By Dylan Butler
Forest Hills coach Isaac Baumfeld probably summed up his team's 77-57 loss, one that knocks the Rangers out of playoff contention, at Jamaica High School Friday afternoon, the best.
“We live and die with the three,” he said. “It's been like that all season. When we're hitting them, we're very good and when we're missing them, we're very bad.”
In the first half, the Rangers were hitting their threes, five to be exact. Leading the way was senior guard Sharanjeet Bal, who had 22 points on four treys, as Forest Hills went into the break ahead, 39-38.
But in the second half, instead of swish, the sound more often heard was clang, when the Rangers shot from long-range. And when Forest Hills was forced to drive to the basket, 6-foot-7 junior Nathaniel Parker, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks, was in their way.
“We wanted them to put the ball on the floor because we have 'The Eraser' there,” Jamaica head coach said of Parker. “He played a great game and I'm thrilled.”
Jamaica (13-9, 7-4 Queens I-A) also did a great job defending Forest Hills superstar Ronald Yates. Jon Towles (15 points, 14 rebounds), Sean Perry and Darryl Eilam (11 points) each stuck to Rangers' senior forward, who had just five points, all coming in the first half.
“We had to [step up on defense], because if we didn't, we wouldn't be in this position right now,” Parker said. “As soon as we stepped it up, it was all good.”
On the other end of the floor, the Beavers attacked the hoop against the smaller Rangers and usually it was Parker, Towles or the guard tandem of Orlando Biggers or Dave Brown (18 points, four assists, three steals) who scored driving layups.
“We wanted to go at Yates,” Thompson said. “We wanted to make him play defense so he couldn't just stand under the basket and rebound and then think of offense. We wanted to challenge him and hopefully get him in foul trouble and we did.”
In a game for the final playoff spot in Queens I-A, Jamaica held a slim 22-18 lead after the first quarter. The Beavers extended its lead to seven, 27-20 at the start of the second quarter when Brown went end-to-end with a layup and was fouled. The 5-foot-5 senior point guard connected on the free throw.
Forest Hills (11-12, 6-5) came all the way back and on Bal's fourth three of the first half, with just two seconds left, the Rangers went into the locker room ahead, 39-38.
The Rangers went ahead, 54-51, on a four-foot jumper by Josh Gojcaj 40 seconds into the fourth quarter. But from there, Forest Hills went ice cold from the field, not making a field goal in four minutes as Jamaica went on a 14-0 run.
After one made free throw by Brown, Biggers (13 points, 10 assists) nailed a three. Parker had a three-point play when he scored on a putback while getting fouled. Brown slashed through the middle, Biggers followed with a driving layup of his own while getting fouled. Brown's pull-up 14-foot jumper capped the scoring as the Beavers went ahead, 63-54.
“We saw that was their weakness on defense,” Brown said of Forest Hills' interior defense. “They were kind of little inside so we just tried to penetrate and get it to the big guys.”
Jamaica, which returns to the playoffs after the a one-year hiatus, went 7-for-10 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to seal the win.
“Last year is still in our hearts,” Thompson said. “That was such a devastating ending to a beautiful season. To be 15-4 and never win another game. This is a chance now for us to look at ourselves as a playoff team and try, one game at a time, to make this a memorable season.”
Newtown 61, Bryant 56. For the second straight season the Pioneers clinched the Queens I-A crown. Newtown (19-3, 10-1) was led by sophomore forward Charlie Villanueva's 19 points and 10 rebounds. Bryant falls to 10-11, 5-6.
Van Buren 64, August Martin 58. The VeeBees were led by senior guard Greg Dickerson, who scored 24 points, nine in overtime. Van Buren (14-6, 10-3 Queens II-A) is tied for second place with Campus Magnet. The Skyriders drop to 5-13, 3-10.
Hillcrest 61, Springfield Gardens 56. The Hawks clinched second place in Queens I-A with the win. Hillcrest (15-5, 8-3) were led by Dervent Williams' 18 points.
Franklin K. Lane 77, Richmond Hill 68. Robert Villanueva scored a game-high 34 points for the defending PSAL 'B' champions. Lane improves to 16-7, 8-3 Queens I-B). Richmond Hill falls to 9-13, 6-5.
Grover Cleveland 80, Newcomers 40. Hans Roman scored 21 points as the Indians doubled up Newcomers (4-16, 1-9 Queens I-B). Cleveland is now 11-8, 8-3.
LIC 98, American Studies 62. George Kalampos (29 points) and Alexis Cadiz (24 points) paced the Bulldogs. John Park had 29 points for winless American Studies (0-17, 0-13 Queens II-B). LIC improves to 13-8, 9-4.
John Adams 72, RFK 30. Led by Lyndon Noriega's 17 points and 11 rebounds, the Spartans clinched the Queens I-B crown. Jonathon Fox added 14 points for Adams (14-3, 10-1). RFK is now 4-16, 2-9.
Grover Cleveland 48, Lane 44. Mike Gerena scored 23 points and Juan Fortuna added 17 points for the Indians, which avenged its loss in last season's PSAL 'B' title game. Villanueva had 18 points for Lane.
Richmond Hill 67, Robert F. Wagner 58. Trevor Goriah had 22 points to lead Richmond Hill.
Newtown 70, Springfield Gardens 54. Max Colin had 14 points and eight assists for the Pioneers. Tyrone Shaw had 24 points for the Golden Eagles.
Bryant 76, Jamaica 75. Mohammad Mewafy had 26 points for Bryant.
Erasmus 69, Cardozo 64. Cliffone Ault had 29 points for Erasmus (17-3, 11-0 Brooklyn II-A). Cardozo was paced by Shabar Ewing's 19 points. Earlier in the week, the Judges wrapped up the Queens II-A title with a 100-66 victory over Campus Magnet. Ron Naclerio's team won its 45th straight league game Saturday with a 63-32 victory over Beach Channel.
