LuHi Routs Baldwin
Devonte Green Honored
The much anticipated matchup between two of Long Island’s best teams turned out to be anticlimactic, with host and #2 ranked LuHi leading wire to wire, pulling away from #3 Baldwin for an impressive 71-48 victory. LuHi star Devonte Green was honored at the game for becoming only the 12th player in Long Island boys basketball history to score over 2,000 points in his career. Baldwin made a game of it most of the way, with Shane Gatling nailing a right wing three right off the tap and then scoring a fast break basket for an early 5-2 lead, but Green’s two free throws and Charles Manning’s two free throws gave the Crusaders the lead - a lead they would never relinquish. Green’s drive from the left wing made it 9-5 LuHi, but Elijah Bovell caught an inbound pass, curled to the basket off a screen and scored to bring Baldwin back within 2 with 3 minutes to play in the opening quarter. The Crusaders started to get some separation on a deep left wing three by Manning, a coast to coast basket by Green, and a putback by Chris Coalman that made it 18-9, and that was the score with one quarter complete. Justin Caldwell kept it close with a foul line jumper for the Bruins, but Harrison Warnock answered with a baseline jumper and Coalman drilled a right wing three and it was Lutheran by 12. Rhoden’s three from the right wing kept Baldwin within striking distance, but a Donatas Kupsas jumper from the right wing and a Brandon Jacobs runner down the right side of the lane stretched the lead to 27-14 with 4:44 to go in the half. Coalman made it 33-18 with a three from the left wing, and after a flagrant foul call against the Bruins, Green knocked down two free throws and it was 35-18 LuHi and taking on the feel of a blow-out. Gatling was determined not to let it happen, drilling a much needed three from the right wing, and then his two free throws cut it to 35-24 at the half and Baldwin was still alive. Kupsas opened the second half with a right elbow jumper, and then Green’s fast break basket, Rojaye Campbell’s hook from the low post, and another elbow jumper by Kupsas and the Crusaders led 45-24 at the 4:49 mark of the quarter and Baldwin was in trouble once again. Rhoden tried to start something for the Bruins with a runner from the right wing, but Campbell’s basket from underneath and a putback by Kupsas and the hole deepened. Gatling continued to battle against the tide, hitting a baseline 3, and then a driving hook shot by Daryl Rose and a putback by Zion Stephens cut it to 53-37 and there was still some hope for the Baldwin faithfull. The margin was 17 as the third quarter concluded, and Gatling kicked off the fourth quarter with a steal and fast basket to bring the Bruins back within 15, but Green’s three from straight on, putbacks by Campbell and Kupsas, and a basket from underneath by Kupsas made it 65-41 with 5:14 to play and the game was finally out of reach. Kupsas led all scorers with 20 points, and he also hauled down 10 rebounds, Green finished with 15 points, and Campbell with 11. Gatling led the Bruins with 19 and Rhoden had 16. Nobody else on their team had more than a basket. BOX SCORE
LONG ISLAND'S HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
