Curtis coach Rich Buckheit. (Damion Reid)
Jonathan Annan sees the sideways looks and slight smiles from the opponent whenever Curtis crosses the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn. It isn’t because the Warriors look weird or have some deformity.
There is a stereotype that still exists about Staten Island basketball – that it’s weak and inferior, Annan said – despite strides Curtis and McKee/Staten Island have made in recent years.
“They don’t think we’re a factor,” Annan said. “They underestimate us.”
Robeson was the latest victim. After racing out to an early 11-point lead, the Eagles, one of five Brooklyn AA powers, were overwhelmed by Curtis, 58-54, Sunday afternoon in the PSAL Mid-Winter Classic at LIU.
As usual, the Warriors wore down their opponent with a balanced scoring effort, mostly predicated in the paint. Sophomore Deshawn Richmond scored a team-high 14 points, Annan and Quentin Tate added 13 apiece and Bryan Hockaday had eight. The game turned in the second quarter when Curtis ripped off an 18-3 spurt, turning a nine-point deficit into a six-point lead.
“We stuck with it and fought back,” Annan said. “Coach told us to keep playing.”
Of course, Curtis (15-2) wasn’t going to wilt, particularly since it was facing a Brooklyn school. Although the Warriors became the first Staten Island team to win a boys basketball city championship in any classification last March, they haven’t received any newfound respect. Annan hasn’t noticed a difference in local rankings or how him and his teammates are perceived
“We had to come out strong, let them know we can play with them,” the senior said. “They’re gonna start noticing we play hard.”
Said Richmond: “It feels good to know we can compete [against the best] across the water.”
The Warriors aren’t done leaving the Island. They will face another Brooklyn AA foe, Transit Tech, Jan. 28. It should only help them prepare for the Class AA playoffs in February.
Robeson (12-5) will be part of the tournament, but coach Todd Myles would like to see improvement before then. The Eagles have now dropped two in a row and are struggling to find scoring help for Lucky as senior Jamel Noel struggles offensively. In last Thursday’s loss to Transit Tech, Noel had just six points; he managed six against Curtis, too. He isn’t the only problem; the other Eagles have to ease the burden on Lucky’s lithe shoulders.
“Other guys got to step up and make shots – that’s the bottom line,” Myles said. “We got to make plays.
Using a big lineup, Curtis owned the lane, which result in the 18-3 whitewashing of a run. Tate, a 6-foor-4 bruiser, had five points during the spurt – all in the paint – the agile Richmond added a pair of layups and Annan added an old-fashioned 3-point play and pretty scoop for two.
The Warriors never trailed again, answering each Robeson basket with one of their own. When forward Patrick Jenkins got the Eagles within two, Tate answered with a layup; after Lucky cut the deceit to three, Hockaday hit a pair of clutch free throws with 1:15 to go; and Richmond hit the biggest shot of the game, a runner with 30 seconds left to push the lead back to five again.
“He’s our best offensive player, all around,” Buckheit said. “When he’s competing like that, when he wants the ball and wants to make plays, he makes us better.”
