Aug. 2, 2007 — Needing a win to make this year’s Choices Basketball Association playoffs, Ujima did just that Wednesday night, running by Legacy 109-87.
With Legacy already assured of a playoff spot, the game did not carry the same significance for them as it did for Ujima, and at times Legacy’s play betrayed the teams’ indifference.
From the opening whistle in the first quarter of the game, played at the Educational Complex gymnasium, there was obvious urgency in the way the Ujima players went about their game. They crashed the boards both offensively and defensively and got to almost every loose ball. Legacy was doing all they could to stay in the game, but by the time the whistle blew to end the first period, they found themselves in a hole, down 25-14. The key contributors for Ujima in the quarter were Andre McIntosh and Alfredo Edwards, who both sparked their clubs’ first-quarter efforts by knocking down eight points apiece.
The second quarter was even worst for the shell-shocked Legacy ball club, which finished the regular season with a much better record than Ujima. An 11-point first-quarter lead ballooned to 25 at the half at 58-33. Ujima used a well-balanced attack to explode for 33 second-quarter points while limiting Legacy to just 19.
Legacy played a much better third quarter, outscoring Ujima 26-24 in the period, but they needed to do a lot more to get back in the game. Ujima, on the other hand, substituted freely, which may have been the reason for Legacy’s better showing in the quarter. The quarter ended with Ujima — who led by as much as 30 points in the third — still with a 25-point lead at 89-54.
Legacy played their best ball in the fourth quarter as they tried frantically to get back into the game. Led by Chris Floyd, they started raining threes on Ujima. At the 3:31 mark, they were within 12 at 94-82. Ujima’s coach got his starters back in the game and order was quickly restored. They closed out the game on a 15-5 run and stormed into the playoffs as a legitimate threat with a resounding 109-87 win over one of the league’s elite teams.
Ujima was led offensively by McIntosh, who had a great all-around game. He finished with 25 points, 12 boards and three steals. Teammate Alfredo Edwards chipped in with 28 points and five boards, Jerome Nathaniel netted 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds and point guard Kareem Degrasse finished with 17 points, seven assists and three steals. Legacy was led by J. Hosier, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. C. Hosier had 15 points and five rebounds, while Floyd netted 12 points in a losing cause.
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