EYAC Classic Revs Up On Day One

OCEANSIDE, NY – If Monday was any indication as to what the EYAC High School Classic at Beacon 158 will be about, buckle up. NYCHoops.net was on hand to check out day one of the event that gives us a first look at what the upcoming high school season might look like.

During the first half of this game between a public and Catholic school it appeared as if bigger may not necessarily mean better as the undersized S.F.P. Terriers amassed a 15-3 advantage with 12 minutes still remaining in the first half.

Good up-tempo transition play from St. Francis Prep led to easy buckets but the tide would turn late in the half. Strong play from Christian Hinckson ‘18 and Alejandro Vasquez ‘19 would cut the Terriers lead at the midway point.

In the second half, size did matter as Bowne sliced their deficit down to 38-32 with 8:49 left to play. An 11-0 run would eventually put Bowne in the driver’s seat with a 1 point lead with a 1:53 remaining in regulation. Only able to score a deuce in the time remaining, the Terriers would end up losing by five.

Vasquez and Hinckson led the way for Bowne with 16 and 14 points respectively.

In another public school versus Catholic school battle laced with Long Island vs. New York City, Deer Park took on Holy Cross out of Flushing, NY. It was two halves of catch-up for Holy Cross as Deer Park served up a steady diet of three pointers.

The game was tight early in the half but back to back to back perimeter shots by Darien Jenkins ‘17 put the Long Island squad ahead 17-5 with 10:26 left in the half. The only reason the Knights were able to creep back into the game was because Deer Park Head Coach John McCaffrey subbed his starters in an out for extensive stretches as one would do in an all-star game.

Down 25-19 as a second half commenced, Holy Cross made a run buoyed by the play of Hassan Diallo ‘18 and Jonas Cooper ‘18. With 8:20 left to play, the Knights had knotted the score at 40 apiece. A bucket by Cooper gave Holy Cross a brief two point lead.

That lead was fleeting as Keshaun Jones ’18 and Josh Pismeny '18 tag teamed the Knights to regain the lead which they held until the final buzzer.

Jenkins paced Deer Park with 20 points with Jones adding 17 points. Cooper netted a game high 21 points for Holy Cross with Diarra contributing 14 points.

In other action:

In an earlier match-up, Springfield Gardens edged Hillcrest, 60-59.