Cardozo's boy's basketball team blazed its record to 16-0 last night, using a 30-point first quarter lead to defeat Campus Magnet 66-47.
Senior guard (16 points) hit three 3-pointers and sophomore scored seven points during a game-opening 24-8 run.
Cardozo (11-0 Queens AA) overcame second-half mental errors to hold off an athletic Campus Magnet team, which came no closer than 49-42 with 6:44 left to play. Cardozo previously defeated Campus Magnet (7-5 Queens AA) 55-46 on Dec. 14.
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Hero: When 6-foot-7-inch Jermaine Lawrence slinks along the baseline for a jump shot or dashes through the paint for a dunk, it can be easy to forget that he's still just a 15-year-old sophomore. Lawrence scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the win, jolting the Judges with his high-energy play in the first quarter.
Turning Point: From the outset, Cardozo looked sharp. When Gayot and fellow senior smoked 3's in the opening minutes, you could sense momentum building.
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When Lawrence got into the act with a pretty turnaround jumper and a dunk off of an inbounds play, the Judges were rolling. It was 24-8 with 2:46 to play in the first and 30-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Quotable: "They have a bull's-eye on their backs. When we beat Campus Magnet by 20, no one will come to congratulate us. In Queens, we're expected to win," said Cardozo coach Ron Naclerio.
Bottom Line: When Cardozo shoots the way it did on Thursday, opponents are in trouble. Naclerio has confidence in his team's defense. He regards this as one of the better defensive Cardozo teams in recent memory. Gayot was dangerous as a shooter, while Lawrence continues to show flashes as a scorer and a playmaker.
Key Stat: Cardozo turned the ball over only eight times on Thursday, which bodes well for the team as they look ahead to the postseason.
Who's Next: Cardozo plays at Forest Hills on Friday at 7:15 p.m.
Teams........................Q1.......Q2...........Q3...........Q4............Final
Campus Magnet.......12.......16............10..............9.................47
Cardozo.......................30.......10.............6.............20...............66