By Marc Raimondi
The Cardozo senior point guard averaged 22 points per game this weekend at the inaugural SNY Invitational held at NYU's Coles Sports Center. The tournament aired live on the regional sports network partially owned by the New York Mets and the Judges came in second place after losing to the PSAL's best team, Lincoln, Saturday night.”He's taken the star role,” said Edy Toussaint, who transferred with Fields after the 2005-06 season. “He's taken his game to the next level.”Fields was the star. The Iona-bound Jamaica native performed better than any player in the tournament not named Lance Stephenson. Stephenson, of course, is New York City's best players and one of the most sought-after juniors in the country. Fields has certainly come into his own. He's played on television before, when his Westchester Hawks AAU team made the national championship game. But it was nothing like this, with the spotlight firmly on him.”This is different,” Fields said. “My family (is here), my neighborhood (is here). This is exciting.”And he didn't disappoint. He had 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting – including 3-of-6 from three-point range – in Cardozo's 59-45 win over Frederick Douglass Academy Friday night. He added 23 more against Stephenson and the Railsplitters in the Judges' 86-55 loss Saturday.”The Trinny I know could always shoot,” Cardozo coach Ron Naclerio said. “He knows my rule – if he has an open shot, take it.”Cardozo is hoping to get plenty of those for him starting Tuesday, when the PSAL Queens Borough playoffs start. The Judges fell in the semifinals last year to Thomas Edison, then a Class A team, and they don't want a repeat. The SNY Invitational performance was nice, but Cardozo still has more league losses (three) than it has had in over 20 years.Reach Associate Sports Editor Marc Raimondi by e-mail at mraimondi@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
