Jamel Thomas | Brooklyn Born Basketball Star Finds Life After The NBA Overseas

Jamel Thomas / 1999 Upper Deck SP

After being shuffled many NBA teams, Jamel Thomas ended up with his cousin, Stephon Marbury on the New Jersey Nets.

Thomas played for the Nets during the 2000-2001 season alongside Marbury. While he didn't grow up dreaming to play in the NBA with his cousin, it was still an experience he enjoyed.

“Playing [with] my Steph was just like playing in high school together,” Thomas said via e-mail. “We never dreamt about playing together in the NBA, but we both believed that we were going to get there through hard work and respect.”

He felt he had to represent New York City, and his home borough of Brooklyn wherever he played.

“Where ever you go you always have to put on for your city and mine is ‘The Mecca’,” he said. “Playing for your hometown makes you feel like a hero and it inspires the ones that wants to play the game. “

The hard work and respect Thomas had was due to his excellent high school and college experience. His days at Brooklyn's Lincoln High School set him up to achieve bigger things during college.

“During my Lincoln days I had a very good coach who instilled hard work in all of his players,” he said. “I was a good player on the team so I got a little extra attention. While I played for the NYC Gauchos I was able to play small forward my true position. So playing both positions before going to Providence made me a valuable player because I was able to do it all.”

His success in high school and college eventually led him to the NBA where he played against some of the best in the world. The rough basketball scene during the 80s and 90s shaped his mental toughness to play the game.

“During the 80’s and 90’s basketball was very tough,” he said. “You needed heart and skill to play. If you weren’t good other players and older players will let you know and that forces you to work on your game.”

Unfortunately, his career in the NBA only lasted for two years, signing contracts with five different teams. He ultimately found success playing overseas until 2009 in countries like Turkey and Italy.

Darrell Einertson | A Short and Forgotten 2000s MLB Career

Darrell Einertson

Darrell Einertson, born September 4, 1972, is a former Major League Baseball player who played with the New York Yankees during the 2000 season. He grew up in the town of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and joined the Yankees as a minor league baseball player in 1995 after graduating from Iowa Wesleyan College.

He later got called up for the major leagues during the spring 2000 season. He played for the World Series champs that season, but only pitched in 11 games. It was his only season in the pros, finishing with a 3.55 ERA.

Einertson explained on the Moonlight Graham Podcast how he got called up to the Yankees and debuted against the Kansas City Royals.

“They flew me straight to New York City,” he said. “I landed, got picked up, and they took me to Yankee Stadium. I had my suitcase with me, and that day I got in the ball game. We were playing the Kansas City Royals at home, on a Saturday day-game, with about 58,000 fans.”

During his debut, Einertson was surprised to pitch the same day he arrived in the major leagues.

“I almost swallowed my Copenhagen,” he said. “I don’t know, I was so shocked to get that call on the first day ... and I went in there [and] got four outs.”

While playing alongside his Yankees teammates, they made him carry out certain duties as a rookie.

“They treated me just a little different because I was a rookie, they made me carry the seed bag, I got the bubble gum bag, I had to carry the balls, the bands, and all the other stuff, but I didn’t really care because it was so cool to be down in that bullpen.”

Einerston was not on their World Series roster, but he made the team coming out of spring training in 2001. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career.

“I made the big league team coming out of spring training in 2001,” he said. “I had a small, partial tear underneath my armpit area, and so that kinda shut me down for the 2001 season.”

Despite Darrell Einertson’s brief time in the majors, he still had the chance to serve alongside some of the most well-known baseball legends, including Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter.

“Oh Jete was cool,” he said. “He was cool as a fan. He’d treat you just as you were in the big leagues, … guys would always look down on you just because you were a rookie, but no, he was a genuine good dude.”

Glen Rice: The NBA Star's Fall From Grace In New York

Glen Rice / Wikimedia Commons

The New York Knicks brought in Glen Rice during the 2000-2001 season as he looked like a very promising player, however he was not able to perform well for the team. Rice was not able to fit in well with the Knicks and was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2001.

Rice was an NBA All-Star from 1996-1998 and was able to win the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. The Knicks expected a lot from Rice; however while with the Knicks he was benched a lot, only averaging 12 points per game. He was not able to perform well, as he had a foot injury (plantar fasciitis), and did not find his place alongside Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell. 

“The best players will play,” Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said in July 2001 to the New York Post.

In the beginning of the 2000-2001 season, the Knicks were able to start off with a successful pre-season; however, for Rice it was a different story. Rice was a very good player, but he was not able to find his rhythm throughout his time with the Knicks. He never embraced the role of sixth man, as he felt he deserved more playing time.

''I said this many times; it did work, all the way to the fifth game, like everything else on our team,'' Van Gundy said to the New York Times. ''The unfortunate part is you make a trade and somebody goes to the bench and you expect them to get starter's numbers playing bench minutes. Glen Rice was a very, very good player -- he was when he came here, he leaves a very good player and he'll go somewhere that's more to his liking, where he'll be a starter. Obviously, if that was such a big problem, getting all three guys minutes, we wouldn't have traded for another guy on the perimeter.''

Things got worse for Rice as during the last three months of the season Rice was not able to practice because of his foot injury. Rice was not able to perform during the 2000-2001 NBA season. He was not able to fit in with the team and ended up averaging a career low of 12 points with the Knicks. The New York Knicks traded Rice in a three-way trade along with the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets. This ended his disappointing career in New York.

Being Tiny in A Land of Giants Did Not Stop Earl Boykins From Pursuing a Lengthy NBA Career

Earl Boykins / Wikimedia Commons

For Earl Boykins, 1998 marked the beginning of a long journey in the NBA. Although going undrafted, Earl Boykins went on to average 8.9 points, 3.2 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game in his 13 season career. This was not easy for him as he only stood 5’5’ in the land of seven-foot giants. Despite his size disadvantage, Boykins had quite the career.

Boykins attended Eastern Michigan University, where he dominated. He made All Mid-Conference first team in his junior and senior year. He also was second in NCAA scoring in his senior year, averaging 26.8 points per game. Eastern Michigan retired his jersey in 2011.

Earl Boykins signed with the New Jersey Nets for a short time during the 1999 NBA season. He had been an unrestricted free agent since going undrafted. Boykins made his NBA debut with New Jersey, playing only five games (averaging 4.2 points), before the Nets released him. He signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers to finish the 1999 season.

He went through quite a few teams, but Boykins began to play more when he reached the Los Angeles Clippers. But it wasn't until 2003 with the Denver Nuggets where Boykins had full playing time and was able to display his value. He credited his father for developing his confidence.

“Because of my height, I became very skilled and I always had confidence,” Boykins said to Charles Post of The Eastern Echo. “My dad taught me the game. Growing up, he used to take me to the gym and I played basketball a lot. At an early age he instilled it in me to never be afraid. Never let anyone intimidate me.”

Boykins made a 13- year career going undrafted and getting cut by the Nets after only five games. He learned to work hard to overcome the height difference throughout his career.

”If I was taller, I probably wouldn’t have worked as hard or gotten as far.” Boykins said to Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times.

Boykins showed that with hard work and talent, nothing will stop you from succeeding. His story continues to be an inspiration to many who believe they aren’t good enough for their career interests.

Curtis Pride: The Yankees One Hit Wonder

Curtis Pride signed a contract with the New York Yankees in May of 2003 after spending the first part of the season with the Nashua Pride in the independent Atlantic League. Pride spent over a month in the minors in Columbus before getting called up and put in the starting lineup in early July.

Curtis Pride / Gallaudet Athletics

Pride only had 12 at-bats during his four game Yankees career including just one hit which was a home run. The Yankees acquired Pride to be used as an emergency outfielder who could also pinch-run. He also had a decent amount of experience in the majors and a likable personality which were attractive traits for the Yankees and made him a good fit for the team.

His time with the Yankees was brief but memorable. Despite not being well-known prior to joining the team, Curtis Pride made a lasting impression with the often critical fanbase. He endeared himself to the supporters with his homer against the rival Red Sox resulting in a standing ovation and curtain call.

Over 50,000 people were cheering for him, but he did not hear a thing. Curtis Pride is one of the few deaf players in the history of Major League Baseball. He does not let this stop him or hold him back despite it being a clear disadvantage compared to most players. Instead, Pride relies on his teammates and coaches as well as his other senses to even the playing field.

His journey to get to this point was not easy as Pride faced many obstacles throughout his career. The year before his Yankees tenure, Curtis Pride had excelled at Triple-A for the Pirates organization. In 2003, not a single team was willing to add him to their roster.

Pride was 34 years old and was struggling to stick in the major leagues for almost a decade. Many other players would have given up and switched occupations; however, Curtis Pride had persevered his whole life to prove his doubters wrong. He was, and still is, an inspiration to thousands of people, especially hearing-impaired kids. This was just a bump in the road for Pride.

The stinging rejection motivated him to play better and show every team they made a mistake by not signing him. He refused to be forgotten and showcased his talent by putting up gaudy numbers in the Atlantic League. MLB couldn’t ignore Pride’s skill set any longer and his efforts paid off when he became a New York Yankee.

The Yankees added Pride to their team in the middle of a tight battle for the division with the Red Sox. They believed he would be a valuable bench piece and help them claim the AL East. His success was limited to just that one game against the Red Sox but he contributed to the win. The Yankees never relinquished their hold on the division after this victory and Curtis Pride was a part of it.

The Yankees were pleased with Pride’s impact, but it was nothing compared to how he felt about his experience with the best sports team in history.

“It was like a dream,” Pride said to the New York Times.“To be in Yankee Stadium in a Yankee uniform, I'm just glad I got the opportunity.”

From College Prodigy To NBA Bust: The Story Of Bo Kimble

Bo Kimble Knicks Basketball Card / Hoops

The toughest sight in sports is when a player doesn’t live up to his potential. Derrick Rose and Andrew Wiggins may come to mind, but one that perhaps doesn’t is Bo Kimble.

Kimble’s journey from college star to NBA bust is one of the most remarkable in basketball history, and the Loyola Marymount grad’s career could go down in history as the greatest that never was. 

The 54-year-old had a compelling, illustrious college career. After leaving the University of Southern California due to a falling out with new head coach George Raveling, he and his longtime friend and teammate Hank Gathers both transferred to Loyola Marymount. 

Teaming up with Gathers and NBA Champion coach Paul Westhead, Kimble led Loyola Marymount to be arguably the most exciting team in college basketball history. Westhead installed a very fast-paced, run-and-gun style of play, featuring a constant full-court press on defense. His college run’s pinnacle was during his senior year, where he led the entire nation in scoring and was named a second team All-American.

However, when it all seemed to be going well, tragedy struck. Gathers collapsed on the court during the semifinals of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament, and he devastatingly passed away. 

The tournament was canceled, and Loyola was awarded a spot in the NCAA Division I Tournament due to their first place spot in the regular-season standings. Kimble, along with having to cope with the death of his close friend, now had to lead his team in the toughest college basketball competition in the country.

Pushing through the adversity, Kimble and his team made one of the most memorable, touching runs in college history, losing only in the Elite Eight to the eventual champions University of Nevada. Along the way, Kimble bested eventual 7-time NBA Champion Robert “Big-Shot Bob” Horry, as well as the defending NCAA champions in the University of Michigan.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of all was Kimble’s lefty free-throws, which he took in honor of his fallen teammate. Gathers was actually right-handed, but he was so bad at free throws that he decided to switch to shooting left-handed, and he ultimately ended up with a better free-throw percentage. For every game, Kimble took his first free throw left-handed, converting every single one he attempted.

After the tournament, the Los Angeles Clippers selected Kimble as the eighth pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. Despite a promising start, his time became limited as the months passed, and he spent most of his two years in Los Angeles on the bench for a Clippers team that was considered one of the worst of all time for many years now.

He was traded to the New York Knicks along with Doc Rivers and Charles Smith before the 1992-1993 season. Kimble rarely saw the court, playing only nine games the entire season. He was stuck in a crowded Knicks backcourt that included Doc Rivers and John Starks.

The only game in which he was given significant game time was against the Phoenix Suns, where a massive brawl caused the ejection of four Knicks players. Kimble played 21 minutes and scored 11 points, in what would be his most notable game with the Knicks.

After the season ended, where Jordan and the Bulls bested the Knicks yet again in the Conference Finals, Kimble was cut from the team. In a move that many viewed as inevitable, the Knicks felt that it was the best decision for all parties:

“It was in the best interest of Bo and the Knicks to allow him to seek other opportunities to play at this time,” Knicks General Manager Ernie Grunfeld said.

Just three years ago, he had led America in college scoring, but he now found himself without a team in the NBA. Kimble decided to go overseas to play for CRO Lyon in France’s top division, the Jeep Elite. 

The shooting guard averaged about 20 points and five rebounds per game, good for the top ten in scoring. However, Kimble was cut yet again, ending his career in Europe and forcing him to move back to America. At that point, he still felt he was good enough to make it back to the NBA.

“The players know I belong out there,” Kimble told the Los Angeles Times. “The people who watch the game, they don’t understand. All they see is Bo Kimble, great shooter, great scorer, not playing. I’m not going to give up. For a long time.”

Kimble kept trying, but he never did get back into the NBA. He played several years for the Continental Basketball Association, but he was moved around constantly.

His most notable moment was during a game with his first team, the Rapid City Thrillers. After a poor performance, GM/head coach and future NBA coach Eric Musselman asked Kimble and another two former NBA players on the team to name one other team in their CBA division. None of the players could, and they were all scrapped the next day.

“I liked Bo and Rumeal [Robinson, Kimble’s teammate], they were nice guys, but I’ve never traded two guys who were less valuable,” Musselman told Sports Illustrated.

Kimble’s attitude towards the CBA never allowed him to be successful there because he knew he was too good for it, and he acted like it. Looking back on his career, Kimble blames the Clippers organization for stunting his progress and setting him on a path to failure.

“I’m used to unity, and there was no unity on the Clippers. I’m used to playing as a team and being together. But NBA basketball is quite different than anything I’ve experienced,” Kimble said. “I didn’t have the support of the coach [Mike Schuler]. If you’re drafted to be the scorer and the shooter, and your coach is telling you, ‘You’re not at Loyola. Don’t shoot this shot, don’t shoot this shot.’ Well, then you start to wonder. I kind of lost my identity of who I really was. If I can’t shoot and score, do what I do best, well, then what do you want me to do?”

Kimble had always been associated with the unconventional system he thrived under at Loyola, and therefore most scouts believed he couldn’t make it in the NBA. But Kimble always had the talent to succeed, he just became a victim of unfortunate circumstances.

“It becomes easy to track,” his college coach Westhead told the Los Angeles Times. “Once your minutes go down, if you’re a shooter you start playing tight. If you’re not making shots, your minutes keep going down, and unfortunately what happens to a player is he begins to second-guess his shot and he goes spinning downward.”

Kimble’s impact during his only season in New York, and his career as a whole, was not what he expected. He very likely had more to offer than he was given credit for, especially considering everything he did to get to the NBA. He was dealt an awful hand and overcame it to will his team through with a natural-born leadership reminiscent of Michael Jordan.

Kimble’s determination, mentality, and sheer will to win made him one of the most talented players to fall through the cracks in the NBA.

From Role Player to Manager: Kevin Cash's Amazing Story

Kevin Cash with the Boston Red Sox in 2008 / Wikimedia Commons

For a player who hit a mere twelve home runs and had a .183 batting average across his nine-year career, you would never expect someone like Kevin Cash to be the key ingredient to a playoff team. As it turns out, he was exactly that, although not as a player, but as a Tampa Bay Rays’ manager in their recent playoff success.

As a player, Cash started as an infielder in the Florida State University program for four years in the late 1990s. After going undrafted after his senior year, he was invited to play in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he took over as a catcher when the team suffered from injuries. After proving to be successful at his new position, the Toronto Blue Jays franchise signed him as a free agent in 2002.

After two years and over 100 games played for Toronto, the Blue Jays traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent only a season there until ending up in Boston, where he played for a few seasons. After winning the world series in 2007 with Boston, albeit not as a starting catcher, Cash ended up on the Yankees roster during their historic 2009 season.

Being on a team stacked with superstars like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada, Cash served as a role player for the Yankees. At the start of the season, the Yankees put him in the minor leagues, with the triple-A affiliate in Scranton. The Yankees called Cash to their roster due to injuries among both Jorge Posada and his replacement, Jose Molina. He played ten games on the team, with only six hits to his name before Posada returned to the lineup.

The Yankees released Cash in September, a few months before they would win their 27th World Series. He announced his retirement from the league soon after, only to change his mind and return with the Houston Astros in the 2010 season. After a final stint in Boston and one more season in the minors, Cash retired for good in 2011.

However, Cash remained active as ever in the major leagues from that point forward. In 2012, Cash was hired as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays. Later on, the Cleveland Indians selected Cash to serve as a bullpen coach for a couple of seasons.

Cash’s most significant contribution to baseball came when he was hired as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. According to Joe Girardi, this job was fitting for Cash, as he had a positive impact on his teammates and a solid understanding of what makes a baseball team tick.

“(He) really understood the game," Girardi said to the New York Daily News. "Easy to get along with, in a sense, as a player. Easy to work with. He struck me as that type of guy."

Cash played with some of baseball’s all-time greats and was a part of two World Series winners. As a manager, Cash has used his profound knowledge of the game to propel the Rays from a losing team to a playoff contender. Now, Cash is focused on his team’s future and is far from the end of his long career in major league baseball.

From Ball to Faith: Andrew Lang’s Road to Chaplaincy

Andrew Lang’s unique transformation from a seasoned professional NBA player to a chaplain was an unexpected one. He was known as a skilled shotblocker, averaging 1.5 blocks per game during his 12 year NBA career. Lang played center for several teams, including the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks, before finishing his career with the New York Knicks. Lang’s end in the NBA brought him closer to his faith, leading him to pursue a new career as a chaplain.

Andrew Lang Basketball card for the Atlanta Hawks (Topps)

The Knicks acquired free agent Lang in an attempt to strengthen the team’s frontlines in the 1999-2000 season without injured center Patrick Ewing. This came as a shocking revelation to Knicks fans, as Lang previously collided with Ewing in 1997, causing Ewing to suffer a dislocated bone as well as several torn ligaments in the right wrist. By 1999, the Knicks looked to Lang to fill the gap Ewing left, who had sustained an achilles injury.

“We have added another legitimate low-post player to our roster with the signing of Andrew Lang,'' General Manager Scott Layden said to the New York Times in 1999. ''His presence solidifies our frontcourt for the start of the season.”

Nonetheless, after playing only 19 games, Lang retired after the season. He chose to completely change professions and play a deeper part in Christianity as an evangelist. It was following a service that took place before a basketball game in which Lang found his true passion for chaplaincy.

“As a player, I always attended chapel services. Then, after I obtained my ministerial license, I was invited to speak at a chapel before a game. I began to really enjoy doing it because it kept me close to the game, which I really love,” Lang said in an interview with the Atlanta Hawks in 2005.

The Hawks offered Lang a position as team chaplain in 2003. Through his work, he was able to maintain a strong connection to basketball, but in a different form. Lang related to the players’ struggles by helping them feel more comfortable with sharing their own experiences. Lang’s own encounters also allowed him to better guide and encourage current players.

As a chaplain, Lang now holds chapel service before every home game. Players are given the opportunity to pray and talk about problems. Since the NBA is such a serious business, players can put their trust in people like Lang for guidance. Through his job, Lang is able to provide counsel for those struggling to cope with being in such public positions, helping many to stay positive both mentally and physically.

Kevin Kobel: Promise and Results

From 1973-1980, Kevin Kobel held tremendous promise as a pitcher for both the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets. He was also the only pitcher for the Brewers to make his MLB debut as a teenager; unfortunately, he never lived up to his promising debut.

Kevin Kobel / 1991 Mets WIZ Card

The Brewers drafted Kobel in the 11th round of the 1971 MLB draft out of Saint Francis High School, New York in the 1971 MLB Draft. After three seasons in their farm system, the Brewers made Kobel a major leaguer at 19.

Eventually Kobel left the Brewers after he got arm troubles in 1975. He returned in 1976, but he did poorly in a few appearances; however, that didn’t end his career. He returned in 1978 to the majors when the New York Mets purchased his contract. He pitched well his first two seasons, becoming a full-time starter in 1979.

Kobel found himself one of few decent players in two particularly dark seasons for the New York team; however, when the 1980 season played out, he fell behind with an ERA of 7.00 and was subsequently removed from the pitching rotation.

One of the main oddities with Kevin Kobel’s career is his downfall with the Mets. Despite playing well in the 1978 and 1979 season and being one of the few good players in an otherwise disastrous season, he still lost his position as a starting pitcher in 1980.

Greg Prince, author of Faith and Fear in Flusing, says the reason can be found in Joe Torre’s search for more reliable players in his quest to improve the Mets’ pitching staff.

“Joe Torre judged others as more reliable starters and Kobel seems to have gotten lost in the bullpen shuffle,” Prince said via e-mail.

This significantly impacted Kevin Kobel’s career as he was no longer regularly used as a pitcher:

“He didn’t get the regular work in 1980 that he got in 1979, especially as a starter, and pitchers tend to thrive on consistent use,” he said.

After this ordeal, Kobel pitched briefly for the Kansas City Royals, Omaha Royals and the Portland Beavers. He retired shortly thereafter.

The NBA Has A Tissue For Every Tear During The COVID-19 Pandemic

As of April 3rd,2020 , the NBA launched an NBA 2K “Players Only” and H-O-R-S-E tournaments to help grieving fans find comfort after the suspension of major sports amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NBA shocked all fans after the announcement that the rest of the NBA season had been suspended, on March 11th. This news came after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. In response to the growing tension from the fans, the NBA announced the NBA 2K “Players Only” Tournament.

“Beginning Friday, April 3 on ESPN and ESPN2, players... will compete in a single-elimination, player-only tournament on Xbox One,” reported the NBA.

The tournament winner will be able to choose their favorite charity to receive the $100,000 prize. Although the tournament was in place, die-hard basketball fans still want real basketball to watch. The NBA heard their cries and answered with a free NBA league pass preview through April 22nd 2020.

“The league announced Wednesday it was making its League Pass service free to all fans until April 22, allowing folks to watch games from this season and the NBA's archive of games from seasons past as well,” Timothy Rapp from BleacherReport announced.

The NBA was so eager to support their fans that they announced a “Quarantine” H-O-R-S-E tournament which includes past and present NBA and WNBA players that will be aired on ESPN.

We don’t know how long “stay- at- home” orders will last, or when the NBA season will resume, but if it does, but the NBA seems to have a lot of ideas in their bag to continue to make money and capture their fans’ attention. We’re excited to see what’s on the way!

COVID-19 Destroys The Professional Gaming Industry Causing Uproar In The Community

People gather for the largest esports competition in the world (Wikimedia Commons)

COVID-19 affects sports and communities of all kinds all across the world.Gaming and esports events all across the world have been suspended or transitioned to online platforms due to the recent outbreak. Cancelling these games are causing the industry to lose millions.

 Tournaments such as the League of Legends Championship Series and Overwatch League have been moved to online platforms. Although the amount of people who watch these events has not dropped, the revenue from live events have decreased significantly. Business Insider's Henry Blodget suggests the gaming industry won’t surpass the one billion dollar goal this year due to the coronavirus.

 “Esports revenue will dive, thanks to cancellations and postponements from the coronavirus after a $1 billion-plus estimate for 2020,” he says.

 The event E3 was canceled and many companies are scrambling to showcase their latest product to the world online. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo live streamed their newest products such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in order to make up for the lost revenue.

 “But companies have also increasingly turned to their direct channels to provide news to consumers. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft frequently host live-streamed events to announce games and consoles,” says Vox writer Allegra Frank.

Players and the gaming community were hit hard with esport events canceled all over the world. Events with over 10,000 attendees were stopped to slow the spread of COVID-19.

 “The lack of real-world gaming events is a massive loss for the event organizers, players and the gaming community, but with many esports events holding over 10,000 attendees, the risk of infection was too high to ignore,” Kitty Bartholomew from IABUK said.

Luis Andino also contributed to this article

COVID-19 Strikes But Track And Field Athletes Fight Back

Sandi Morris Pole Vaulting / Flickr

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games have been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The year-long delay significantly impacts everyone involved in the Olympics, especially the Track and Field community which has the most events and athletes at the Summer Games.

The postponement means another year of training for all the runners, jumpers, and throwers hoping to compete in the Olympics. Many athletes will attempt to take advantage of this time to get in better shape; however, the coronavirus will hinder their ability to practice and deplete their finances. The athletes will have to alter their lifestyles to remain healthy during the virus outbreak.

Despite the disease’s disruption to their hopes and dreams, the majority of the athletes realize that delaying the Games was the right decision. Saving lives is more important than sports.

“Needless to say, I was really looking forward and my shape is good at the moment but for now we have to look at the bigger picture and do whatever it takes to beat the coronavirus,” Rio 2016 200m silver medallist Dafne Schippers posted on Instagram. “Let's hope for the best and let's make sure we'll celebrate even harder in 2021!”

Tianna Bartoletta is an American sprinter and long jumper who has won three gold medals and participated in two Olympics. She offered encouragement to all athletes while echoing a similar sentiment as her fellow runner.

“Dreams have NOT been cancelled,” Bartoletta tweeted. “Only delayed. Stay in it. Stay safe. Stay focused.”

Staying focused during a time like this won’t be easy with the threat of COVID-19 looming large. Some Olympians have to use all their resources on essential needs and can’t afford to pay for any equipment. The United States is giving athletes financial aid to increase their training capabilities while social distancing.

“To assist in bridging the gap between now and when restrictions are lifted and normal weight room access can occur,” the USA Track and Field organization announced, “the USATF and the USATF Foundation are partnering to allocate each Tier and [Talent Protection Program] athlete a stipend towards the purchase of simple, portable weight training equipment that they can use at home or at the track.”

Athletes’ strength, power, speed, and stamina will decrease without proper training. These attributes are especially key for track and field athletes who specialize in being the fastest and strongest.

“All sports where speed and explosiveness are required are going to be affected after two weeks,” sports scientist Lars Donath said to the Deutsche Welle media company.

Silver medallist pole-vaulter Sandi Morris is adapting on the fly to prepare for 2021. Her father is making a pole-vaulting pit to help her train during quarantine. Unfortunately, Morris has to travel over 600 miles and rent a house to be able to use it. Those expenses are more significant now that she has no income.

“[Morris] was concerned how she would support herself through the pandemic and the postponement, with no opportunities for appearance fees and prize money on the horizon,” Juliet Macur, et al. of the NY Times reported.

This is an unprecedented time filled with uncertainty for the whole world. The track and field stars have embraced the challenge of living in a pandemic while still preparing for the Games. They are not giving up or making excuses and look forward to proving themselves next summer.

Andy Jiang also contributed to this article.

Forget LeBron Or Giannis, A Microscopic Virus Is Taking Center-Stage In The NBA

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers wearing mask in light of COVID-19/ Basketballforever.com

After coronavirus scares forced the NBA season’s suspension two months ago, officials are considering canceling the season altogether. This unprecedented situation has also cast doubt about both players and staff salaries.

COVID-19’s spread to the United States caused large gatherings for sports, rallies, and other events to be canceled. For the NBA, their hiatus began after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for Coronavirus in early March.

The NBA has not released an official statement regarding what will become of the NBA’s 2020 season. Several different ideas going forward are being discussed, and multiple contingencies are being arranged to prepare the NBA for any course of action.

Resuming the season would ultimately cost the NBA more money as employees would be paid for longer. Their pay would be extended to include the rest of the season, in addition to the gap caused by its suspension. Therefore, even with the massive revenue the league brings in, it could make more economic sense for the NBA to cancel the season.

In the event of a cancellation, the NBA and the Players’ Association decided that player salaries will be reduced by 25%. As for stadium employees, some players and owners, such as notorious billionaire Mark Cuban and rising star Zion Williamson, have also pledged millions to cover their pay.

“Today I am pledging to cover the salaries for all of those Smoothie King Center workers for the next 30 days,” Williamson said on Instagram. “This is a small way for me to express my support and appreciation for these wonderful people who have been so great to me and my teammates.”

However, while canceling the entire season makes sense from an economic standpoint, it could have complications for the following season. There is uncertainty regarding determining the NBA Draft order, which decides what teams rookies go to. If there is no season, how does the league create an objective draft system? It is also the sheer will to win of the many basketball players and fans that would desperately want to see a champion crowned this season, however strange it has been.

"Factoring those things in, where will we be in May?” Commissioner Adam Silver said in an interview with TNT’s Ernie Johnson. “Will there be an opportunity, and I think beyond the virtue of crowning a champion, what will the symbolism be of major league sports starting back up in this country?”

One possible solution would be to have the playoffs behind closed doors with everyone quarantined in Las Vegas. Every player would be properly vetted beforehand, and any member of any organization still suffering from the coronavirus would not be allowed to participate. Silver, in support of this idea, stated that he is eager to restart the season once he is given the “all clear” from health officials.

There are strong reasons to both shut down the season and to keep it going. Economic advantage, players’ desire to win, and next year’s draft picks are all important, but they ultimately won’t be the deciding factors. In terms of a global health crisis, the NBA is of very minor importance, and the only factor that will truly decide the NBA’s next step is this deadly pandemic’s time frame. If the health experts deem it safe to play by June-July, then the league will undoubtedly resume in the summer; if not, this season will probably be the league’s first-ever cancellation.

Blake Owen also contributed to this article.

What Is MLB's Future Amidst a Global Crisis?

Adam Dunn striking out / Wikipedia Commons

MLB fans, players, and coaches were all shocked when the news broke out on March 12th that spring training was canceled and the season would be pushed back by at least two weeks. Currently, it remains unclear whether or not baseball will happen at all this year. This uncertainty will cause problems for the entire league and raises concerns for everyone involved in baseball.

The announcement comes amidst a series of suspensions across all professional sports, with leagues stopping their games until further notice. Now, one month after the planned opening day for baseball, some people are having doubts if the season will happen at all.

Christian Yelich, the 2018 National League MVP, spoke about the current situation and what it means for baseball. For him, it's a toss-up if the season will be canceled entirely.

"There's a very real chance that we don't play as much as there is that we do play,” he said on WEEI Radio's Ordway, Merloni & Fauria show. “I would say it is probably 50/50.”

With no games being played, the league has set a tiered payment system for the players. This system, however, only applies to players signed to a major league contract. Minor league players are paid by a stipend-based system instead. To help the ballpark employees, the MLB laid out a $30-million fund to support those put out of work.

“The health and safety of everyone in our communities is of the utmost importance to us,” MLB said in a press release last week.

This pandemic also hits hard on a local level, as many teams saw 2020 as a year of opportunity. The New York Mets, for example, had assembled a team full of star players like Marcus Stroman, Noah Syndergaard, Michael Conforto, and Pete Alonso. Now, there are concerns over who will stay and who will leave for free agency.

Still, every team identifies with the struggle of not playing an entire season. The Mets stand to lose $42.1 million, and the league is expected to lose around $4 billion altogether if the 2020 season is lost.

Even so, there is a plan to start the baseball season in Arizona. No fans will be allowed, but games will be played in the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field while players and coaching staff stay in local hotels in self-isolation. While this is just an idea, there is hope that we will have baseball in 2020. One thing is for sure, it’s going to take an unprecedented effort to play the game amidst a crisis the world has never seen before.

Jaedon Satchell also contributed to this article.

Reshaping The NCAA In The Wake Of COVID-19

The Kansas Jayhawk's wrapping up a practice section for the NCAA tournament (Phil Roeder / flickr.com) 

The NCAA made the tough decision to cancel the Men’s Division I basketball tournament on March 12th. This comes as a result of growing concerns about the novel coronavirus. The March Madness cancellation comes as the first since the NCAA started in 1939.


NCAA member schools shut down campuses and sent students home before the cancellation. Schools like Duke University also suspended all athletic events, including their involvement in March Madness amidst growing coronavirus fears. As more major sports leagues suspended their seasons, NCAA President Mark Emmert decided to cancel the Division I basketball tournament, as well as all remaining winter and spring tournaments.


“Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships,” Emmert said in a statement on the NCAA website.


The league now has to deal with pressing issues. A decision was made on the eligibility of spring sport athletes, with the NCAA approving an extra year of eligibility for all spring sport athletes whose seasons were canceled due to COVID-19. To athletes, this news is bittersweet. Those who agree to return for another year may receive a smaller amount of scholarship money. Coaches from all across the country also begin recruiting in the spring, something now made impossible by the ongoing pandemic.


The NCAA makes about one billion dollars from the tournament annually; however, the decision to cancel March Madness also heavily impacted small businesses, especially sports bars and restaurants. When the event was announced as being closed to the public, there was still hope that people would come in to watch it on TV, but being entirely shut down will cause huge economic damage on these small businesses.


“It’s those local institutions and hourly people, who survive on tips and getting those extra shifts — that’s what will be lost,” sports economic professor Victor Matheson said in an interview with USA Today.


The decision to cancel the March Madness tournaments heavily impacts all aspects of college sports and beyond, even down to local businesses. With the NCAA’s ongoing changes, one can only wonder what will happen for college sports in the coming years.

Thomas O'Shea also contributed to this article.

IPL 2020 | Everyone Loses At The Hands Of COVID-19

Match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knightriders during DLF IPL 2008 (Chandrachoodan Gopalakrishnan)

At the beginning of 2019, the novel coronavirus began to emerge and spread. Due to the risks of contracting the virus, the Indian Premier League has been suspended. The indefinite suspension of the IPL 2020 will affect the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s annual revenue. Additionally, the suspension will also affect many players financially and professionally.

The IPL is the richest cricket league in the world, bringing in the best cricketers from around the world. This tournament is played during an eight-week time frame usually between the end of March to mid-May. However, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Indian government suspended all visas, and later on, implemented a nationwide lockdown. These two actions led to the IPL 2020 being suspended indefinitely as overseas players were not able to get visas and spectators could not come to watch the games at the stadiums.

 Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the BCCI and IPL stakeholders are projected to lose up to ₹60,000,000,000 ($788,000,000).

“Obviously if the organization takes a financial hit, the salaries of the employees get affected as well. The pay cuts are a possibility,” a BCCI official said to the Times Now News.

The BCCI and the teams are losing money due to the possibility of no IPL which would lead to many players getting no salary. The players are not only facing financial problems but they are also facing job insecurities.

“For athletes, there would be a range of experiences, from welcome relief for the established to anxiety and insecurity, both professionally and financially, for possibly a greater number,” former Rajasthan Royals coach Paddy Upton said to the Hindustan Times.

The IPL is a platform for many new and young players to show their talents to get a chance to play international cricket. Without the IPL many of the new players could have anxiety professionally and finality as they would have to wait another year to show their talent and get paid. However many including fans, players, the team owners, and the BCCI would want to see some form of the IPL in 2020.

“If it was a choice of no IPL or a domestic player-only IPL I would choose the latter,""I think we will have some form of the tournament this year. It will probably be a shortened tournament”Rajasthan Royals majority owner Manoj Badale said to ESPNCricInfo.

Badale still wants to see an IPL regardless of whether it be a shortened season without fans and international players. An official has mentioned that playing behind closed doors will be the last resort as it would hurt the BCCI financially and the games would not have the same feeling. There are talks for having the IPL later in the year when the COVID-19 Pandemic becomes controlled. Yet for now, the IPL is indefinitely suspended, players are not getting paid, and the BCCI is losing a lot of money.

Jacob Robles also contributed to this article

Average to Best: HSMSE's Basketball Team's Journey to First Place

HSMSE’s Boys Basketball team has improved a great deal from 2017-2018, going from sixth place to first place in two years in the Manhattan B North Division. Their success was due to many things, one being junior Tomer Oron’s improved performance.

Two seasons ago, HSMSE had only four wins and 11 losses. They had a massive turnaround in the next two seasons, finishing 10-4 in 2018-19, and in 2019-20, they won the division with a 13-1 record.

Reasons for their meteoric rise are due to their improved experience. Many of their top players, such as Tomer Oron, went from scoring approximately seven points per game as a freshman, to 22 points per game this season. This was a similar case for other team players, including Toby Gassner (6.5 ppg) and Alex Guimaraes (12 ppg).

“We improved by playing harder, and playing together,” Tomer Oron said.

Coach Richard Epstein also put cooperation as another reason for the team's improvement.

“Emphasizing teamwork, and playing together made us much better than the individual parts,” Epstein said. “We had a mix of veterans and newcomers, and the younger players were very dedicated to making the team as good as possible.”

HSMSE's Best Track and Field Athletes Face Off In The City Championships

HSMSE’s Indoor Track and Field team competed Saturday, February 22nd at the 2020 PSAL City Championships at the Armory in Washington Heights. At the meet, HSMSE’s boys’ and girls’ teams placed 12th and 21st respectively in the city.

This marks a season-ending event for the HSMSE Flying Dragons in which their star players’ skills were displayed on the city’s greatest stage. Thirteen HSMSE athletes competed in a total of six events against other top schools in the city.

Among the most significant performers in the City Championship was junior Whralston Anderson. He finished second in the triple jump with a distance of 42-5 ½, beating his previous school record by two feet.

Additionally, Anderson tied for second with a 5’-8” high jump. His performances were the Flying Dragons' only top-three finishes in the meet. His triple jump score made him the only HSMSE athlete who qualified for this year’s state meet.

Also, the girls’ pole vaulting team had an outstanding performance. In the event, junior Sophie Levine earned fourth place with a height of seven-feet and eight-inches. Additionally, sophomore Lara Bernard and freshman Penelope Larkin tied for fifth, both with a height of seven-feet and two-inches.

According to coach Thomas Henning, the key to his athletes' success was perseverance and consistency. He believes their stellar performances weren’t anything out of the ordinary; it was the outcome of hard work and commitment.

“People did very much as I expected,” he said.

He also noted sophomore Jillian Darcy’s improvement, who managed to qualify for the city championships for her incredible endurance as a runner. At the meet, she placed 11th in the 3000 meter run with a time of 11:42.67, a minute and nine seconds behind first place.

“She did very well at the end of the season,” he said.

The team's accomplishments have led their school to a new athletic frontier. There is no doubt that the Flying Dragons' boasting multiple medalists was even more impressive with less than 500 students in their school's population. The team looks for an even brighter future next season, with a plan to recruit even more potential champions and train harder than ever before.

- Luis Andino also contributed to this article. 

For One HSMSE Track Athlete, It's All About The Journey

Sometimes even the greatest athletes don’t immediately recognize their potential. Whralston Anderson’s meteoric rise in only his second year as a triple jump athlete showed how one can go from zero to hero in the span of months.

The HSMSE junior’s best triple jump in the regular season was 42' 5", boosting his record by a whopping seven feet from his sophomore year. His incredible turnaround qualified him to participate in the New York State Championships.

“I put in a lot of work and figured out what I was trying to do in each event,” Anderson said. “I started staying later whenever I could and I was always looking for what I could do better. I was frustrated at not being good.”

Fueled by his frustration, he worked at improving in multiple events, including the 55m hurdles. This season, he was able to cut his time from 11.05 seconds to 8.88 seconds. Not only did his motivation push him to higher levels; he also received help from the best in the city.

“We’ve also been getting some help from the City College head track coach, his name is Demetrius Murray,” coach Thomas Henning said. “He’s been providing [help]… he was a national triple jump champion, so he [Anderson] got help from people along the way.”

Murray’s help was critical in Anderson’s preparation for the State Championships. Unfortunately, he could not build on his progress, jumping three feet less than his personal record. While Anderson was disappointed to end the season on a sour note, he was very proud of the progress he made.

“[The state championships] wasn’t that great for me personally since I know I could have done better, but I’m definitely proud of what I achieved this season,” he said. “I made unprecedented growth over a couple of months. It was a great experience for me and I am ready to go again next season.”

- Ryan So also contributed to this article. 

A Look At HSMSE's Indoor Track Team's Future Stars

Despite a very successful season, the High School for Math Science and Engineering indoor track team is already focusing and training for 2021. Coach Thomas Henning is confident in his underclassman for next season. Sophomore Jory Lee and freshman Penelope Larkin are two athletes extremely capable of making a difference for the Flying Dragons.

Lee's results in the long jump and the triple jump were stellar this season. He jumped 39' 6” at the Jim Mckay Games and finished first at the PSAL Gobbler Classic. Henning credited Lee's success to his strength and focus.

“He was very focused on the triple jump,” Henning said.

Larkin demonstrated great leadership and future potential among the freshmen. Henning noted her impressive 11.01-second performance in the 55-meter hurdles at the Manhattan Borough Championships.

“She was amazing," he said. "She's very good at triple jump and hurdles.”

Larkin also excelled in pole vaulting. She finished first in the PSAL Last Chance meet, with a height of 7' 2''.

Henning believes for the athletes to compete at a high level for next season, they have to condition their bodies during the off-season. He mentioned how extremely important it will be for the team increase their strength through weightlifting if they want to compete at a high level.

“I am serious, everyone needs to do weight training,” he said.

For many HSMSE freshmen and sophomores on the indoor track team, they must start training now in order to compete against many of the other schools who are farther along in their strength and development. Through a year of intense training and a strong work ethic, both Larkin and Lee have the potential to lead the Flying Dragons to another successful season.

- Nii Adjei Nortey also contributed to this article.

HSMSE's Boys Varsity Basketball Team Wins The Division For The First Time In The School's 15 Year History

The HSMSE Boys Varsity Basketball team won their division for the first time in 15 years. The team’s strong defense, experienced players, and improved ball movement led to a 13-1 record for the Dragons.

HSMSE’s returning players have developed their skills and gained experience, leading a more mature team on the court. The team’s growth led to them winning close games they lost in previous years.

The Dragons’ superior defense was the result of hard work and dedication. Turnovers and empty possessions were common for opposing teams who couldn’t handle their relentless pressure.

“The players love to play defense, to double team, get steals, and shut down their opponents,”coach Richard Epstein said. “That was inherent in their style of play. You can't teach that type of commitment.”

They focused a lot of their energy on gaining a defensive advantage. The team relied on their defensive prowess to stop opponents from scoring many points.

“We scouted teams more and we would shut down their best player and that became part of our identity,” junior Elijah Axt said. “We were a defensive team; we’d hold [the opponents] to 40 points, and we’d score 60.”

Junior Alex Guimaraes led the team with 16 rebounds per game. It was part of the team’s increased focus on rebounding, as their starters averaged 11 more rebounds per game than last season. The players were more equipped to collect the loose balls due to their better positioning and larger size. 

“We all grew and got bigger and stronger and boxed out more and had a bigger commitment to rebounding,” Axt said. “This created many second chances for our offense while also limiting the opponents’ possession.”

Junior Tomer Oron led the team in scoring with over 22 points per game due to his multidimensional offensive style. Oron’s willingness to go right at defenders and score in the paint perfectly complimented his excellent shooting ability from beyond the arc. His aggressive drives to the basket forced defenders to back off giving him more wide open looks and enabling him to knock down more shots.

The team advanced to the third round of the playoffs before their season ended with a loss to the top seeded Uncommon Charter High School. The Sabers were already the favorites for the game, but once HSMSE’s star center Alex Guimaraes suffered an injury early in the game, the Dragons struggled to keep up and lost by a wide margin.

HSMSE looks to build on their success next season with most of their squad intact. Senior Jasper Saar is the only starter not returning to the team. Junior Justin Lin, this year’s sixth man, will be expected to join the starting lineup and make an impact. They’re excited to defend the division crown and prove this year wasn’t a fluke.

- Thomas O'Shea also contributed to this article. 

The HSMSE Girls Basketball Team Overcomes Injuries In A Historic Season

The HSMSE Girls basketball team made it to the first round of the 2020 PSAL “B” Division Playoffs after finishing second place in their division. The Dragons maintained a 9-3 record, all while losing two valuable players during the season.

The Dragons were a resilient team, so giving up was not an option. Losing players due to injury did not demoralize the team, in fact, it boosted team morale. They had to play harder in support of their sidelined teammates.

“It gave everyone an opportunity to step up and support their teammates,” coach David Scheiman said.

Before a pre-season scrimmage, starting center Nicole Ogen broke a finger during warm-ups. The Dragons lost another starter midway through the season when shooting guard Barbara Ceci broke her ankle during the first quarter of a league game. Less experienced players stepped up and helped the Dragons take victory.

“[The injuries] makes everyone work harder because everyone wants to come through for that person and win,” junior point guard Agnes Heffner said.

Following the injuries, sophomores Sandy Liang and Taylor Jeffrey filled starting positions, while freshmen Sherry Li and Lily Yan earned more playing time. The Dragons’ ability to deal with adversity sets them up for a strong upcoming season, as their younger players gained valuable experience that will help the team in the future.

- Siddhaarta Venkatesh also contributed to this story.

HSMSE Girls' Basketball Finds Victory Within Defeat

The HSMSE's Girls Basketball season ended early after losing to the 35th seeded Clinton School Hawks in the first round of the PSAL Class B playoffs at the Nat Holman Gymnasium. To an outsider, this may seem like a failure; however, the 2019-20 season was a great improvement for the Dragons. Last season, HSMSE lost a majority of their games, completely missing the playoffs.

The Dragons were able to advance farther this year, largely due to alterations in their practice style and to changes within their division. Coach David Scheiman had the team practice more often, and introduced rigorous versions of previously used drills.

“[There were] a lot more practices, a lot more dedication, a lot more leadership,” Scheiman said. “[We had] more intensity, more in-game drills, more practices, and a lot more conditioning in there.”

HSMSE benefited from changes in the PSAL’s division alignment. They avoided playing seven of the eight teams they lost to last season.

“We’re in a division in which I think we could be more competitive than we were in the past,” he said. “Some of the other teams that got out of our division [were] notoriously some of the best teams in the B division.”

The team’s newfound resolve and motivation has them eager for the upcoming season. The girls have high hopes, believing they can go much farther with their new players.

"We still have many of our starting players and many new players that can help us achieve more than we did this season," sophomore guard Taylor Jeffery said.

The team’s aspirations of a winning season will not be easily achieved, but with the Dragons continuous hard work, dedication, and practice, their ambitions could very well become a reality.

- William Reusing also contributed to this story. 

HSMSE Girls' Basketball Rising Star: Unni Isaksen

Nearly quadrupling a personal best is nothing but a jaw-dropper. HSMSE junior Unni Isaksen dramatically increased her offensive role this year for the girls’ basketball team.

Isaksen only averaged 3.5 points per game during her sophomore year. It was not until this season where she increased her output to a remarkable 11.4 ppg. HSMSE's girls' basketball coach David Scheiman noted her immense progress this year.

“Her skillset got better [and] her footwork got a lot better,” Scheiman said.“She knows how to hit lay-ups more consistently now, and she knows how to drive to the basket, not being afraid.”

Between her sophomore and junior year, Isaksen didn’t just improve her skills, but she also gained confidence on the court. However, Isaksen’s on-court actions were not the only contribution that caused the change, but a new motivation outside played into it as well.

“I think she understands how important she is to the team, and that she is getting the hang of what her role is,” he said.

Isaksen's ambition to enhance her skills and to devote herself to the game, combined with coach Scheiman’s recent practice changes created the perfect recipe for improvement. With Isaksen on the rise for her senior year, the future seems bright for the Dragons.

- Andy Jiang also contributed to this article.

HSMSE Falls To The Clinton School In The First Round Of The PSAL Girls' Basketball Playoffs

The HSMSE girls’ basketball team lost their first round playoff game 56-35, in an intense battle against the Clinton School at the Nat Holman Gymnasium on February 10, 2020.

Despite the lopsided final score, HSMSE cut the difference to only four points halfway through the third quarter. However, the Dragons’ comeback was cut short by injuries and foul trouble that stymied their star players.

“One of our main players got into foul trouble, and our point guard had a jammed finger,” coach David Scheiman said.

This forced Scheiman to put inexperienced players on the court who were no match for Clinton’s aggressive style of play. Clinton’s full-court press caused HSMSE to turn the ball over repeatedly, which exhausted the Dragons. Frustration from turning the ball over fueled unnecessary fouls.

“Unni [Isaksen] picked up her fourth foul and had to sit out the rest of the [third] quarter,” he said.

With their leading scorer on the bench, HSMSE could not match The Clinton School’s fast-paced offense. HSMSE rallied late in the fourth quarter, but ultimately could not close the gap caused by their earlier foul troubles.

“In the fourth quarter we put up a good fight,” said sophomore Taylor Jeffrey.

Rose Wladis led the Hawks with 23 points. Unni Isaksen had 10 for the Dragons in their losing effort.