Golden Eagles Are Ready For Rivals

Charles Jenkins beat Campus Magnet for the first time this summer. But getting past them during the high school season, and not in A.A.U. ball, is where it counts, he says.
“I want to beat them with my school name on my chest.”
When Jenkins walks through the halls at Springfield Gardens, eats lunch, goes to class, or sits in the library, he hears the same questions. After every win, no matter how impressive, he listens to the same queries.
What about Campus Magnet? When are you playing them?
“Everybody wants us to beat them,” he said after leading the Golden Eagles to another significant win, 82-71, over Lehman in the PSAL Borough Challenge Saturday afternoon in the Bronx. “That’s the talk around the school.”
Although Springfield Gardens won Queens III-A last season, they lost to the Bulldogs three times - including in the semifinals of the borough playoffs.
In fact, Jenkins, the 6-foot-3 guard out of Jamaica, has yet to beat the Bulldogs since arriving at the southeastern Queens school as a sophomore. Dating back to 2002, Campus Magnet has beaten Springfield Gardens eight consecutive times.
Because of Jenkins, an all-city candidate, and his backcourt mate, Trevor Marson, the next time the two teams meet may be different.
“We’re looking forward to beating them this time,” Marson said. “That’s our rival. We’re confident this year we’re going to do it.”
Against Lehman, the duo showed why Campus Magnet could be in trouble. Combining for 40 points and 13 assists, they made a tight game in the opening quarter a blowout, combining for an 11-0 run to end the quarter. After that, the result was never in doubt.
Shooting from the perimeter, pressuring opposing guards, getting into the lane and going to the free-throw line, Marson and Jenkins, a pair of seniors starting together for the second consecutive season, are right up there with some of the city’s elite guard tandems.
“That was our goal last season, to be a great backcourt this year,” said Jenkins, who had 21 points and eight assists. Derrick Moore added 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The Golden Eagles (9-1, 6-0 Queens III-A) still have five league games left until their January 20th showdown with Campus Magnet. But the anticipation, at least on their end, is already building.
“We definitely look at those games, it’s hard not to,” Springfield Gardens Coach Angelo Buono said. “They’re excited, they’re pumped up.”