BREAKING: In a thrilling overtime showdown, Chris Albano hit a last-second jumper to lead Susan Wagner over Abraham Lincoln 81-79 in Brooklyn on Thursday. This victory marks Wagner’s third consecutive win, improving their record to 9-2 overall, including 4-2 in league play.
Albano, a senior and three-year varsity player, delivered a jaw-dropping performance, scoring a career-high 34 points with three three-pointers and an impressive 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. His heroics came just as overtime was about to expire, cementing his status as the game’s standout player.
“Just an absolute tour de force performance from start to finish,” praised Wagner’s head coach Danny Lanigan. “He played 36 minutes and capped off his performance by hitting the game-winning shot with time winding down.”
The Falcons faced tough competition from Lincoln, who had previously been a challenge for them. “Lincoln has been a thorn in our side since we joined the division,” Lanigan noted. After losing to them four times last year, Wagner had just defeated Lincoln at home two weeks ago, but winning on their court was a daunting task.
In the closing moments of regulation, Darin Humes-James (14 points), Charles Gambino (11 points), and Adem Djonbalic (11 points with three three-pointers) also contributed to the Falcons’ scoring. The game was tightly contested, with Lincoln’s Jace Parris leading his team with 23 points and Marquise Lloyd adding 16.
With just seconds left in regulation, Lincoln’s Lloyd hit a crucial shot to tie the game at 70-70, forcing overtime. “We controlled a lot of the fourth,” Lanigan explained. “But every time we looked to secure the win, they made the right cut, the right pass.”
Overtime was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads. With the Falcons up 79-77, Lloyd sank two free throws to set the stage for Albano’s dramatic game-winner.
As the clock wound down, Albano drove toward the left wing, hesitated, and then hit a step-back jumper that sealed the victory. Lincoln had no timeouts left, and the final seconds ticked away, securing the win for Wagner.
“One of the tenets of our school is resiliency, and that’s how we won the game tonight,” concluded Lanigan. “We just kept battling.”
In other local matchups, Tottenville secured a narrow 64-61 victory over Eagle Academy SI, maintaining their undefeated league status at 6-0. Shiloh Ezderman led Tottenville with 19 points, while Armani Perez shone for Eagle, scoring a career-high 29 points.
St. Raymond’s defeated St. Peter’s 66-48, with sophomore Noah Scott scoring a personal best of 14 points. Meanwhile, New Dorp cruised past Port Richmond 63-33, keeping their hopes high in the PSAL 3A division.
This thrilling night of high school basketball highlights the intensity and excitement of local rivalries, making it clear that fans can expect more action as the season progresses.
