shot-blocking presence that was previously lacking and in Martin, Jenkins and Gomez, Turnage has plenty of long-range threats.
“Our top seven can hang with anybody in the city,” he said. Turnage later added: “It’s gonna take us a few games for them to get used to varsity level of basketball.”
Until Houston returns, the Wings will still be a work in progress, and possibly even after that, too. But while he is out, they are at least comfortable they can win without him.
“It builds up our confidence,” Jenkins said. “When he comes back, we’ll be even better.”
