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Adelphi Academy Panthers have strong showing

February 21, 2012 Editorial Staff

Photo courtesy of Adelphi Academy

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The Adelphi Academy Panthers continued their strong play with a trio of victories by their middle school, junior varsity, and varsity basketball teams. On January 31, the JV basketball team traveled to Roosevelt Island to square off against the Childs School. The Panthers fell behind 29-21 to end the first half.

Our players were playing undisciplined basketball and our opponent was able to capitalize. Luckily, we settled down in the second half and played the way we are capable of, said assistant coach Peter Lim.

A rejuvenated Panther team came out of the locker room and went on a 25- 5 run to put the game away early in the fourth quarter. The tenacious Adelphi defense held the Childs School to just 12 second half points to earn the 55-41 victory.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Panthers and improved the teams record to 3-6 on the season. Leading the way for the Panthers was Abraham Namer with 12 points. Ronnie Harary and Aaron Wint also chipped in 11 points apiece.

On February 1, the middle school basketball team defeated Kimisis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church 43-40 in a home tilt at the Richard E. Berry gymnasium. The Panthers are now 2-0 against Kimisis Theotokou for the season. The Panthers were once again led by the talented duo of Kaplan Cekiq and Louis Marotto. Marotto finished with 29 points including two 3-pointers while Cekiq added 14 points to go along with his 18 rebounds.

Louis and Kaplan are both very talented young men. They have made great strides in the past year. I am very excited about the future of our program, said Athletic Director James Pristouris.

Malik Dodson continued his strong defensive play with 11 rebounds and four steals. Joe Culmine also pulled down a season high five rebounds. Arber Kadiu, Mitchell Urin, Devron Woodson, and Daniel Rahman all came off the bench and played well to help preserve the lead throughout the game. With the win, the Panthers improve to 6-5 on the year.

On, Wednesday, February 8, the varsity traveled to St. James, New York and came away with an impressive 49-37 road victory against the Knox School. The Panthers led from start to finish and withheld a strong Knox run with their star Jabbare Benford on the bench in foul trouble.

The Panthers were also without starting forward Jack Tawil who injured his ankle midway through the second quarter. Tawil managed to score four points and pull down six rebounds in limited action. Adelphi put the game away for good on a backdoor lay-up from senior Charlie Berg off a gorgeous feed from Louis Marotto to go ahead 46-32. Berg finished with eight points and also pulled down 9 rebounds. The Panthers were led once again by Benford with 30 points including four 3-pointers. The Panthers are now 5-7 on the season.