Allderdice beats Obama Academy to capture 4th City League boys basketball title
By:
Sunday, February 18, 2024 | 4:38 PM
The Allderdice boys basketball team poses for a picture following a win over Obama Academy in the City League championship game Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Major Rainey celebrates with the City League championship trophy Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Azerick Jetter (5) and Skye’Zir Reeves (40) celebrate victory following the City League championship game Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s Aaron Jackson II reacts as Obama Academy falls to Allderdice in the City League championship game Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Payle Slepcey (33) receives the MVP award for the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Logan Golle (left) and Payle Slepcey (right) show off the City League championship game trophy and MVP to the crowd at the City League championship game Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s Torrien Perkins attempts a driving layup over Allderdice’s Lukas Stead during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Logan Golle (right) attempts a floater over Obama Academy’s Kevian Harris during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Payle Slepcey (right) and Obama Academy’s Torrien Perkins tip off the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Logan Golle (right) hauls in a rebound over Obama Academy’s Zion Connor (left) during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Lukas Stead looks to pass through pressure from Obama Academy’s Torrien Perkins during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s Kevian Harris has his shot blocked by Allderdice’s Zach Coffey during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Logan Golle scores on a breakaway layup during the City League championship against Obama Academy on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Logan Golle (right) fights for a loose ball with Obama Academy’s Torrien Perkins during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Payle Slepcey shoots a floater over Obama Academy’s Torrien Perkins during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Lukas Stead hauls in a rebound through traffic during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Lukas Stead attempts a shot over Obama Academy’s Kevian Harris during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s Naron Jackson II corrals a loose ball against Allderdice during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s Tyvon Morse shoots against Allderdice’s Payle Slepcey during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s torrien Perkins (left) defends a pass attempt from Allderdice’s Ma’Ayan Kohai during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Logan Golle (left) is helped to his feet by teammates Zach Coffey (right) after drawing an and-one call during the City League championship against Obama Academy on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Asher Schwartz attempts a three pointer against Obama Academy during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Lukas Stead (left) and Payle Slepcey speak with a referee following a foul call during the City League championship against Obama Academy on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Payle Slepcey and Lukas Stead (right) fight for a loose ball with Obama Academy’s Torrien Perkins (center) during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Payle Slepcey scores on a breakaway layup during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s Torrien Perkins (left) throws a no-look pass to teammate Kevian Harris (right) past Allderdice’s Asher Schwartz (23) and Azerick Jetter (5) during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Obama Academy’s Tyvon Morse attempts a layup past Allderdice’s Azerick Jetter during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s Lukas Stead (right) fights for a loose ball with Obama Academy’s Torrien Perkins during the City League championship Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Allderdice’s fourth consecutive City League championship didn’t come easy.
The Dragons didn’t shoot well, and every possession was hotly contested. But in the final minute, Allderdice guard Logan Golle drew a charge, and the Dragons forced another turnover to escape with a 44-37 win over Obama Academy on Sunday afternoon at Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
“I know when my shots aren’t falling I have to do other things on the court,” said Golle, who scored 12 points and was 0 of 4 from the 3-point line. “Even though they weren’t falling, I had to keep playing.”
The Eagles (10-12) played Allderdice significantly better during this matchup than the first two meetings. Obama Academy lost the two regular-season meetings by 28 and 30 points, respectively.
Dragons coach Devin Crummie emphasized to his players that this game wouldn’t be like the first two meetings. Allderdice was playing without Major Rainey, who was lost for the season due to an injury in late January.
“If we blink and aren’t ready, they are going to steamroll us,” Crummie said. “It’s a huge rivalry. All the factors are going to make them a tough competition. Factor that in with them taking away all the things we like to do, and you have a game like that. To win in that fashion, I don’t want to to say it’s more rewarding, but it’s fitting for these guys and the way they grind all the time and work every day.”
Eagles coach Naron Jackson was pleased with the improved effort.
Obama Academy started the season 0-6 and has steadily improved throughout the season.
“We don’t get any points for close games,” Jackson said. “We came here to win a basketball game. We knew we could win a game, and it would come down to the end. We preached it all year long. We preached it from the first practice.”
Neither team had a shooting performance to write home about. The Dragons (20-4) shot 10% (2 of 20) from the 3-point line. Obama Academy shot 20% (2 of 10).
“I think there were certain guys who I said, ‘You are a cutter right now,” Crummie said. “Maybe get a paint touch and kick the ball back out. It’s hard to tell kids not to take an open 3 because it is such an important part of basketball.”
Allderdice went ahead for good, 36-33, on a 3-pointer by Paylle Slepcey with 6 minutes, 7 seconds remaining. Slepcey finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Keivan Harris led Obama Academy with 12 points. Torrien Perkins scored a layup with 2:41 remaining to cut the lead to 38-37. The Eagles got the ball back with a little over a minute remaining down by one.
Golle drew the charge on Perkins with 51 seconds remaining. Lukas Stead then scored a layup to stretch the lead to three points.
Allderdice (20-4) then forced another turnover and was able to score on a layup to lock up another championship.
“This means everything,” Slepcey said. “This is everything we worked for this entire year to get to here and this point. We did lose Major in the process, but the extra motivation went for him.”
Tags: Allderdice, Obama Academy
More Basketball
• 19 WPIAL players picked for 2024 all-state girls basketball team• 23 WPIAL players picked to 2024 all-state boys basketball team, including 2 players of the year
• Hampton basketball readies for rare coaching search
• Hall of fame basketball coach Joe Lafko steps down at Hampton
• Corey Dotchin steps down as Highlands boys basketball coach
