Talk Bronx New York

 

 

Guard Dashaun Wiggins scored 34 points to lead Wings Academy past South Bronx, 103-84, in the Bronx borough semifinals

Dashaun Wiggins was still licking his wounds days after one of the worst losses of his young career, when his spirits were suddenly lifted.

He was heading back to his apartment in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx when he ran into Julio Gonzalez, a local boxing trainer Wiggins spars with during the summer to stay in shape. Gonzalez heard of the lopsided defeat, a 23-point blowout to John F. Kennedy on Jan. 22, and offered his advice.

“Sometimes a good boxer needs to get knocked out,” Gonzalez said.

Wiggins thought about the comparison. It made sense. He’s been using the analogy ever since.

The rematch, Wiggins thought the moment No. 2 Wings Academy’s 103-84 victory over sixth-seeded South Bronx went final, is Sunday.

“Kennedy’s next,” he said to himself.

Since that setback, the Wings have taken off, winning six straight, including Thursday’s impressive showing, led by Wiggins (34 points), Ronald Baker (29) and Krystian Foriest (13).

Wiggins compared the Wings team before the Kennedy loss and the one after it as two different units.
                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                Ronald Baker scored 29 points for Wings Academy

Like a boxer who is beaten for the first time, the Bronx school was exposed that night. Weaknesses, such as ill-advised shot selection and porous defense, were out in the open.

“We had to make adjustments,” Wiggins said.

Coach Billy Turnage has seen improvements in such areas. Against South Bronx, Wings didn’t rely on the 3-pointer as much, instead using it as another weapon. The Wings’ chief artillery was the dribble drive; all five starters are capable of getting in the lane, each of them able to shoot from long distance as well.

“We’re really versatile and we can do a lot of things,” Wiggins said.

On a few occasions, the streaky Phoenix cut into a lead that hovered near 20 most of the way. Each time, either Wiggins or Baker got to the basket for an easy layup. Before the setback to JFK, they may have rushed a 3-pointer.

“We’re playing together,” Baker said.

Defensively, Wings is working harder. Opponents haven’t gotten to the basket with as much ease. Penetration lanes have been cut off. Wings is protecting its own backboard better. Turnage, though, would like to see it more.

“We play defense in spurts,” he said.

Turnage was unhappy with his team’s lack of a killer instinct. They led by 15, 37-22, early in the second quarter and by 19, 61-42, at halftime. Yet, South Bronx was within nine, 75-66, seconds into the fourth quarter.

“It gives us stuff to work on,” he said.

The third-year coach, though, credited the Phoenix’s relentless intensity. They pushing the ball from start to finish, not backing down against the talented Wings. He said Joyner, the junior point guard who scored 31 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out 10 assists, could play on the ‘AA’ level for just about anyone.

“I haven’t seen too many ‘A’ teams, but if they play this well outside of their house, they’ll give people problems,” Turnage said.

It was an entertaining evening of basketball. The shot clock, South Bronx coach Doug Porter joked, could’ve been set at 12. There were few times it came into play. The game was a track meet. It was watched by a raucous crowd that roared with every made basket. Wings doesn’t have a home court and couldn’t obtain Bronx Regional, their home by default, so the game was moved to South Bronx.

“We looked at it as unfair, but we’re mentally strong,” Baker said. “We can play anywhere. That makes us work even harder.”

The loss, although disappointing, proved a point to South Bronx: The Phoenix are a legitimate ‘A’ championship contender. They gave Wings, one of the premier PSAL programs in the city, fits.

“We’re not gonna play anyone as good as them in the ‘A’s,” Porter said. “We can play anybody now.”

Wings, meanwhile, only wants to see one team right now – and that’s Kennedy. They used the word excitement to describe the upcoming matchup – Sunday at 5 p.m. at Long Island University. The 23-point loss, Baker said, made them yearn for a rematch.

It comes in three days.

“We’re hoping to prove all the doubters wrong because there’s a lot of them,” Baker said. “At times like this, it’s who’s hungrier, who really wants it.”

Said Wiggins: “We’re 1 & 1. We got to see who’s better – Kennedy or us. … I’ve never been this focused in my life.”

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Tags: Basketball, bronx, Bronx News, Bronx People, hunts point, JFK, John F. Kennedy, Kennedy, Phoenix, psal, score, South Bronx, Sports, The Bronx, Wings

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