Westhill battled Poly Prep in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s New York State Federation Class B semifinals, but the Blue Devils handed the Warriors a 55-49 loss at Shenendehowa High School.
The Federation tournament returned this season after a hiatus for the past few years due to the Covid pandemic. The Warriors qualified this year when they captured the Class B state title last weekend.
In Saturday’s game, Poly Prep clung to a 25-23 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, the Blue Devils built a 32-26 lead. Kam Langdon, however, came through for Westhill with a 3-pointer and a layup to cut it to 32-31.
Langdon’s effort turned out to be the only bright spot for Westhill in the third. Poly Prep went on a 9-0 run, keyed by Phillip Lawrence. Inside the final minutes of the third, the Blue Devils outscored the Warriors, 14-4, for a 46-35 lead at the end of the quarter.
Westhill scored a couple of quick baskets, and an Omar Robinson free throw sliced the score to 46-40.
“We tried to get (the team) back to what we do well,” Westhill coach Kevin King said. “We just had to move the ball, be patient and get our shots.”
Robinson then took matters into his own hands for Westhill with a monstrous dunk off the fastbreak and a layup after he caught a pass in mid-air. With that, the Warriors were down by just two points with a couple of minutes left in regulation.
“It was a scramble (in the fourth quarter). It was up-and-down,” King said.
Westhill tried to match up with Poly Prep, but the Blue Devils proved to be too much to handle. Jesse Moskowitz’s basket with 1:49 left protected Poly Prep’s lead until the final buzzer.
“We didn’t play as well offensively as we would have liked. (Poly Prep) is a good team,” King said.
Robinson paced Westhill with 21 points. Langdon chipped in 14 points, while Shawn Mayes contributed eight points.
Lawrence dropped in a game-high 25 points for the Blue Devils. Igoe and Karim Camara added 10 points apiece.
The Warriors capped their 2022-23 campaign with a 24-4 record and Section III and New York state Class B crowns.
>> Westhill boys basketball holds on down the stretch to secure Class B state title
“I’m really proud of the kids, especially the seniors. It was a great year,” King said.
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