Clinton continues to roll in PSAL playoff tune-up

DeWitt Clinton’s high school boys basketball team beat the Wolves of Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, 63-38, in a scheduled non-league game Saturday afternoon at the former Monroe High School building in Soundview.

The Governors have dominated their league all season with an 11-0 record with only one game left in the schedule. Saturday’s win puts the team at 12-0 on the season.

Knowing they’d face stronger opponents in the playoffs later this month, the Governors were looking for a challenge to get themselves ready for the citywide tournament. For the first few minutes it looked like WHEELS could provide that challenge, but ultimately Clinton would pull away.

It was a rough start for the Governors, opening the game with a missed three-pointer, an open layup, and another missed three. Clinton was barely ahead 13-10 just 6 minutes into the first quarter, and it was clear that this time they couldn’t lean on their physicality to control the game.

The mood shifted when senior guard Carter Archibald made a crucial layup through traffic and Junior Nowah Hargrow — nearly from half court — sank an uncontested three, flexing his arms when he turned to the bench.

From there, the Governors pulled away slowly with each quarter: 29-16, then 45-28, in the second and third quarters, respectively. In a game of organized basketball with rigid defense from both sides, it was the Clinton boy’s flare and ability to score under pressure that separated them from WHEELS.

Seeding for the Borough Championships was to be posted by the PSAL on Tuesday. Then on Feb. 20 the city championship beckons. The Governors will be waiting for a good seed to show the rest of us exactly how good they are on a grander scale. Right now they’re a big fish in a small pond, ready to be let out.