By Joseph Staszewski
Ryan Pearson thought the Nike Pro City championship had slipped away as the ball sailed through his hands under the basket.
The former Christ the King star and Far Rockaway native had what appeared to be an open shot blocked in the paint with his team leading by one with less than 20 seconds to play in overtime. Pearson, who scored nine points, saved the championship and himself on the next play. He poked away an inbound pass to Jai Lewis under the basket and grabbed the ball just along the sideline before it went out of bounds.
“The pass was kind of soft and he gave me an opportunity to jump on it,” Pearson said. “I just got my hands on it and chased it down.”
His Franchise/Sean Bell teammate Zamal Nixon, who scored a team-high 25 points, was fouled and made two free throws to seal a thrilling 98-95 comeback win over Big Apple Basketball in the Nike Pro City title game Aug. 8 at Baruch College. It was a moment of redemption for the 6-foot-6 Pearson to help win the crown jewel of the city’s Nike summer ball circuit.
“I was upset at myself that I got my shot blocked on the previous play,” he said. “You always say to yourself you have to get it back.”
It completed a comeback from 11 points down early in the fourth quarter for the undefeated Queens-based program. Former St. Francis Prep star Rashad Bell added 10 points and Omar Cook, who played at CK and St. John’s University, had a key steal at the end of regulation to help Sean Bell tie to score at 92-92.
“We had to dig down deep and play real tough,” said Sean Bell Coach Rah Wiggins, who won in his first season coaching in the league.
For Pearson, the win was another big moment in his first year as a professional. He played with Hoverla in the Ukraine this season after winning Colonel Athletic Association Player of the Year at George Mason. Pearson averaged 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for Hoverla last season. He will move up in competition and is looking forward to playing for Maccabi Ashdod in Israel this coming year. He has only heard good things about playing there.
“I’ve never hear a bad report about [Israel],” Pearson said.
His Sean Bell teammates had plenty for him, too, and his big steal came when they needed it most.
“It was huge,” Nixon said. “I think that really sealed the game for us.”
