by Alex Schwartz

After 14 regular season Nike Elite Youth Basketball League regular season games, all three New York teams qualified for the prestigious Peach Jam.

The Albany City Rocks (8-6), Metro Hawks (7-7), and New York Gauchos (9-5) all made the 24-team field for the inaugural EYBL Finals. Once there, it was no longer smooth sailing for the Empire State squads.

The three squads went a combined 5-11 in South Carolina, with none finishing above .500 and only one advancing out of pool play. Needless to say, it was not the outcome New York basketball fans were likely hoping for. Nonetheless, there were some major bright spots for the trio of teams.

The Metro Hawks opened pool play with two wins, including one over a regular season pool champion, the St. Louis Eagles. The Eagles have gone on to the semifinals and their lone loss is to the Metro Hawks. Led by the play of Arizona-commit Sidiki Johnson '11 of Oak Hill Academy (VA), the Metro Hawks went 3-2 in pool play to finish second in Pool C and advance to bracket play.

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