BROOKHAVEN SUMMER LEAGUE FINAL: PORTERS 54, LIONS 38
Win No. 13 isn't so much luck as skill
By Bob Liepa
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The Porters gained their 13th win from their 13th game this summer to complete the Brookhaven Boys' Basketball Summer League undefeated for the second straight year. They accomplished that feat last Thursday night by defeating the Longwood Lions, 54-38, in the league's first overall final at St. Joseph's College's John A. Danzi Athletic Center.
Actually, luck wasn't nearly so much a factor as skill. The three-time small schools champion Porters came through in a big way, outplaying their large school opponents from start to finish.
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"I played the way I always play," said Creighton.
And that's saying a lot. Creighton registered 24 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and six steals, all game-highs.
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The Lions were hoping that by putting the 6-5 Robert Smith on Creighton, they would be able to contain him to a certain degree. But Creighton got his teammates involved, demonstrating his sharp court vision with some brilliant passes. His steals and rebounds triggered scoring opportunities for others, such as Dantré Langhorne and Tristan Mangham, who had 11 and eight points, respectively.
"He's definitely a phenomenal ballplayer," Lions coach Herman Rohan said of Creighton. "He's very good, and all the accolades that he's received to this point he deserves."
When asked how the Porters were able to go unbeaten this summer, Creighton pointed to team play. The Porters maintained their winning ways this summer even though Creighton missed about half of the games while playing for other teams.
The Lions, who went 3-6 during the regular season before winning four straight playoff games, were admittedly surprised to have gone so far with a team that does not have a single senior on it. "Since the beginning of the summer, we've definitely improved as a team a lot in all aspects of the game," said Patrick Piasecki, Longwood's 6-7 junior center.
But the Lions dug themselves a hole they could not climb out of last Thursday. They struggled to score in the early going. It took them 4 minutes 43 seconds before they finally got on the scoreboard thanks to a basket by Piasecki. The Porters held a commanding 27-8 lead early in the second half before a neat hook shot by Piasecki put the Lions in double figures 32 seconds into the second half. Longwood missed 11 of its first 15 field-goal attempts.
Meanwhile, Greenport's defense forced 25 turnovers by the Lions.
"Greenport played a fabulous game," Rohan said. "The better team won."
Paris Parks led the Lions with nine points, two of which came on a circus-like maneuver that led to a layup in the second half.
Rohan said the Lions' fortunes changed this summer when Darien Davis and Chris Green joined the team from Longwood's other summer league team. By playing harder, he said, the team was able to advance as far as it did. "Even though this was a sour, sour loss -- it's so frustrating to lose like this in a big game -- I'm still very proud of the kids because they got this far," said Rohan.
The Porters had a sizable contingent of fans cheering them on, including Creighton's 6-year-old brother, Sylas Shelby, who watched the game from the bench in the first half, and delighted the crowd by making baskets at halftime.
"He's got a lot of energy," Creighton said. "He always wants me to dunk the basketball."
Porters coach Rodney Shelby said it was a bittersweet game since it was the last summer league game for both Creighton and senior Wally Sorenson, two players he has coached since they were seventh-graders.
"We played very well," Rodney Shelby said. "The first couple of minutes were kind of sluggish, but once they got in the game, they kind of picked it up. Our man-to-man defense was the key. We played very unselfish ball, making extra passes, looking for the open man, and that's what helped us out."
Just like that, 13 became their lucky number.
