Brentwood takes consolation
OF THE four teams playing in the SNY Invitational this weekend, Brentwood likely felt like the biggest outsider.
The Indians, from Long Island, were in a group with Mount Vernon, just on the other side of New York City’s border, and two of the Big Apple’s best teams — Christ the King and Cardozo.
On Saturday, the Indians proved they belong among the area’s best teams, beating Mount Vernon, 72-67, in the SNY consolation game at City College.
The Indians were lead by senior captain Jamel Allen, who finished with 21 points — 15 of those coming in the third quarter, when his team needed it the most.
“It was a monster performance,” Indians head coach Anthony Jimenez said. “It was a huge relief for us and most importantly for him. He’s a special player and he knows not to let the emotions of the game get to him.”
Brentwood found itself in a little bit of a hole going into halftime trailing 37-28 and being force to play out of its game due to the defense of the Knights. But Brentwood came out with new life in the second half, led by Allen’s third quarter scoring spree.
“Something got into me,” Allen said. “We had a heart-to-heart in the locker room. Coach told us to get head out our rear-ends and get back to playing our game.”
After a disappointing loss on Friday night to CHSAA power Christ the King, the Indians wanted to leave the fourteam tournament with a victory.
“We got punched in the mouth yesterday,” Allen said of the 78-62 loss to Christ the King. “But that’s in the past right now, and it feels good to come away with a victory.”
Even though the Indians won this time, they are fully aware that this may not be the last time they face the Knights this season, with the possibility of facing them in the postseason. That could happen in the state Federation tournament, if both teams advance that far.
It something that Allen and the rest of the Indians would relish.
“If we get back their again and we happen to play them, I would love to. Mount Vernon is a great team.”