The Wings boys’ basketball team understands winning the borough title is an important step towards making a run at the city championship. It also knows it will need to play better if it plans on claiming the later after a number semifinal defeats in the citywide post season.
The Wings were up and down in a 78-56 win over Kennedy to claim their second straight crown in the PSAL Bronx title game at CCNY on Sunday They led just 25–17 at the half and saw Kennedy get as close as 54-46 in the fourth quarter. Turnage wants his group to be smarter and more consistent on both ends of the floors.
“I’m trying to get them to understand that in order for us to win the big championship and get over that semifinal hump we have to play better than the way we did today,” he said.
Turnage got a big second half from star center Jessie Govan. The junior scored 21 of his 24 points after the break. Govan, after being hurt by first-half foul trouble, was running the floor, hitting the glass and attacking the basket starting early in the third quarter. His dunk put Wings up 38-25 with 4:42 left in the frame.
“I felt like I wasn’t leading my team in the first half so I had to turn it up,” Govan said. “That’s what happened.”
The Wings (23-3) also saw senior guard Foday Sankaray score 13 of his 20 points in the second half and point guard Desure Buie added 11 points. Sankaray connected on a huge 3-pointer that put Wings up 59-46 with 5:25 remaining in the game. It was one of a number of big shots he hit on the night as defenses key on Govan and Buie
“It leaves me open.” Sankaray said. “I can make plays”
Kennedy, despite the loss, is playing its best basketball of the season. The Knights have won five of their last seven games, with both losses coming to Wings. Anthony Cruz tallied 15 points by hitting five of Kennedy’s 10 3-pointerspointers. Darius Webster added 14 and Pani Akumah had 11 in the borough final.
Legendary coach Johnny Mathis stated it took he and his staff some time to find the right combination of players. Kennedy needed to play smaller and faster to be successful. His team has the firepower to surprise some team in the playoffs.
“I think we will be able to continue on.” Mathis said.
Wings is hoping to do the same thing, but its goal stretches all the way to the Barclays Center for the city title game.
“We won the borough’s chip, but that wasn’t our goal coming into the season,” Govan said. “The goal is to win the whole thing.”
