Steven Tynes’ 24 points lead Suffolk CCC to victory
Suffolk's Steven Tynes (10) puts up a shot while being covered by Hostos Nakeem Hamilton (10) in the first half during the NJCAA Region VX Tournament semifinal game between Suffolk Community College and Hostos Community College on March 3, 2018 at Suffolk Community College. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Suffolk Community had a ton of work to do in the second half Saturday night, but a strong finish brought the Sharks one step closer to a regional title.
Steven Tynes scored 24 points to lead top-seeded Suffolk CCC to a 93-85 win over visiting No. 5 seed Hostos CC in the NJCAA Region XV men’s basketball semifinals at Brookhaven Gymnasium.
The Sharks, who are ranked second nationally among Division III junior college teams, will host No. 3 seed Nassau CC Sunday at 2:30 p.m. for the regional championship.
Suffolk, which fell behind by nine with under 15 minutes left, responded with a 15-0 run and outscored their opponents from the Bronx 57-43 in the second half. The surge helped the Sharks continue a turnaround season, as they finished 11-15 last year and were bounced from the Region XV tournament in the first round as the No. 8 seed.
“I’m real proud of the guys,” coach Victor Correa said. “They’ve been fighting all year and I couldn’t be happier for them.”
After leading early in the first half, the Sharks (26-2) were on the wrong end of a 20-6 run that put Hostos up 42-31 with 1:38 left in the period. Suffolk scored the final five points of the first half, before Hostos (11-16) built its lead back up to 54-45 with 14:54 left.
Suffolk responded with a three-pointer from Tynes on its next possession, before Tyler Hammond got a steal in the backcourt and converted a layup to make it 54-50. Suffolk got within two after Tyree Grimsley (22 points) hit a layup off an offensive rebound and Jake Signer made layups on consecutive possessions to put the Sharks ahead 56-54 with 13 minutes left.
The run featured an uptick in defensive intensity from the hosts, who forced a series of turnovers and dominated on the glass at both ends. Suffolk also attacked the rim more frequently than the first half.
“We had to get back to our game, which is pushing the ball up the floor,” Correa said. The coach also credited Tynes, as the point guard’s shooting and playmaking helped key the comeback. “He’s the Region XV player of the year for a reason and he’s the engine that makes us go.”
Suffolk will now again have to contend with Nassau, the two-time reigning Region XV champions who eliminated Suffolk in each of the past two tournaments.
Said Correa: “I told the guys there’s no way to go around them so we have to go through them.”
