Before the year began, CSI/McCown had not only failed to reach the playoffs, but it had never enjoyed a winning season.
What a difference a few months can make. The 10th-seeded Dolphins finished third in Staten Island A, picked up their first playoff win earlier in the week and on Friday rallied past Brooklyn A West champion and No. 7 Global Studies, 58-56, to reach the PSAL Class A quarterfinals.
With star senior Quamaine Tomlin slowed by an ankle injury, Joseph Ojo pumped in a team-high 19 points. Tomlin and Chris Frank followed with 13 points apiece and Schwartzen Jarmond had nine.
“It’s a testament to how hard these kids work,” CSI/McCown coach Ray Palma said. “They bought into the program. First we had to learn how not to get blown out, then we had to learn how to stay in a game, then we had to learn how to win. … This means everything. All the hard work has been worth it.”
CSI/McCown (17-9) was down four in the final minute, but took the lead after a basket, Tomlin steal and free throw and Brandon O’Keefe hoop. Palma singled out the play of backup forward Louis Delgado, a sophomore who sees scarce playing time. After Tomlin picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter, Delgado filled in admirably.
“He didn’t score a point, but he was the MVP of the game because if he didn’t do what he did they could’ve gone on a big run,” Palma said. “When Tomlin came back into the game with five minutes left [in the fourth quarter], I gave him the biggest ovation I’ve ever given a kid.”
The win sends CSI/McCown into the final eight and joins Curtis as the only Staten Island boys basketball team still alive in postseason play. It will visit No. 2 Long Island City, last year’s runner-up, March 8 at 5 p.m.
“They’re a [great] team, but we’re going into the game expecting to win,” Palma said. “We’re happy, but we’re not satisfied. The kids were happy, but the biggest question [they asked me] was, ‘When do we play again, Coach?’”
Arkeem Joseph led Global Studies (14-4) with 15 points and Tabari Oyo had 11.
No. 2 Long Island City 63, No. 18 Law Technology 51: Xavier Jones had 20 points and four assists, Sadji Camara scored 15 points, Arthur Santanna had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Ernest Ali Nicol sank a huge 3-pointer to put LIC up four late. The Bulldogs (25-3) host No. 10 CSI/McCown in the quarterfinals March 8 at 5 p.m. Law Technology ends the year 17-9.
No. 3 Brooklyn Collegiate 80, No. 14 Telecommunications 66: Rashaad John sank five 3-pointers and dropped in 31 points, Ervin Mitchell had 26 points, seven rebounds and four steals, Adrian Williams had 10 points and Kirthly Reid tallied 13 assists for Brooklyn Collegiate (23-4). The Lions hosts No. 6 Springfield Gardens in the quarterfinals March 7 at 5 p.m. Telecom ends the year 11-5.
No. 6 Springfield Gardens 63, No. 11 DeWitt Clinton 48: Greg Williamson poured in 26 points and Dupree McBrayer had 15 points and six assists for Springfield Gardens (19-4), which will face third-seeded Brooklyn Collegiate in the quarterfinals March 7 at 5 p.m. Donahue Smith, Tyrone Codjoe and Veton Hasangjekaj each scored 12 points for Clinton (16-7).
CLASS B
No. 1 Pathways 73, No. 16 Tilden 57: Izaha Jackson and Sam Annorh Jr. each had 19 points and six assists and Jordan Washington added 13 points and 13 rebounds for Pathways (21-4), which hosts No. 8 School of the Future in the quarterfinals March 8 at 5 p.m. Tilden finishes its season at 15-6.
No. 2 Eleanor Roosevelt 87, No. 15 Bathgate 45: Taulant Ibraj had 26 points, Robert Borusiewicz added 13 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists and Kelly Gharty had 12 points for Eleanor Roosevelt (17-2), which led 37-20 at halftime and meets No. 7 WHEELS in the quarterfinals March 6 at 5 p.m. Steven Vasquez scored 16 points for Bathgate (14-6).
No. 5 Health Professions 83, No. 12 Albert Tuitt 72: Gelvis Solano made 17-of-26 free throws, scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Kwame McClatchie notched 17 points and 13 rebounds and Adedeji Lawal tallied 12 points for Health Professions (16-2), which takes on No. 20 BCAM in the quarterfinals March 7 at 5 p.m. Albert Tuitt wraps up the year at 18-3.
No. 8 School of the Future 61, No. 9 Renaissance 55: Maurice Gatson had 27 points and four assists for School of the Future (15-1), which takes on No. 1 Pathways, the defending ‘B’ champion, in the quarterfinals March 8 at 5 p.m. James Jeffries had 20 points and Prince Okyere added 16 points and six rebounds for Renaissance (14-5).
No. 20 BCAM 80, No. 4 Teachers Prep 70: Patrick Cross had 26 points, Armani Wynter and Chris Benjamin each scored 16 points and Lance Chadwick had 10 for BCAM (14-6), which faces No. 5 Health Professions in the quarterfinals March 7 at 5 p.m. Teachers Prep finishes at 19-2.
