Harborfields Holds Off Deer Park
All New York State player Rob Pecorelli Returns after illness.
Host Class A Harborfields gave up the lead, but they rallied past Class AA Deer Park and held on for a hard fought 60-56 victory in a classic December non-league matchup. Harborfields was ahead pretty much throughout the first half, going up 13-7 on Pecorelli’s right wing jumper and a fast break basket by Alex Bloom off a turnover. A putback by Princeton Louis cut it to 14-9 at the first quarter buzzer, and then Darien Jenkins opened the second quarter with two free throws, making it a 3 point game, but Malcolm Wynter answered with a three pointer from the left wing, and then his pull-up jumper and second three pointer made it 24-14 Tornadoes with 3:45 to go in the half. Andre Edwards cut the margin to single digits with a three pointer for the Falcons from the left wing, but Kyle Stolba and Wynter both knocked down their own left wing threes and Harborfields had their biggest lead at 32-19. A baseline drive by Louis cut it to 32-21 at the half. Danny Morgan’s left wing drive and it was Harborfields by 13 again as the second half got underway, but Donnell Louissaint answered right away with a basket from underneath, the first of 9 consecutive points he would score, and he followed it with a left wing three pointer, two free throws, and baseline drive to bring Deer Park within 4 still early in the third quarter. Pecorelli broke the run with a basket from underneath off a nice dish from Nick Mitchell, and Bloom’s three made it 39-32 Harborfields with 3:36 to play in the quarter, but Louissaint found a loose ball underneath and scored again, Josh Pismeny added a putback, and Louissaint converted a three point play to make it 39 all. Wynter’s left wing 3 was the difference down the stretch as the quarter concluded, and we headed into the fourth quarter with Harborfields clinging to a 1 point lead. Brett Talbert’s nice hesitation move on a baseline drive tied it at 45 early in the fourth, and his free throw and one by Louis put Deer Park in front, but it was short lived. Wynter split the defense and scored, Picorelli hauled in a long rebound, drove baseline and scored, Morgan drilled a baseline three pointer, and Mitchell another baseline three and the Tornadoes were back in front 55-47 with 3:50 remaining. Jenkins started the Falcon comeback with two free throws at the 3:41 mark and Pismeny added two more shooting 1 and 1 to make it a 4 point game with 2:23 on the clock, but Alex Merhige held them off with a running hook shot from the left wing. Lewis spun out of the low post and scored to bring Deer Park back within 4 with 1:48 showing, but Merhige answered again, this time scoring off a left baseline drive and then converting the three point play to make it 60-53 Harborfields with 1:09 to play. Jenkins would not concede, knocking down a deep three from behind the right elbow to cut it to 60-56 at the 56 second mark, but neither team could find the basket in the final seconds and that’s the way it ended. Wynter led Harborfields with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, Merhige had 11 points, and Mitchell 10. Louis led all scorers with 17 for Deer Park, Louissaint had 14 and Jenkins 11. BOX SCORE
LONG ISLAND'S HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
