By Paul Casey Gotham
(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) Early jitters was all that stood between the Monroe Community College Tribunes and a season-opening win.
Andre Armstrong (Queens, N.Y./Notre Dame Prep) and Mike Wilson (Philadelphia, PA/Rise Prep) paced the Tribunes with 20 and 16 points apiece as MCC defeated the Rockland County Community Hawks 88-71 in the annual Kickoff Classic at MCC.
Armstrong keyed a 15-1 first-half run with back-to-back threes as the Tribunes took a 45-26 lead at half.
The 6’3″ guard hit his first three over a sagging 2-3 zone to give MCC the lead at 20-16. One possession later, Wilson dribbled to the right of the zone before skipping a diagonal pass to an open Armstrong and a 25-16 edge.
The pair both connected twice from behind the arc in the first half.
“Against the zone they had a lot of open looks,” said MCC head coach Gerry Burns. “It was just a matter of knocking them down.”
Chris Thompson (Far Rockaway, NY/ Beach Channel) stepped in a passing lane for a steal at the other end. After an outlet to Wilson, Thompson sprinted the middle of the floor for a return pass and dunk and a 25-16 advantage.
Wilson gave MCC an 11-point lead with a pair of free throws before a Rockland timeout.
Monroe’s run started with hard work in the lane. With the Tribs trailing by three, T.J. McKiver (New Haven CT/Hillhouse) grabbed rebounds on three consecutive trips up the floor. The third of which at the offensive end he pivoted before getting the defender in the air and finishing at the rim.
“T.J. did a good job,” Burns noted. “He understands he’s going to play 10, 12, 14 minutes, but he’s strong, bodies people and doesn’t try to do anything he can’t do.”
Marcus Feagin (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) tied the score with a free throw. Armstrong led Feagin with an alley oop that was denied with a foul.
“He played like a man,” Burns said of Feagin’s performance. “He does all the stuff that most don’t see. He rebounds. He dives on the floor.”
The Black and Gold finished the stanza outscoring the Hawks 18-10.
Rockland outscored the Tribs in the second half. Jacin Vera (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) hit four treys after the break en route to a game-high 24 points.
“A streaky shooter like that just gets going,” Burns added. “We kind of lost focus too. Those are the things that worry me about this team because we have a lot of young guys. A good, disciplined, older team is going to turn it from 20 to 40.”
Obumneme Francis (Nigeria/Konigin Des Fredes) and Eddie Callender (Philadelphia, PA/ Lankenau) secured the victory. The frontcourt mates combined for nine straight points late in the second stanza.
Francis hit one of two from the free throw line after getting fouled on a rebound and putback. Next time down the floor, Callender caught a pass on the left baseline and pivoted to the basket drawing a foul and connecting on both attempts from the line. On the next trip, Callender fed Francis from the right foul line extended. Francis pivoted baseline and went up and under the defender for the basket.
After a defensive stop, Callender caught the ball in the gray area to the right of the basket and made a quick touch pass into the lane where Francis caught and finished at the rim.
MCC committed five turnovers in the early going falling behind 9-2 before recovering to take the lead at half.
Francis finished with 15 points on 6-9 shooting to go with eight rebounds.
Feagin had a game-high 10 boards.
Wilson led all with four assists. The 6’4″ guard connected on 3-6 from behind the arc.
Armstrong went 4-8 from long range and hit three free throws in the first half when he was fouled behind the arc.
MCC outrebounded Rockland 51-41. The Tribunes created 25 turnovers while handing out 22 assists.
MCC plays CCAC-Allegheny tomorrow. Tipoff is scheduled for 3p.m.
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