Ervin Leads Win Over Douby, Grady
Point guard Gary Ervin scored from all over the
floor en route to a 25 point performance as Robeson
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pummelled Brooklyn rival Grady 85-44 Saturday in the
PSAL semifinals at St. John's University, earning a
date against Lincoln in next weekend's PSAL
Championship at Madison Square Garden.
Ervin spearheaded Robeson's up-tempo attack and
teammate Ontea Gates nagged Grady star Quincy Douby
all-afternoon, holding the Hofstra-bound sniper to 13
points. Gates's defensive performance helped set the
tone for Robeson, as Grady's deliberate offensive
approach generated few buckets against their
opponent's tenacious defensive effort.
"(Gates) tries to get into your head," said
Ervin."We go at it in practice every day. If he
can(get in my head), he can do it to anybody."
Robeson used an early 8-0 run to gap coach Jack
Ringel's group, as a Terrence Jackson three and steal
and lay-in by Ervin translated into a 13-4 first
quarter lead. The lead would balloon to 22 points
midway through the second quarter, as Gates snatched
up a loose ball and connected on a leaner, senior
swingman Keith Willis drilled a three, and 6'8''
senior Shakeim Mitchell hit from eight feet, as
Robeson extended their advantage to 33-11 with 5:14 to
play in the second.
A pair of pull-up jumpers by Willis and lay-in off
the break by Ervin pushed the deficit to 41-19 at the
half.
Grady would come no closer than 20 the rest of the
way, the team able to generate scant offense. Robeson
continued to score off the break, piling up points in
transition as their lead ballooned to 40 late in the
fourth quarter.
Ervin led Robeson with 25 points, including 11-12
free throws. Willis tallied 19 points, while Mitchell
added eight plus a handful of blocks and Jamel Austin
chipped in eight, as well.
Douby led Grady with 13 points, including a couple
of smooth drives to the rack, but never really got
untracked behind the arc. Robeson's defenders,
particularly Gates, did a good job of denying him the
ball and receiving passes in good position. Douby's
teammates Kimani Blaize, a junior guard, added 11
points in the loss.