March 30, 2009 — Boys Dem are the 2009 Gregory "Big Youth" Davis 15 and Under basketball champions after defeating their arch rivals the Lakers 48-33 Sunday evening at the Central High gym, but it was not easy.
Boys Dem had to play three games in one day to earn this year's crown. After losing their first game to the Lakers Sunday morning on a buzzer beater, they then had to play another opponent to get to the finals, where the Lakers were waiting again. After easily winning the second game, the stage was now set for two top teams in this year's tournament to do battle one more time.
One would expect the Lakers to be the fresher of the two teams coming into the championship game after getting the bye, but it was Boys Dem who looked fresher. However, it was an evenly played first quarter and at the end of the period, Boys Dem had a one-point lead at 11-10. Rasheed Swanson led Boys Dem with nine points and Razeem Huggins led the Lakers with eight in the opening stanza.
Tournament MVP Amadeus Derweer had the hot hand for Boys Dem in the second quarter as he netted six points to help his team double up the Lakers in the period 10-5 for a 21-15 halftime lead. Jahmoy Williams scored all five Laker points in the second quarter to keep his team within striking distance at the half.
The Lakers fought back in the third quarter and actually took their only lead of the game with 2:55 let in the third at 26-24. Boys Dem, however, closed on an 8-0 run to retake the lead for good 32-26 heading into the fourth and final period.
The game stayed relatively close in the early stages of the fourth quarter, but then fatigue began to take a serious toll on the Lakers and Boys Dem began to extend their lead on their way to being crowned the "Big Youth" Davis Tournament champions. Led by Derwer again with six points in the period, they outscored the Lakers 16-7 in the fourth to set the final margin of victory, 48-43.
Swanson and MVP Derweer led Boys Dem with 14 points and six rebounds apiece, while teammate Javier Martinez chipped in with 10 points. For the Lakers, Huggins was the only player in double digits as he finished with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Williams netted eight and Jamal James netted six in a losing cause.
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