Photo courtesy of Cheick Fofana Photography.
By David Cordova
For the last few seasons, Wings Academy has been the most formidable powerhouse in the PSAL Bronx “AA” division, as they always steamroll through the competition in their league year in and year out. Going undefeated gives them a chance to get ready for the tougher battles that they will face in the impending PSAL borough playoffs.
Coming into this game, the Wings were 13-0 in the PSAL and 18-4 overall. They would match up against a Wadleigh team from Harlem that had plenty of youth, but were tough as nails and were very scrappy. This game between the two teams from different boroughs would make for a tough game from start to finish, as both sides showed their toughness, but one team would walk away as the winner.
Wings 63, Wadleigh 54
The Wings started out with a potent offensive attack, as they led, 9-2, with 4:42 to go in the first quarter, after a three-pointer by senior Jose Perez. Their strong play would lead them to a 19-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Then Wadleigh would turn the corner, as they would then cut the deficit to nine, 21-12, with more than five minutes left in the game. The Tigers would then cut the deficit to six, 21-15, with more than four minutes to go.
But from then on, Wings would then capitalize on the struggles of the Tigers, but building a large lead, 30-15, with more than three minutes remaining. Then the Tigers would cut the deficit to 30-21, which would then be the lead at the half.
Wadleigh would then step their game up with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter, as they would get to witting four, 30-26. Although Wings would bring up another large lead, the Tigers would continue to stay at their heels, as they would get to within two, 41-39, with more than two minutes to go.
Sophomore guard Elijah Wynn would tie the score for the Tigers, at 41-41, with 50 seconds to go in the quarter. But in the fourth quarter, Wings would once again build a double-digit lead, 55-45, with less than five minutes to go. But that would be all they needed to hold the game down emerge as the victors.
Perez would lead Wings with 18 points and senior Elijah Chapman would add 13 points. For Wadleigh, junior Bol Bak led with 18 points and junior Samuel Davis would add 15 points in the loss.
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