One would assume that when the playoffs begin at iS8/Nike Spring HS Classic, playtime ends. The intensity grows fiercer and the scoreboard gets tighter.
However, Thursday night's inaugural playoff games for the Spring 2011 season disproved that theory, as the Panthers (2) and Pennsylvania-based Sportsfest.org put away their opponents without much hassle.
Panthers subdue TGT Warriors, 73-63
For the first six minutes of action, this one had the potential to get ugly. The Panthers (2 / 17U) squad employed a taxing press that turned TGT over repeatedly. The mid-range touch of Travis Flagg and the open court prowess of Tariq Carey helped the Panthers make a push at the other end of the floor, and they consequently secured an early 16-2 lead. To make matters worse for TGT, one and done offensive possessions meant they had another Achilles' Heel in the rebounding department. However, they eventually threw some of the Panthers' medicine back at the NYC unit and showed signs of life.
TGT's 2-2-1 press exploited some of the Panthers' lackluster possessions, and an 8-2 run to close the first quarter got the Bronx-based TGT back into the game. Hot-shooting senior guard Jonathan Loria began to percolate in the second quarter, and with a little help from Donte Adams, chipped the Panthers' lead to three points, 30-27. The duo would go on to score all 32 of TGT's second half points, with Loria putting on a clinic and finishing with a game high 29 points. It wasn't enough, though. Flagg and Carey drained back to back threes at the top of the second half to deflate the Warriors, and the latter drained another later in the period to bring the Panthers' lead back to double digits, 55-43. TGT were never able to get over the hump and never held a lead in the contest.
Carey and Flagg led the Panthers with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Ryan Yearwood chipped in with 9 points. Adams was the number two scorer for TGT with 24 points.
The Panthers (2) will face NIA Prep on Saturday at 9AM.
Panthers subdue TGT Warriors, 73-63
For the first six minutes of action, this one had the potential to get ugly. The Panthers (2 / 17U) squad employed a taxing press that turned TGT over repeatedly. The mid-range touch of Travis Flagg and the open court prowess of Tariq Carey helped the Panthers make a push at the other end of the floor, and they consequently secured an early 16-2 lead. To make matters worse for TGT, one and done offensive possessions meant they had another Achilles' Heel in the rebounding department. However, they eventually threw some of the Panthers' medicine back at the NYC unit and showed signs of life.
TGT's 2-2-1 press exploited some of the Panthers' lackluster possessions, and an 8-2 run to close the first quarter got the Bronx-based TGT back into the game. Hot-shooting senior guard Jonathan Loria began to percolate in the second quarter, and with a little help from Donte Adams, chipped the Panthers' lead to three points, 30-27. The duo would go on to score all 32 of TGT's second half points, with Loria putting on a clinic and finishing with a game high 29 points. It wasn't enough, though. Flagg and Carey drained back to back threes at the top of the second half to deflate the Warriors, and the latter drained another later in the period to bring the Panthers' lead back to double digits, 55-43. TGT were never able to get over the hump and never held a lead in the contest.
Carey and Flagg led the Panthers with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Ryan Yearwood chipped in with 9 points. Adams was the number two scorer for TGT with 24 points.
The Panthers (2) will face NIA Prep on Saturday at 9AM.
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