Francis Lewis senior Sabrina Jeridore had 10 points and 15 rebounds against South Shore. (Kendall Rodriguez)
By looking at Steve Tsai’s face afterward, you would have guessed Francis Lewis got blown out. The coach used the word “horrendous” – and worse – to describe his team’s performance.
“It was disgusting,” Tsai said.
But good enough. Francis Lewis beat host South Shore, 50-41, on Friday in a win that gives the Patriots the inside track on the No. 2 seed in the PSAL Class AA girls basketball playoffs. Lewis, ranked No. 5 in New York City by The Post, made all the plays down the stretch, including shooting 9-of-9 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
“We fight at least,” Tsai said. “But we have to clean it up.”
The game seemed to turn with Lewis (15-1, 11-0 Queens AA) ahead, 39-38, and 2:01 left. No. 9 South Shore sophomore Shelby Powell was called for a traveling violation and slammed the ball down in frustration. The referee called her for a technical foul – her fifth – that coach Anwar Gladden disputed vehemently. Lewis senior guard Shenita Urquhart made both free throws and Jasmine Davis made two more on the ensuing possession to put the Patriots ahead, 43-38, with 1:47 left.
“The refs were terrible,” Gladden said. “That’s a delay of game in a 1-point game. She wasn’t mad at the ref; she was mad at herself.”
If those four free throws didn’t seal it, Urquhart did her part to make sure the Patriots would win. She converted a 3-point play after a fast-break layup with 1:00 left, then made two more free throws with 47 seconds left to put Lewis up, 50-40. Urquhart, who has taken the starting spot of star point guard Kelly Robinson (torn ACL), finished with 23 points to continue her breakout season.
“Forget about this game – it’s the season,” Tsai said of Urquhart. “She amazes me every single time.”
Urquhart helped keep South Shore (11-5, 8-2 Brooklyn AA Group 1), which was playing without star Jasmine Odom (knee) at bay in the third quarter. She had eight of her team’s 14 points in the third, including a pair of 3-pointers.
“I just felt like somebody needed to step up,” Urquhart said.
Niya Walker was that person in the first quarter. She had six of the Patriots’ first 14 points and set the tone on the boards. Walker, typically a reserve, finished with 12 rebounds. She was a boon down low with 6-foot-3 center Sabrina Jeridore (10 points, 15 rebounds) banged up with a hurt knee.
“Niya was a beast today,” Jeridore said. “She started strong and finished strong.”
Lewis started the game on a 13-1 run, but let up defensively in the middle of the game – something that really irked Tsai. South Shore got within 21-20 and 39-38, but could never take the lead. Patriots players said the fact that Vikings were playing without Odom, who injured her knee in a loss to Midwood on Wednesday, affected their aggression. And that wasn’t the only issue.
“For some reason, no one knew who her man was,” Jeridore said. “There was a lack of communication.”
That’s something Lewis will surely attempt to correct for Sunday’s game against St. Peter’s at the John F. Kennedy Challenge. Tsai said it was some of the worst defense his team had played all year.
“He’s very upset with us,” Urquhart said.