Down One Star Player, Global & International Finds a New One

Three quarters into its season opener last night, the boys varsity basketball team at , looked like a contender.

Scoring at will on frantic fast breaks and forcing turnover after turnover with its press, the Jaguars held an edge over the reigning league champs Grand Street heading into the fourth quarter.

But within minutes, as the the team's already thin bench got thinner, the Jaguars surrendered to fatigue and lost 59-54.

"They need more conditioning," said head coach John Templeton. "We ran out of gas in the fourth quarter."

They also need their star point guard back.

Milton Faison, the team's leading scorer from last season, was not at the game due to a death in the family. His absence was felt whenever the team was trapped in a full court press, which was often.

"We really missed Milton," said Templeton. "He was one of my guards that I needed."

The loss comes with a silver lining, however. Playing in his first varsity game, freshman phenom Isiah Orbay led all scorers with 20 points, including 11 in the first quarter. Orbay started in place of Faison but will likely remain in the starting five as a shooting guard when Faison returns.  

"He was a surprise," said Templeton. "He came up big. I was very pleased with his performance."

But Orbay and Tabari Oyo, the team's other leading scorer a season ago, were virtually invisible in the fourth.

Orbay sat due to foul trouble and Oyo, who scored 15 points and tallied at least six steals (the PSAL doesn't officially keep track of rebounds, assists or steals), suffered calf cramps for a portion of the quarter. They combined to score just two points in the final period.

Other scorers for the Jaguars:

Akeem Joseph: 6
Ashalik Brown: 5
Mike Ortiz: 5
Ben Miller: 2
Kyle Giddings: 2

With Faison, Orbay and Oyo all in the same lineup moving forward this season, the Jaguars, who finished 5-9 last year, present a three-headed offensive attack that will give any defense it faces in the PSAL Brooklyn A West fits. All three are underclassmen -- Faison and Oyo are juniors -- meaning they have a chance to play together for the next two years. They could be a force into next season as well.

But teams won't take them seriously until the Jaguars start winning, something they haven't been able to do for the last three seasons.

"We got to keep playing hard and prove something," said Oyo. "Because we're the underdogs."