Controversy Taints Lady Kangaroo Reunion

Even when they're finally allowed to play -- their last game was canceled due to lack of enough players -- the girls basketball team can't seem to catch a break.

Back on the court at last, after nearly a month off and two forfeits, the lady Kangaroos were on the brink of a major upset Wednesday night against first-place Grand Street Campus, winning by three points with less than three minutes remaining.

But it was still plenty of time to sway the momentum to their opponent, behind an incident that was out of their hands:  With 1:33 remaining in the game and with just a one point lead, the Boys and Girls home crowd was slapped with a technical foul because of what the referees described as "horsing around" during a Grand Street free throw.

Grand Street made both free throws, retained possession and drained a three pointer. When the damage was done, Grand Street was on an 8-0 run, too deep of a deficit to rally back from. They lost 56-52 and fell to 2-6 on the season.

The game was paused for several minutes while coach Mark Baker contested the technical call. Baker said he would protest the game to the PSAL.

"I thought  we were cheated," Baker said. "I felt it was extremely unfair and I'm going to call the commissioner tonight and I'm going to protest."

When asked for explanation for the call, a referee said the technical was called because the crowd was "horsing around."

"It's unfortunate that it comes down to a situation where instead of letting the kids play, things are decided in other fashions," Baker said.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Kangaroos' performance was remarkable considering that just two days ago, only two girls attended practice. Several of the players were ineligible due to violating an academic policy that principal Bernard Gassaway implemented at the beginning of the year. Students must pass first period classes to participate on a team, a policy designed to prevent students from arriving late to school.

Because so many players were ineligible, the Kangaroos forfeited two games this season. But on Tuesday morning, Principal Gassaway agreed to lift the suspensions, allowing the girls to rejoin the team.

On Wednesday, despite playing together for only the second time since Dec. 10, Boys and Girls substantially narrowed the gap between them and Grand Street, who coasted to a 51-29 win in the season opener in November.

"For the time that we've been off, the trials and tribulations we've been going through, the adversity, I thinks we actually overcame that today," Baker said. "Of course it's always a work in progress, but at this point in the season, we're now gelling."

Senior Folashade Frazier led all scorers with 22 points, including 18 in the second half and 12 in the final period. Darius Baker chipped in with 15 points and sophomore Paloma Anderson had 9.

The Lady Kangaroos resume their season next Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 5:00pm in the Boys and Girls gym against Medgar Evers College Preparatory School.