See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Nazareth senior star Samson Usilo said beforehand that he wouldn’t playing in the team’s contest with first-place Monsignor Scanlanon on Tuesday because of a sprained knee.
Teammate Tishsean Emmanuel never believed him.
“You know he will play through anything, “ Emmanuel said. “The only thing that is going to keep him out is if he can’t walk. Once he’s walking, he’s good.”
The Manhattan-bound Usilo walked into the locker room on Jan. 14 and announced that he would suit up despite his knee, and the turned in a sensational performance.
He scored 19 of his 30 points in the first half of the Kingsmen’s convincing 62–37 victory over visiting Scanlan in Catholic High School Athletic Association Class A boys’ basketball. Usilo threw down thunderous dunks, was a major factor on defense, and showed an explosive first step to the hoop.
“It’s hard to tell he’s hurt,” Emmanuel said.
Usilo said he couldn’t miss the game for several seasons, even after reinjuring the knee three days earlier in a non-league win over St. John the Baptist. Not least is the fact that the Kingsmen lineup (6–4, 2–1) has been without center Samson Akilo for the last four games — and could be for 2–3 weeks more — because of excess fluid in his leg.
Nazareth, the defending Catholic State ‘A’ champions, was also looking to bounce back in league play after an overtime loss to Bishop Ford.
Scanlan (7–4, 3–1), which won the state Federation Class B crown last season, was unbeaten in division play after being moved up. It is one of the teams expected to challenge Nazareth for it crown.
The Kingsmen broke open the contest with a 13–1 third-quarter run powered by its press and capped by Usilo feeding Ahmad Alkhulaidi for a transition layup.
“This is a game I have really been waiting for,” Usilo said. “I cant’ just back down and not play,”
The victory didn’t come with out help. Sophomores Kobe Teleford and Dante Pulido held their own against highly recruited Scanlan big Jonathan Nwanko. Emmanuel opened up the driving lanes by scoring 19 points and connected on three treys. A long-range shooter is a weapon the Kingsmen didn’t have last season.
“He’s the X-factor,” Nazareth coach Todd Jamison said of Emmanuel. “When he is playing well we are tough to beat. He’s a tremendous threat from three-point range.”
His team wanted to show it remains a major factor in the championship picture with a statement win against one of the league’s top teams.
“There are some good teams and we have an X on our back,” Jamison said. “Everyone wants what we have.”