LIC Outlasts Van Buren In Christmas Classic

In the 1st Queens Jam Christmas Classic, hosted by John Bowne High School, Long Island City’s Steven Marfe gave his teammates the greatest present of all - a significant victory.
In a game featuring two of last year’s playoff teams, each of whom lost much of their starting lineup to graduation, it was Marfe, a senior, who led the way.
Marfe, who sparked a 23-2 second-quarter run with a pair of slam dunks, was named the game’s MVP, scoring 32 points, dishing out seven assists and making five steals as LIC (9-3, 3-2 Queens I-A) rolled to a 57-47 win over Martin Van Buren. Junior Gregory Burgess added 11 points and nine rebounds and junior center Kresimi Knez had 14 points. Junior guard Darwyn Lynch led the Vee Bees (4-4, 3-2 Queens III-A) with 16 points.
In the opener, Newtown blasted Brandeis, 61-38, behind Arki Wisnu’s 17 points. Vere Deloach earned MVP honors, scoring 15 points and handing out five assists for the Pioneers (5-6, 0-5 Queens I-A).
Host John Bowne fell to Art & Design, 55-47. William Williams led the Wildcats (5-3, 4-2 Queens II-A) with 18 points and 18 rebounds, Collis Banks and Michael Bruce each added 11 points in defeat. Darryl Burns won the game’s MVP, combining with Anthony Sanders for 17 points in the fourth quarter for Art & Design (5-4, 4-4, Manhattan East).