By Mitch Abramson
It was the type of highlight an NBA player might have used to get on SportsCenter, with the layup replaced by a ferocious dunk. What stood out in the play, aside from Brutus' athleticism, was that the entire defensive unit had their backs to Brutus when he made the play: they never saw him coming.The same could be said of No. 4 Wings Academy, which led by as many as 23 points and thoroughly dominated No. 13 Campus Magnet 62-54 in a scrappy, hard-fought contest Friday in its Bronx backyard of Lehman College to advance to the quarterfinals .With Campus Magnet bowing out, the curtain completely fell on Queens in the tournament. Bayside was knocked out by Wadleigh 71-64 last Thursday and Lincoln took down Long Island City 79-61; Bryant and Springfield Gardens were also second round victims. Even No. 3 Cardozo, whose coach, Ron Naclerio, ominously watched Campus Magnet (23-6) from up in the bleachers, lost in a wild upset to Grady, 89-83 after making the city final a year ago.”We were the last of the Mohicans,” Campus Magnet's coach, Chuck Granby said after the game. “They did nothing we hadn't gone over before the game, but that team was just more aggressive than we were accustomed to. When you play a team from the Bronx, even if it's a pick-up game, they play hard. I know – I grew up in the Bronx. This is a different type of kid that we're talking about. Basketball is a way of life for them. It's not that Queens' kids aren't good, it's that they don't play hard (enough).”He added: “I tell kids that when we leave the borough, we're playing a different kind of animal, one who is going to bring out the pressure.”Evan Thomas, who scored 14 points for Campus Magnet, also addressed the “ice Queens” label.”It's true. When we play other teams from Queens in the regular season, they're softer and don't apply as much pressure. When you come to the Bronx, Wings was denying everything (defensively).”Wings' style of play definitely supported Granby and Thomas' thinking. The Bronx school pitches an up-tempo, frenetic style that rivals the sheer adrenaline-rush of Cardozo's offense. Wings (23-5) pressed from the opening tip and the Bulldogs reacted like it was something they had never seen before. Campus Magnet committed 10 turnovers in the first half and was the victim of a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter that put them in a 29-15 hole. They trailed 36-21 at halftime.”We weren't expecting them to play like that,” said Rondu Stevens, Campus Magnet's only senior in the starting lineup who expects to attend a prep school next year. “I felt like some of the players were a little nervous coming out.”The Bulldogs whittled the lead down to 52-44 with three minutes remaining on a Josiah Peay layup from a steal, but Jacques Rivera answered with a pair of baskets and Brutus, who scored 17 points, converted two free throws to quell the surge.”Anytime we get into a game where it's scrappy and both teams are chasing after loose balls, I always feel that that benefits us,” said Wings coach Anthony Bergeron. “A lot of people who beat our press early think that they can run with us, but they always seem to get tired in the end.”Grady 89, Cardozo 83. Vic Morris had 33 points, but fouled out with 3:46 left in overtime as No. 3 Cardozo (23-7) fell to 14th-seeded Grady (20-7) in a second round game at Elmcor last Thursday. Randy Burns had 22 points and Damien Santana added 21 for Grady.Wadleigh 71, Bayside 64. Patrick Hazel recorded his third straight triple-double (16 points, 14 rebounds, 10 blocks), J.J. Garvin had 18 points and brother B.J. Garvin added 13 for No. 25 Bayside (17-6), which led 36-25 at the half last Thursday at Elmcor. Jarrel Mills had 26 points for No. 9 Wadleigh.Lincoln 79, Long Island City 61. Silvio Marfe scored 27 points and Preston Bell had 19 points for No. 16 LIC in a second round 'A' playoff game March 2 at Hunter College.Manhattan Center 64, Bryant 46. Tony Dennison led No. 26 Bryant (20-8) with 24 points in an 'A' second round playoff game at Hunter College on March 2 against No. 10 Manhattan Center (25-4).Frederick Douglass Academy 78, Springfield Gardens 63. Charles Jenkins scored 19 points and handed out 12 assists for No. 18 Springfield Gardens in a second round playoff game March 2 at Hunter College against No. 2 Frederick Douglass.Jane Addams 77, Robert F. Wagner 63. Carl Wardlaw scored 31 points for No. 15 Wagner in a second round PSAL 'B' playoff game March 2 at Jane Addams, seeded second.Reach reporter Mitch Abramson by E-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 130.
