No Epiphany for Patriots-Francis Lewis falls to Murry Bergtraum again in title game

Over the last six years, Francis Lewis has compiled the third-best record in New York State at 153-24. Still, only Queens-A division and borough title banners hang in their gymnasium.
That’s because of the presence of the eight-time defending PSAL champions Murry Bergtraum and their All-American guard Epiphanny Prince. If not for both of them, Francis Lewis might be in the midst of a dynasty.
Unfortunately, Prince and the Lady Blazers do exist, and they painfully reminded the Patriots of their one-sided rivalry early Sunday morning, topping the Queens school, 81-66, at Madison Square Garden in the PSAL Class A title game for the fifth time in six years.
This one was the most agonizing. Francis Lewis actually was competitive this time; they trailed the Lady Blazers by just three early in the third quarter, only to be vanquished by a 12-0 Bergtraum run. “The 12-0 run came at a bad time,” Francis Lewis Coach Michael Eisenberg said. “I thought we had another run in us. [But] we didn’t shoot the ball as well in the second half. … No one likes to lose. Every year we come here to win.”
This year was no different, but this may be the Lady Blazers’ best team, as Eisenberg suggested last week. While Prince, the Rutgers recruit who set an all-time record with 113 points in a 105-point blowout win over Brandeis, was brilliant as usual, earning MVP honors with 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, her supporting cast blew the game open. In the momentum-turning spurt, she contributed just a 3-pointer. Junior guard Erica Morrow had a three-point play, center Adrian Randall scored inside, forward Shakeya Leary added a basket and Shanee Williams also scored.
Only a sophomore, Leary was a difference maker. In past seasons the Patriots had a decided edge in the paint, but the wide-bodied Leary scored 19 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked four shots while Morrow added 19 points and five assists. “We didn’t mind if [Prince] got 30,” Eisenberg said. “But we were just hoping none of their other three would hurt us. Leary hurt us a lot.”
Unlike past seasons, Francis Lewis handled Bergtraum’s full court pressure well. Only a handful of their 20 turnovers were forced by the press. “We were better this year against the press, but not perfect,” Eisenberg said. “If we ever get it perfect, maybe we can beat them.”
The sophomore point guard Sylvia Davis, academically ineligible last year, was integral, scoring 15 of her team-high 18 points in the first half, helping to keep the Patriots within shouting distance at 42-38 by halftime. “Even though we lost,” Davis said, “we played hard.”
But once again, like their previous four losses here at the Garden to Bergtraum, Lewis couldn’t counter the Lady Blazers’ run. They shot just 21% in the fateful third quarter, after shooting close to 50 % before halftime, settling for long jumpers instead of pounding the ball inside and turned the ball over five times. “We played a good game; we just didn’t make good decisions,” said forward Vionca Murray, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds. “We could’ve won this game. … I’m happy the way my team played, but we could’ve played better.”