Terrence Samuel will lead No. 7 South Shore against second-seeded Boys & Girls, the two-time city champion, on Sunday. (Denis Gostev)
NYPost.com PSAL boys basketball beat writer Zach Braziller breaks down Sunday Class AA quarterfinals at St. John’s University’s Carnesecca Arena. For the interactive live blog, click here.
SCHEDULE
11 a.m. – No. 3 Lincoln vs. No. 6 Curtis
1 p.m. – No. 2 Boys & Girls vs. No. 7 South Shore
3 p.m. – No. 4 Wings Academy vs. No. 5 Cardozo
5 p.m. – No. 1 Thomas Jefferson vs. No. 8 Wadleigh
No. 3 Lincoln Railsplitters
Head coach: Dwayne (Tiny) Morton
Player to watch: Isaiah Whitehead
Record: 18-9
No. 6 Curtis Warriors
Head coach: Rick Buckheit
Player to watch: Debonair Edwards
Record: 24-5
Outlook: There will likely be friction when Lincoln and Curtis meet and it has little to do with anything that has happened on the court. Curtis officials have protested the recent addition of sophomore forward Tighe Oberg, who was added to the Lincoln roster Feb. 22 – three weeks after the PSAL allows under its rules and regulations. Department of Education spokesperson Margie Feinberg said Oberg, a Long Island transfer, had been at Lincoln all year, has practiced with the team and was only not on the roster because of an “administrative error.”
His presence lessens the blow of suspended forward Tafari Whittingham. On the court, the Railsplitters have played well of late. They nearly upset national powerhouse St. Anthony of Jersey City and blasted Beach Channel, 82-27, on Tuesday in the second round. Curtis took care of Campus Magnet, 79-53, on Wednesday and in senior starters Dontay Jackson, DaShawn Richmond, Kevin McIntosh and Debonair Edwards, has loads of experience to rely on. The 6-foot-6 Edwards will be essential for the Warriors against far bigger Lincoln. He needs to stay out of foul trouble and produce at both ends of the floor.
No. 2 Boys & Girls Kangaroos
Head coach: Ruth Lovelace
Player to watch: Leroy (Truck) Fludd
Record: 21-6
No. 7 South Shore Vikings
Head coach: Mike Beckles
Player to watch: Wayne Martin
Record: 19-8
Outlook: The two teams met in a classic in this exact round last year with Boys & Girls rallying from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit for a rousing overtime victory. South Shore handled the Kangaroos well during the regular season, winning once at home and nearly pulling the upset in Bed Stuy. The Vikings are a tough matchup for Boys High because of their size inside with Wayne Martin, Shamiek Sheppard, Theo Brown and Kwanique Martin. The high-flying Sheppard, who has offers from Hofstra, Iona and Drexel, will likely be matched up with Leroy (Truck) Fludd, Boys High’s Player of the Year candidate, a must-see battle.
The Key for South Shore will be handling the Kangaroos’ renowned pressure. Xaverian transfer Sean Taylor has come on of late, but the onus will be on highly recruited junior point guard Terrence Samuel, who is coming off a monster fourth quarter in a 63-50 win over John F. Kennedy in the second round.
No. 4 Wings Academy Wings
Head coach: Billy Turnage
Player to watch: Justin Jenkins
Record: 25-3
No. 5 Cardozo Judges
Head coach: Ron Naclerio
Player to watch: Tajay Henry
Record: 24-6
Outlook: The two coaches, Ron Naclerio (Cardozo) and Billy Turnage (Wings), are good friends and last met during the postseason in the quarterfinals five years ago, a contest Wings won handily. The Wings have an impressive record, but haven’t played their best basketball of late, losing to John F. Kennedy in the Bronx borough championship game and needing a late rally to get by Eagle Academy in the second round. Still, they will have the best player on the floor in combo guard Justin Jenkins, who has offers from Fairfield, LIU, St. Peter’s and Florida Atlantic, and the potential to win it all if they can suddenly get hot.
Cardozo, by contrast, is red-hot with seven straight wins. The Queens borough champion has handled the loss of national junior prospect Jermaine Lawrence with aplomb. Senior forward Tajay Henry has emerged as a possibly all-city selection and guards Kyle Credle, Omar Williams, Edwin Sainvil and Kendall Brown have taken turns producing at a high level.
Head coach: Lawrence (Bud) Pollard
Player to watch: Thaddeus Hall
Record: 23-6
No. 8 Wadleigh Tigers
Head coach: Mike Crump
Player to watch: Basil Harley
Record: 22-5
Outlook: The Orange Wave has enjoyed a dream season, one very few expected. Despite graduating four starters, Jefferson won its first Brooklyn AA and Brooklyn borough titles and is looking for its first city title since 1954. Senior Thaddeus Hall – the lone returning starter – has emerged after a slow start as a Player of the Year candidate, Jaquan (Son Son) Lynch has broken out as Robin to his Batman and a slew of other newcomers or junior varsity call-ups – such as Rachard Moody, Patrick Brown, Nazai Stokes, Jermoine Faison and Kareem Johnakin – have taken turns making an impact.
Wadleigh, meanwhile, enters a confidence bunch coming off of its second round win over Bayside. Jefferson will have to slow down speedy point guard Basil Harley, who poured in 39 points in the victory over Bayside. The Tigers are hungry to get to the semis for the first time in coach Mike Crump’s eight seasons. They have, after all, been knocked out in the quarters four times.
