Kaba, a 6-foot-3, 180 pound senior combo guard, exploded for 37 points, including seven three-pointers. He was the best player on the floor for long stretches of this game.
The Panthers countered with 25 points from 6-foot-2, 175 pound shooting guard Vernon Teel from Lutheran Christian in Philadelphia and a number of other double-digit scorers.
Tyreke Evans, the talented 6-foot-3 sophomore out of American Christian in Philly, suited up with the Panthers. After a slow start, Evans got untracked some in the second half, knocking down a couple of threes en route to 17 points. St. Mary's senior guard Rashad Green contributed 17 points in a solid effort, and 6-foot-9 Mike Davis from Notre Dame Prep chipped in with 16.
The Elite enlisted a pair of ringers from Niagara Falls in the form of Paul Harris and Lazar Hayward. Harris was solid, if unspectacular, in his return to Queens, racking up 10 points to go along with a slew of rebounds and assists.
The rough-and-tumble play at IS8 suits him just fine. Harris started the break and showed his considerable passing skills in transition, in addition to the requisite toughness that he brings to the table. Hayward added seven points. Tim Ambrose, the ultra-athletic 5-foot-11, 185 pound combo guard from Our Savior New American, pitched in with 16 points for the Elite.
In other IS8 action:
-Brooklyn's Starrett City defeated New Jersey-based Pump N'Run Black 84-63. 6-foot-5 swingman Saiquon Stone from Genesis One Christian School in Mendenhall, Mississippi, led the way with 18 points. Genesis One teammate and fellow Brooklynite Thomas Manzano added 14 points, all in the second half. 5-foot-10 Midwood point guard Khaleef Allicott added 13 points.
Pump'N Run, composed mostly of players from the Hun School in Princeton, New Jersey, got 25 points from 6-foot-6 forward Idris Hilliard. 6-foot-4 Josh Learing, a senior from the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, added 16 points.
-Long Island Lightning (Walsh), composed mainly of players from All Hallows High School, defeated Lawrence-Woodmere Academy 68-52. The backcourt trio of Darryl Crawford, Mark Lake, and Nick Walsh led the way with 15 points apiece. 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior shooting guard/small forward Josh Marshall led LWA with 18 points. Tyrone Nash added 10 points, and made his presence felt on the glass.
-Student-Athletes, Inc. knocked off the Juice All-Stars 75-74. Anthony Lessane led the Student-Athletes with 20 points, while Delroy James tallied 18 points. 6-foot-2 senior swingman Charles Jenkins from Springfield Gardens High School pitched in with 17 points.
Malcolm Grant paced Juice with 21 points. Antonio Pena added 17 in the loss.