A New York City basketball rivalry of another kind is brewing in the Big Apple, as Basketball City NYC returns to play in the $2 million, winner-take-all The Basketball Tournament this summer. Basketball City will look to avenge its narrow two-point defeat to Jamaica’s Big Apple Basketball.
Led by GM Dave Schoenholt, Basketball City is named and sponsored by the massive complex that dawns the same name on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Not only do they have plenty of practice space in prime real estate, but they also partnered with the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which helps ‘raise money, awareness, and support for the cystic fibrosis community.’ Leading the way last summer was Florida Atlantic University grad Shavar Richardson, who averaged 19 points per game. Demitrius Conger was also a source of great contribution, averaging 17 a game of his own.
The 14 seed in the Northeast, Basketball City opened up with a tough test against the 11th seeded Blue and Gold Club, a group of Drexel University greats. Basketball City was hot in the opening 18 minutes, outscoring the Blue and Gold Club 49-32 in the first half, and cruised to a 95-75 victory. Richardson led the way with 21 points and George Beamon dropped 16 of his own. Despite 21 from Conger and 17 from Richardson the next day, Basketball City went wire-to-wire with Big Apple Basketball, but fell 87-85.