LWA rolls into postseason

Lawrence Woodmere Academy rolled into the PSAA boys’ basketball playoffs after finishing the regular season with a perfect mark of 12-0, however coach Jeff Weiss believes all four teams advancing to the postseason has a shot at the title.

“Our team is ready to go, but I think any of the four teams left can win it all if they play well enough,” said Weiss, noting Evangel Christian, United Nations and Bay Ridge Prep gave the Tigers a run for their money in the second meetings. “We’ve had one big quarter against each of those teams that put us over the top,” he added.

Weiss said a tough three-game stretch late in the regular season should help LWA (19-3 overall) in its hopes to make a deep playoff run. The Tigers beat United Nations, 62-59 in overtime, on Jan. 31, came back from an eight-point halftime deficit to beat Dwight, 54-45, on Feb. 2, and held off Evangel, 58-45, on Feb. 4.

“We had a perfect week against some very good teams,” Weiss said.

Seniors Rokas Lapsys and Tristan Braverman each had six points in OT against United Nations. The Tigers scored 15 in the extra period after being held to 47 in regulation. Junior Alex Kompageorgas hit a three-pointer with less than a minute to go to force overtime. Lapsys finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds, and senior Jake Lundenberg added 20 points. “Rokas had some foul trouble early, but Jake picked up the slack,” Weiss said. “We weren’t great in regulation. We had the last possession and didn’t get off a great shot, but we played a strong overtime.”

Former league rival Dwight gave the Tigers a scare three days later when it built a 28-20 halftime lead. But Lapsys exploded in the second half and finished with 28 points and 17 rebounds to spark the comeback victory. He went 12 of 18 from the free-throw line. “We had a good conversation at halftime and made some adjustments that worked out,” Weiss said. “We doubled their point guard and took them out of their offensive rhythm. We also got the ball to Rokas more. They were playing man defense the entire game, and they didn’t have anyone that could cover him.”

Rokas (19), Kompageorgas (17) and Braverman (16) all scored in double digits against Evangel. Kompageorgas sank five shots from behind the arc, including three in the second quarter when the Tigers took command with a 17-6 run. “It was probably Alex’s best shooting game of the season,” Weiss said of Kompageorgas. “When he’s on, our team is significantly better.”

LWA has also received steady contributions from Jakob Cayne, Jack Xu and Christophe Pierre-Louis. The latter had 22 points in a runaway victory over St. Demetrius in the regular-season finale on Feb. 6.

The PSAA title game is set for Thursday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Long Island Lutheran High School.