As the crowd piled into Bayside High Thursday for the second game of the Bayside-Cardozo boys basketball series, following Cardozo's 66-62 win on Dec. 21, a savage energy overtook the gymnasium.
The stands rocked, the radio speakers quaked, and when Austin Williams, Bayside's sophomore guard, pumped in a 3-pointer to open the scoring, the joint erupted.
But as with most rivalry games, once the emotions levelled off, the Battle of Bayside was reduced to a rather anticlimactic 45-29 Cardozo win.
Cardozo (9-0, 7-0 Queens AA) maintains sole control of the Queens AA division. Bayside falls to 6-2 in the Queens AA division.
Hero: Whenever Cardozo needed a big basket, senior guard Shelton Mickell was there. Mickell led all scorers with 18 points and spearheaded scoring runs in the first and second halves. It was a mature, clutch performance from the senior.
Turning Point: After closing the second quarter on a 10-4 run to take a 19-13 lead into the half, Cardozo came out blazing in the second half. Backed by big men Marquis Barnett and Jermaine Lawrence, the Judges dominated the offensive glass in the third quarter and broke the game open with a 10-2 run.
Quotable: "We've got to get used to playing in games like this (in front of big crowds). ... Games like this, we feel it's an obstacle to get through." - Cardozo guard Shelton Mickell.
Bottom Line: Cardozo's nip-and-tuck win in the first game suggested that the rematch might be a tight game. After a revved-up Bayside took an early 9-7 lead, they failed to match Cardozo's energy and intensity. Critically, the Judges contained guards Austin Williams and William Dobie in the second half, which paved the way to the win.
Key Stat: Cardozo turned the ball over 27 times in their win on Dec. 21. On Thursday, they took better care of the ball, turning it over 12 times.
Who's Next: Cardozo plays Forest Hills at home at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7.
Teams...........Q1..Q2..Q3..Q4...Final
Cardozo..........7....12...17....9.....45
Bayside..........9......4....7.....9.....29