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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Jump shots are always important in basketball, but they were paramount for Brooklyn Law and Tech last Wednesday.
The Jets’ new offensive opportunities were limited with 6-foot-9, Drexel-bound center Tyshawn Miles patrolling the paint for top-seeded Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School.
“We are only getting one [shot],” said Brooklyn Law coach Kenny Pretlow. “There is a reason they are the No. 1 seed — and he is 6-foot-9.”
His undersized club kept itself in the game but saw a late run fall short in 64–54 loss in the Public School Athletic League Class AA boys’ basketball semifinals at Lehman College on March 12.
No. 5 Brooklyn Law and Tech pulled to as close as 51–45, thanks to a three-point play by Matthew Scott with 4:52 to go in the game. But the Jets could not trim the lead any further as quick shots — including a long trey from Juan Ramos — gave the Wolves a chance to regroup.
“We can’t take the first available shot when you are out-manned on the boards the way we were going to be,” Pretlow said.
The same thing happened in the second quarter. Brooklyn Law and Tech (16–4) used a quick 6–0 run to cut its deficit to 41–33 late in the frame. Ramos recorded a three-point play and a driving layup during the spurt. Washington Heights Expeditionary (24–0) scored the next four points and took a 45–33 advantage into the half.
“As we kept cutting the lead down, we started taking bad shots and letting them get layups,” the Niagara-bound Scott said.
Scott scored a game-high 28 points and Ramos added 14 for Brooklyn Law and Tech.
Emile Lewis tallied 26 points and Eddy Polanco had 12 for the Wolves. Isaiah Resto chipped in 10 points.
The Jets tried to pack in its defense and was able to control Miles, but Washington Heights Expeditionary’s perimeter players did more than enough damage and the Wolves scored off Brooklyn Law and Tech’s misses in transition.
“I thought when we were able to get back and set our defense we did a great job,” Pretlow said. “I thought the majority of their points were on run outs.”
The coach was proud of his kids for advancing a round further into the playoffs than last year and playing right with the top seed. He felt they gave him everything they had, even if they felt they came up a little short.
“This is my first year getting to a final four, so it was an accomplishment, but we wanted to win a championship,” Scott said. “We felt like we could win today.”