#5 Baldwin Upsets #2 Elmont 47-44
To Capture the Nassau County Class AA Crown
By Dave Graff
When Baldwin moved to AA this year after winning four straight AAA county titles, a match up against Elmont, the defending AA NYS champions seemed inevitable. Elmont won a close game when the two teams met on Dec. 28th at Baldwin 69-61 and was riding a 16 game winning streak coming into this championship game re-match. Baldwin held Elmont to 25 fewer points than it scored in their first game, got big stops in the 4th quarter and won a tightly contested game at the buzzer to win their 5th consecutive County title. The Bruins upset two higher seeds (#1 Great Neck South and #2 Elmont) on their way to the championship.
Baldwin came out playing a mix of man to man and matchup zone which confused Elmont. The Bruins did a great job of denying Elmont’s big man Ebubenna Nwabudu the ball and swarmed him when he did receive it. Chase Timberlake (8pts) and Gabriel Phillips (4pts) scored all of Baldwins points in the quarter which ended with Baldwin leading 12-5.
In the second quarter Elmont’s size and depth became a factor. Aaron Kelly came off the bench to start it off with an and one, Arlyn Brown followed with a three, Kaedon Brown and Khalil Muhammad hit floaters and the game was tied at 15. The teams traded baskets and the game was tied 3 more times before Arlyn Brown (9pts in the quarter) scored before the buzzer giving Elmont a 25-22 lead at halftime. The Spartans outscored the Bruins in the 2nd quarter 20-10.
The third quarter was a defensive struggle for both teams. Vaughdrea Johnson scored 7pts underneath for the Bruins and Jordan Cook had 5 pts for the Spartans, each team had 9 pts in the quarter and Elmont went into the 4th quarter leading 34-31.
In the fourth quarter Gabriel Phillips put in an offensive rebound, Jordan Williams scored an and one on the break and Baldwin had tied the game at 36. The teams traded baskets down to the two-minute mark when free throws by Chase Timberlake and Ethan Sainsbury put Baldwin up by three 45-42. In the next minute Elmont had three possessions to tie the game but Baldwin made a defensive stand each time. At the other end Elmont’s Nassir Edwards blocked a shot and the Spartans got a steal to keep their chances alive. With 16 seconds left Arlyn Brown was fouled on a 3 pt attempt and went to the line with a chance to tie the game. Brown made 2 out of 3 pulling Elmont within one at 45-44. Elmont pressed but was forced to foul Chase Timberlake who calmly sank both shots giving Baldwin a 47-44 lead with 8 seconds left. Elmont got a 3-pt. shot off at the buzzer which fell short and Baldwin and their fans celebrated. Baldwin outscored Elmont 16-10 in the 4th quarter.
Chase Timberlake led the Bruins with 18 pts, Gabriel Phillips had 10pts. and played tough D inside. Baldwin held Ebubenna Nwabudu to 8pts. Arlyn Brown led the Spartans with 11 pts.
Baldwin will play Amityville in the AA Long Island Championship game this Tuesday March 11th at Farmingdale State at 7pm. A trip upstate awaits the winner.
