Unheralded Campus Magnet upsets Cardozo

As Cardozo was figuratively being fitted for their crown, and Forest Hills and Thomas Edison mentioned as possible challengers to the throne, Campus Magnet was an afterthought.
The preseason prognostications did not bother the senior-laden Bulldogs. Even though all the Rangers and Inventors had really accomplished were impressive seasons in the lower ‘A’ division, although Edison did win the Queens title, shocking Campus in the final. The Judges, who didn’t even reach the borough finals last March and lost two key components - forward James Southerland and guard Chris Hampton - were reloading an almost completely new group, too.
Campus, meanwhile, returned 10 players, including their starting all-senior backcourt of Mennon Chavis and Nathaniel Wilson. While others received the notoriety, the Bulldogs contently remained under the radar.
“I just laughed,” Chavis said, “because they can have all the publicity, but you still got to play basketball.”
The broad grin remained, particularly after Campus shocked the Judges, 66-63, at Cardozo last Thursday to improve to 4-0 in league play.
Coming from 14 points behind in the second quarter, the Bulldogs became the first borough opponent to knock off the Oakland Gardens school in the regular season since Hillcrest achieved the feat January of 2001.
Longtime Campus Coach Charles Granby played down the upset, as his way. After all, he pointed out, Campus did not play Cardozo in the regular season until the PSAL formed the Queens ‘AA’ supervision and beat them for the borough championship two years ago.
His jubilant players said otherwise, noting that the coach had the game circled on the calendar in his office.
“Of course he’s been waiting for this day,” said Wilson, who had 14 points and 18 assists. “This was our season right here. I’ve been here four years and this is the first time beating them here.”
Last season, Wilson and Chavis (game-high 23 points) felt they let down last year’s leaders, Malachi Peay and Keith McAllister, not only losing to Edison in the borough finals but also bowing out in the second round of the playoffs to JFK.
“We knew we had to step up,” Chavis said, and their victory did not look like a fluke.
While the Judges’ frenetic pace unnerved the Bulldogs early, the even play of Wilson and Chavis - not to mention sophomore guard Sasha Clarida (13 points) - steadied them late. The emergence of 6-foot-8 center Kyle O’Quinn (12 points, 11 rebounds) coupled with the defensive work of sixth man Dexter Jones - “Lock-up Dex,” the nickname bestowed upon him for his work during practices on Chavis - on Judges’ senior guard Trinity Fields (17 points), the result was not the least bit surprising. Particularly when factoring in the seven new players Cardozo Coach Ron Naclerio is working into his rotation, kids who arrived with visions of grandeur, but may not be ready to accept a supporting role.
“I’m going to find out,” Naclerio glumly predicted, “who really wants to be a part of this.”
The early-season meeting presented a stark dichotomy between the two clubs. Cardozo, with all their talented yet impatient transfer students, and Campus, a program built on homegrown players who have waited their turn.
“It always helps when you have a senior group,” said Granby, in his 39th year at the Cambria Heights school. “They all know one another.”
Campus drove home another point to the borough - and city to boot - with this inspired performance, not to mention their impressive start.
“It sends a message to everybody,” Wilson said. “Nobody thought we were going to beat Cardozo.”
“We,” he later added, “showed who is No. 1.”