Transit Tech coach Mike Perazzo disagrees with the call. (Damion Reid)
Anthony Prescott pulled his jersey over his head and walked away from the referee.
Transit Tech’s point guard knew what was coming – he was whistled for his fifth and final foul – but wanted to delay the inevitable.
“I knew it was gonna hurt my team,” he said.
The Express’ magical run came crashing to a screeching halt without Prescott (13 points) on the floor for the majority of the second half. Down nine points in the third quarter, top-seed Cardozo came storming back for a thrilling, 62-53 victory over No. 12 Transit Tech in the PSAL Class AA boys basketball semifinals.
“I feel like I let my team down,” he said. “I know it meant a lot to [teammate] Rhamel [Brown] and me, Barry [Posey], the rest of the team. I know it meant a lot to my coach. I really wanted to win.”
With Prescott running the show, creating open shots for others and finishing off drives himself, Transit Tech (18-10) had the Judges (25-7) on the ropes. Manhattan-bound forward Rhamel Brown (16 points) was having his way in the paint. The East New York, Brooklyn squad was ahead, 44-35, with 3:00 to go in the third quarter on a Deylon Bovell layup.
Prescott picked up his fourth foul with 1:07 left in the third quarter and the Express ahead 45-37. It was downhill from there. By the time he checked back in, the Judges had sliced seven points off the deficit, creating one turnover after another by pressuring Transit Tech’s less capable ball handlers.
“Obviously, it hurt,” Transit Tech coach Mike Perazzo said. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if he was able to stay on the floor. But losing him … it was devastating.”
A junior, Prescott moved over to the point after playing off guard much of his life. He was inconsistent, adjusting to the position. He enjoyed a stellar postseason, hitting the game-winning free throws in the Express’ 68-67 upset of No. 5 John F. Kennedy in the second round.
He was creating plenty of problems for Cardozo on Wednesday. Prescott scored 12 points and had a handful of assists. He beat defenders off the dribble and sank a long 3-pointer.
“I think I wanted it as bad as anybody on the floor,” he said.
He picked up his fourth on an offensive foul. His fifth came on a Dwayne Brunson layup, which gave Cardozo a 54-49 lead with 3:58 remaining. Prescott said he was trying to “scare” Brunson and move out of the way at the last second.
“I don’t know what they saw there,” he said.
After a lengthy team meeting, Transit Tech emerged from its locker room with heads held high. Under Perazzo, the Express have won two ‘A’ titles, reached the ‘AA’ quarterfinals last year and the semis this year, upsetting Kennedy and Brooklyn AA rival Thomas Jefferson, the fourth seed, in the process.
“It’s very disappointing, but we got further than last year, and our main goal is to improve,” Brown said. “I’m very proud of my team this year. We accomplished a lot. We got a lot of heart.”