By Phil Foley
The Palisade Prep Boys Basketball team had their first game on Saturday February 20th 2021 and then continued on to play four more games in the last week. Due to the covid-19 pandemic the season is much shorter this year. The team has only a few weeks to squeeze in twelve games. After the first week the boys record is sitting at 2-3 with two wins over city & league rival the Yonkers Montessori Academy Eagles and three losses outside of the City of Yonkers.
The Phoenix opened up at home, hosting the nearby Bronxville Broncos. They Phoenix lost by a final score of 54-37. The boys got off to a slow start offensively in their first action in exactly one year. Junior Deneli McIntosh led the Phoenix with 11 points, senior Yave Cruz added 9 and fellow senior Isaiah Bray add 8.
Monday February 22 the boys team traveled to Bronxville and complete the home and home series, and lost that match-up. Bouncing back the boys hosted YMA on Wednesday. The Phoenix beat their city rival by a final score of 67-53. Seniors Yave Cruz (28 points and 10 rebounds) and Isaiah Bray (16 points and 13 rebounds) both had double-doubles to overpower the Eagles of YMA. On Friday the Phoenix travel over to YMA for the second part of the home and home series.
The rematch again went to the Phoenix, final score 61-42. Yave Cruz had another double-double with 27 points, 13 rebounds and also 4 assists. Fellow senior Isaiah Bray also added in 12 points and 14 rebounds, while junior guard Deneli McIntosh was just shy of a double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds.
Saturday the boys hosted the Westlake Wildcats from Thornwood, NY. After jumping out to an early lead, the Phoenix fell behind with Yave Cruz in first half foul trouble and an injury sidelining Deneli McIntosh. The boys battled all game long as the score went back and forth but a late run by Westlake gave them the win, by a final score of 54-44. In addition to Bray, Cruz and McIntosh, the Phoenix have been seeing great minutes from senior guard Curtis Terry, Sophomore guard Xavier Merrill and senior forward Marvin Alexandre. The boys are back in action with four more games this week before the Yonkers City Tournament begins on Sunday March 7th.
At Lincoln High School, the Lincoln Lancers 13-game Yonkers City League winning streak came to a screeching halt this afternoon on their home court as they were steamrolled by Yonkers High School 75-43.
The Bulldogs took control of the game from the opening tip as the Lancers were thoroughly outplayed from the cradle to the grave. Ball movement, knocking down open looks, and offensive rebounding were the hallmarks of Yonkers High’s offense; meanwhile, Lincoln was unable to generate anything offensively or defensively until the 4th quarter.
Senior Tyjae Lyles was Lincoln’s lone offensive spark with 14 points. But his effort did little to offset Yonkers High’s Big 2: Aliou Cisse (23 points) and Adrian Rraci (19 points, five 3’s).
The teams meet again this Saturday morning at 11am at Yonkers High School.
At Lincoln High School, the 2-0 Lincoln Lancers extended their Yonkers League winning streak to 13 games this afternoon when they knocked off Riverside 73-52. It has been over two calendar years since Lincoln was last defeated by one of their city league rivals (Feb. 11, 2019 at Gorton).
The Lancers knocked down 13 threes in the first three quarters en route to a 69-31 lead before a furious 4th quarter rush by a young Riverside Rams team that never gave up.
Lincoln was led by senior point guard Jacob Swift and sophomore gunner Derrick Martinez, both with 17. Riverside’s Marcus Walters led all scorers with 19.
In Girls HS Basketball, Saunders high school recently won against Riverside high school, 54-40. For Saunders, Freshman Alyssa Febres scored 27 pts, and Isabella Aliaj added 13 pts. For Riverside Kanijah Jacobs had 26 points ,Destiny Norman added 12 points Saunders is now 4-0 this season
