New York City: Brooklyn's Boys Slay Lincoln

NEW YORK – A Brooklyn rivalry got a little hotter this week when Tyler Young scored 17 points and Mike Taylor added 19 as Bed-Stuy's Boys & Girls stunned Lance Stephenson and the reigning NYC champion Lincoln Railsplitters on Jan. 7, 71-61.

Easily one of the most anticipated match-ups coming into this season, the Kangaroos locked down defensively in the fourth quarter, overcoming a 49-45 deficit late in the third to hold off Lincoln in the schools' first meeting since last year's city title at Madison Square Garden.

Young scored 11 points in the fourth on a number of clutch late shots. Boys and Girls took its first lead in the fourth when Young blocked a Stephenson jumper and the ball was eventually turned over to Leroy Isler, who put the Kangaroos ahead, 50-49.

Taylor held the Boys in the game for much of the first half, hitting five from downtown in the first eight minutes.

Most impressive, the Kangaroos weathered a big effort from Stephenson, who knocked down a game-high 37 points infront of several Division I coaches. St. John's coach Norm Roberts was reportedly there, again, as were several other big college scouts for a game that was televised on MSG.

Speaking of MSG, Stephenson remained confident the Railplsitters (8-4) will get revenge on the Boys on 34th Street.

“Every time they beat us, we get them at the end,” Stephenson told nyhoops.com. “Nobody’s going to beat us at our house. Nobody’s going to beat us at the Garden."

Lincoln, of course, still needs to make it to midtown. The 'Splitters, champions in 2007-08, had lost three of five after the loss to Boys, including a pair of rough losses at the City of Palms Classic in late December. Boys and Girls will head south to Coney Island on Feb. 5 for a rematch. Mark your calendars.

Both schools followed up the game with wins. Lincoln pummeled Grady on the road, 99-45, on Jan. 8, and the Kanagroos squeaked by Transit Tech on Jan. 10, 56-54.

Christ the Kings' Oliva resigns amidst sex scandal

Longtime Christ the King boys coach Bob Oliva has resigned from the school's program admidst allegations and a lawsuit that he sexually abused a former player and personal friend.

Oliva, 64, who had spent 27 years coaching at the Queens school, has maintained his innocence. He's been on a leave of absence from the team since the season began on Nov. 1 and claims a scandal-inducing heart ailment has forced him into retirement this winter.

The lawsuit against Oliva comes from family friend Jimmy Carlino, 46, who claims Oliva sexually abused him 30 years ago. He's looking to collect $750,000 and demanded Oliva step down.

"It never happened," Oliva told the New York Daily News. "There is no truth to this at all."

The News, which called Oliva "the most important high school basketball coach in New York City," has been investigating the story.

"I don't want to ruin his reputation," Carlino said of Oliva to the paper. "But I do want him to be away from kids, so he doesn't hurt anybody again."

The shocking allegations come after a legendary coaching career for Oliva, who owns a 549-181 career record and has won five city championships with Christ the King, the Middle Village school currently ranked No. 25 nationally by ESPN.

Oliva has produced several NBA players including Lamar Odom, Speedy Claxton and Jayson Williams. He coached his final game last April when Christ the King fell to Holy Cross, 56-48, in the CHSAA championship. It was then, Oliva says, he was informed of the allegations against him.

"I deny every bit of it," Oliva said. "It's unbelievable how he concocted that story."

Oliva said he's looking forward to clearing his reputation in court.

"Let them bring it forward," he said. "Right now they are trying me through the newspaper. This is not fair."

The News' Michael O'Keefe reports that some "longtime friends of Oliva's" actually believe the "allegations are credible."

Oliva officially resigned last week and told the News, "it is a terrible way to go."

Stukes, Rice topple Royals in Manhattan

James Stukes scored 18 points and Jon Williams added 16 as the Rice Raiders held off visiting Christ the King on Saturday, Jan. 10, 71-58.

Christ the King led 34-28 at the half, but Rice came out fast in the third quarter, taking an eight-point lead late in the third. Rice (6-1) went on a 9-0 run to open the fourth and never looked back.

Sean Johnson led the Royals (9-2) with a game-high 19 points. Dominykas Milyka added 11 in the loss.

St. Ray edges Holy Cross in Queens

Harold McBride led St. Raymond with 15 points and teamed with Tyreak Johnson (14 points) and Sidiki Johnson (13 points) to help the Bronx program edge Holy Cross, 57-49, on Jan. 10.

Holy Cross led by two after the first quarter and maintained a 23-21 lead at the half. Sidiki Johnson tied the game for St. Ray in the fourth on a put-back, and Tyreak Johnson gave the Ravens a lead moments later. Holy Cross battled back, closing the deficit to 50-49 with 1:35 remaining, but a turnover and a foul helped the Ravens add to their lead.

“Any time you can go on the road and get a win in this league, you are definitely happy," St. Raymond coach Oliver Antigua told nyhoops.com. "Tyreak came up huge."

Eric Klingsberg led Holy Cross with a dozen points. The Knights will face Queens rivals Christ the King on Tuesday.

Queens Jam Christmas Classic results

Game 1
Hillcrest 69, Acorn 67
MVP - Patrick Parker 12 Pts, Hillcrest
Most Outstanding Player - Andre Ward 32 pts, Acorn

Game 2
Mount St. Michael 85, Bayside 69
MVP - Peter Aguilar 28 Pts
Most Outstanding Player - Devon Brown 27 pts, Bayside

Game 3
John Bowne 76, Queens HS of Teaching 58
MVP - Phillip Tavada 17 pts, John Bowne
Most Outstanding Player - Lerone Lashley 18 pts, QHST

Game 4
Forest Hills 59, Canarsie 52
MVP - Andre Armstrong 17 pts, Forest Hills
Most Outstanding Player - Vernell Blackman 15 pts, Canarsie

Game 5
Thomas Edison 78, Princeton Day Academy (MD) 52
MVP - Isaiah Stokley 22 pts, Edison
Most Outstanding Player - Brandon Gibson 20 pts, Princeton

Danny Wild is a writer and photographer for MaxPreps and can be reached at danny@danny-wild.com