Another incredible campaign for the Health Sciences Falcons came to a close with a 56-55 defeat at the hands of Section V’s Greece Athena Trojans in Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association Far West Regional.
The Falcons had a chance to tie the game with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter with a trip to the free throw line, but after making just one of two attempts, Health Sciences allowed the Trojans to remain in front and eventually secure the victory over the final seconds.
With the regional win, Greece Athena (23-2) advances to the state final four, where it will meet the winner of Niskayuna (II) and West Genesee (III). Health Sciences finishes the season with a record of 18-7.
Zayvion Hawkins powered the Falcons’ offensive attack with a game-high 20 points, while Nas Young added 15 points for Health Sciences. Greece Athena was paced by Russell Ellis’ 17 points.
A fast-paced, back-and-forth affair kicked into high gear to close the third quarter when a two-handed dunk from the Falcons’ Staz Chiddick tied the game at 44 entering the final 8 minutes of play.
Greece Athena seized control to begin the fourth, taking a 5-point lead with 6 minutes 5 seconds remaining. But Health Sciences bounced right back with a quick burst of its own, and with 3 minutes 59 seconds remaining in the frame, a 3-point play completed by Hawkins pushed the Falcons in front 54-52.
Two free throws from Greece Athena’s I’Zick Reaves tied the game at 54 with 2 minutes to go. Then, an offensive foul called against the Falcons gave possession to the Trojans with time ticking away. With 1 minute 15 seconds to go, an inside finish from Dominic LaMar regained the lead for Greece Athena at 56-54.
Health Sciences proceeded to go the length of the floor out of a timeout and finished a half-court set with a turnover before the Trojans gave it right back. Then, with 42.8 seconds to go, Hawkins was fouled in transition and went to the free throw line for two shots, hoping to tie the game for the Falcons. He made the first of two shots, which kept the deficit at one point, but Health Sciences secured the offensive rebound with 38.4 seconds remaining to give itself a chance to take the lead.
Out of a timeout, Health Sciences, inbounded the ball to Hawkins, who came up empty on a layup attempt. The Trojans’ I’zayah Reaves was subsequently fouled in transition, which was Health Science’s Mychael Whitt’s fifth foul, disqualifying him for the remainder of the game and sending Reaves to the line for two shots. The Greece Athena forward missed both free throw attempts, which kept the Falcons’ deficit at one point before they called a timeout in the half-court with 26.8 seconds to go.
After talking things over during the break, Health Sciences entered the ball from the sideline nearest its bench and proceeded to come up empty on a 3-point attempt. Following a timeout, Greece Athena’s Ne’Sean Fowlks was fouled and sent to the line for a couple of free throws. He missed both, but with just 3.4 seconds remaining, the Falcons pushed the ball quickly for one last desperation heave, which never reached the rim. And with that, Health Science’s season came to an abrupt halt, one win shy of a state final four appearance.
state final four appearance.
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