Day 3 at the Slam Dunk: When pushed, MV responds
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- December
- 30
If you read my story today, you know Mount Vernon responded in the face of serious pressure from Jamestown. The Knights won their second Slam Dunk title in four years 82-69. Nadia Duncan and Kwinnyata Mercer combined for 51 points and 22 boards. Duncan was named MVP.
Jamestown was as advertised, pressing and firing 3’s for four quarters, Ossining-style. At first it didn’t look like Mount Vernon could handle it, but the Knights relaxed and refocused on breaking the press. Mercer did a solid job of grabbing rebounds and pushing the ball upcourt to open teammates. Whether it was Duncan, Carece Moore, or Taylor Palmer, MV’s players played tic-tac-toe, never letting the ball hit the ground in a breathtaking display of ball movement.
The Knights nearly went up by 20 early in the second quarter after a 20-2 run. Frankly, I thought they were going to run Jamestown out of the building. But Jamestown came back behind its two stars and it made for a competitive game throughout.
Afterward, I asked Duncan if her team saw its run end because it wore out from running up and down the court. “No,” she said, sounding a lot like someone who’s matured a great deal this season, “I think we just got lazy.”
The lead shrunk to as many as seven in the fourth quarter, but Mercer turned it back with back-to-back 3’s. That sequence didn’t end things, but gave MV enough cushion to win pretty comfortably.
To me, the other star at the County Center this week was the County Center itself. I loved the new setup, which included hundreds of added seats behind the stage-side basket. There are also a few more rows around the press table, which makes it harder for assorted clowns to both Kevin and I. (Honestly, I’m just kidding…)
Anyway, if you didn’t get a chance to see the new digs, you missed out. They’ll be on full display during Championship Week.
FINAL SLAM DUNK RECAP â€â€
Thursday’s Girls Challenge Game:
LOURDES 62, BRIARCLIFF 49. MVP: Kim Dweck, Lourdes, 13 points 13 rebounds, six assists. “Here’s Kristin Noonan’s story on the game.”:http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071228/SPORTS02/712280377
Friday’s semifinals:
JAMESTOWN 75, NORTH ROCKLAND 69. Mary Abrams 23 points, 18 rebounds. “Here’s Jake’s story on the game.”:http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/SPORTS02/712290386/1034/SPORTS
MOUNT VERNON 63, JAMESVILLE-DEWITT 36. Nadia Duncan 23 points, 12 rebounds; Taylor Palmer 18 points, three assists. “Here’s my story on the game.”:http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/SPORTS02/712290380/1034/SPORTS
Saturday’s consolation:
JAMESVILLE-DEWITT 46, NORTH ROCKLAND 45. Abrams 23 points and 12 rebounds. (Note: Abrams left with a knee injury in the fourth quarter and didn’t return, but told me afterward she’d be OK.) “Here’s Jake’s game story.”:http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071230/SPORTS02/712300368/1049/sports02
Championship:
MOUNT VERNON 82, JAMESTOWN 69. Duncan and Mercer 51 points, 22 rebounds. MVP: Duncan, 47 points and 25 rebounds in two games. “Here’s my story on the game.”:http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071230/SPORTS02/712300368/1049/sports02
All-tournament team:
Duncan, MV (MVP)
Taylor Palmer, MV
Kwinnyata Mercer, MV
Nikki Frederickson, Jamestown
Erinne Cunningham, Jamestown
Brittany Cohen, Jamesville-DeWitt
Mary Abrams, North Rockland
This entry was posted
on Sunday, December 30th, 2007 at 1:16 pm by Josh Thomson. 
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Josh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. Away from sportswriting, Josh lives in Westchester and spends his free time either with his fiancee, Sarah, or expertly managing his various championship-winning fantasy sports teams. He's visited 21 major-league baseball stadiums and insists that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are the best by far. Josh graduated from Carmel High School in 1998, then went to Boston University, where, in 2002, he received a degree in communications with a minor in history.
MV was awesome this week. Great players, amazing hustle and teamwork.
Even the uniforms look good, now if only the Parents in the crowd would act like grown ups.
MV is a great team..DUNCAN, PALMER, MERCER….but dont forget about the great defense effort put foward by STEWART….both games, stewart had an outstanding defense gave…mostly blocks and rebounds in game one..but even greater rebounds, steals, and passes in game two…STEWART has not yet developed as a scorer but can score, which will be seen as the season progesses…it is not only about points which duncan, palmer, and mercer bring to the table but defense is also very important…i feel that STEWART deserves some recognition…