SOUTH JAMAICA, N.Y. -- For the better part of three quarters, the Rising Stars appeared to be positioning themselves for an upset in pool play at IS8 this morning.
Then talented junior guard Isaiah Epps got rolling in the third quarter. His eight points to start the second half helped the Playaz Club juniors slip past the Rising Stars, 64-63.
Epps (Plainfield High School in N.J.) drained three three-pointers in the second half and finished the game with 13 points. The lefty sharpshooter buried his long range jumpers from deep in the corner.
Fuquan Edwin also had some key baskets in the second half too. Edwin produced nine points.
The Rising Stars led 19-15 after the first eight minutes of play and held a 32-25 lead heading into the third quarter. The Playaz grabbed the leading right before the fourth quarter began as Epps' perimeter game sharpened.
There was a few lead changes in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Rising Stars had a chance to perhaps win the game with three seconds left. However, the Stars couldn't convert two free throws as the Playaz secured the last rebound of the game.