South Shore ousts Jefferson in OT thriller

South Shore overcame a 10 point fourth quarter deficit and three second half technical fouls, forcing overtime and then dominating the extra session to take the coveted PSAL Brooklyn title with a 72-60 triumph over Thomas Jefferson at York College in Jamaica, Queens on Saturday. 

The Vikings and the Orange Wave finished in a deadlock in the final Brooklyn AA standings, the PSAL's most competitive league, each with a record of 12-2 and a split of the season series. Jefferson was awarded the top seed in the Brooklyn borough tourney despite its 68-51 loss to South Shore in Canarsie on February 12th, a game it played without senior standout Kareem Welch. The Orange Wave edged the Vikings 80-79 in their first meeting in East New York back on January 3rd. 

South Shore jumped ahead early, with Dwight Davis Jr. scoring 8 of his 13 points in the opening eight and Kareem May connecting on a 3-pointer at the close of the opening quarter to give the Vikings a 16-9 lead.

Welch went to work in the second, scoring 10 of his game-high 27 points in the quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers and a double-clutch scoop that tied the game at 21. Jefferson took a 24-21 lead on Jaquan Carlos' 3-point play off a brilliant behind-the-back hesitation dribble with 3:01 left in the half, and the Orange Wave went on to outscore South Shore 17-9 in the second frame, holding a 26-24 edge at the half.

The whistles picked up in the second half, and Jefferson took advantage, scoring 12 of their 16 third quarter points from the free throw line. Two technicals were assessed to South Shore in the third, one on Vikings center Isaiah Richards and the other on Phillps Joseph, who fouled out at the 2:19 mark after being hit with a tech for contesting his fourth personal. Two free throws by Welch put Jefferson ahead 41-32 with 1:06 left in the quarter, but a follow-up by Kadary Richmond and a runner by May brought the Vikings within five at 42-37 heading into the fourth.

Jefferson's lead swelled to double digits when Kevin Tabb's 3-point play put the Orange Wave in front 48-38 with 6:24 left, but May answered for South Shore with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, and the Vikings called for time with 5:47 to play. The woeful whistles continued for the Vikings, as Davis Jr. suffered the same fate as Joseph, picking up his fourth personal and then fouling out after being hit with a technical. Welch drained both technical free throws, and South Shore found themselves behind 53-44 with 3:11 remaining in regulation.

The heavy whistles finally caught up with Jefferson, with Welch fouling out with 2:46 left and Tabb exiting after picking up his fifth at the 2:14 mark. Richmond responded for South Shore, scoring five straight on a fast-break dunk and a deep 3-pointer to bring the Vikings within a point at 55-54 with 1:00 left.

Carlos stepped up for Jefferson on the next trip, converting a 3-point play to give the Orange Wave a two possession lead at 58-54 with just 50 ticks left. A follow-up by Isaiah Richards, his only basket of the game, brought South Shore within two at 58-56, and the Vikings tied it at 58 after Richmond stole a pass and scored on a eurostep with 13 seconds on the clock. Jefferson came up empty on the final trip, sending the game to overtime.

With Welch and Tabb on the bench, South Shore dominated the overtime period, outscoring Jefferson 14-2. Richmond scored 8 in the extra session, including a dunk at the buzzer, finishing with a team-high 22 points, 21 in the second half and overtime. May added 15 points and Davis Jr. 13 for the Vikings.

Welch led Jefferson with a game-high 27 points, while Carlos finished with 12 and Tabb 9 for Jefferson.

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