Africa Williams has heard all about Brittany Lewis’ ability to make clutch free throws late to win games at Bishop Ford and thought she was about to see it firsthand.
“I was scared,” Williams said.
The Benjamin Banneker guard saw her New Jersey Sparks team’s 10-point fourth quarter lead evaporate. Lewis was heading to the line with a chance to give the Lady Falcons the lead in the closing seconds like she did against St. Francis Prep, St. Michael Academy and H.D. Woodson during her high-school career.
Lewis made both, but Teaneck’s Jakelle Gilchrist scored with less than a minute to play to put the Sparks ahead. The Falcons got one last chance after two missed free throws by Robin Perkins, but Williams blocked Jill Conroy’s shot attempt from the right side at the buzzer to secure the win. The Sparks held on for a thrilling, 52-51 victory over the Lady Falcons in the Rose Classic quarterfinals Saturday night at JHS 113 in Brooklyn. They face New Heights White 12:05 p.m. Sunday in the semifinals.
“I knew she was going to shoot it because I know she is a good shooter,” said Williams, who transferred from Ford. “I stayed in her face and I blocked it.”
Gilchrist scored 19 points and Teana Muldrow had 10. Williams chipped in nine points including a big 3-point play late. Bishop Ford’s Shanice Vaughan scored 12 of her game-high 21 points in the second half and was instrumental in the fourth-quarter comeback. Lewis had nine and Jeane Jennings added six. The Lady Falcons played without Ford’s Aaliyah Lewis and Moore Catholic guard Jamie O’Hare, formerly of St. Peter’s.
“I think it’s something she has to do going towards next year,” Lady Falcons and Bishop Ford coach Mike Toro said of Vaughan’s aggressiveness. “She knows her and Aaliyah are going to have to put the team on their backs. I feel she is slowly starting to get that mentality back.”
New Heights White 59, Defenders AAU Stone 37: Troi Melton poured in 19 points and Cori Coleman scored 12 for New Heights, which jumped ahead 15-0 to start the quarterfinal game. Antonia Smith and Monae Abrams each had 10. Jasmine Walker had nine points for the Defenders. New Heights plays the Sparks 12:05 p.m. Sunday in the semifinals.
Munch No Limit 66, Brooklyn Rockers 34: Starr Breedlove scored 18 points and Nia Oden dropped in 15 for No Limit, which led just 29-21 at the half, in the quarterfinals. Jasmine Odom and Shaniqua Reese had eight and Tatiana Wilson added seven. Ally Leftridge led the Brooklyn Rockers with 14 points and Cherkira Lashley chipped in 12. No Limit advances to play the NYC Warriors 11 a.m. Sunday in the semifinals.
NYC Warriors 47, Positive Direction 35: Nazareth’s Bianca Cuevas dropped in 23 points, including five 3-pointers for the Warriors in the quarterfinals. Sierra Calhoun of Christ the King added 13. Karin Robinson led the way with 14 points for Positive Direction. Mary Louis’ Elisabeth Gully had nine and Reana Mohamed chipped in eight points. The Warriors square off against Munch No Limit 11 a.m. Sunday in the semifinals.