42 THE COURIER SUN • JANUARY 2, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com sports ALL ABOUT BASKETBALL Aussies come to Queens • Courier’s Sports Star Patriots top Aussies on the court BY MAGGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com Australia came to Queens to play basketball, only to be blasted off the court by the Francis Lewis boys’ varsity team. Melbourne’s Club Kilsyth Cobras arrived stateside on Thursday, December 26 and played the Francis Lewis High School Patriots (PSAL 5-1) on Friday afternoon, December 27. “It’s a good cultural experience for both teams,” said Gerard Ciarleglio, Francis Lewis’ head coach. “For them to come half way across the planet, the boys were excited. They were looking forward to representing New York.” The Cobras raised $22,000 to make the trip, said coach Darren King. After playing Francis Lewis, they head to Charlotte and then to Los Angeles for games. In Melbourne, sports are played outside of school and the Cobra players train and play primarily on weekends. When the noon game started on Friday, it was about 4 a.m. back home for the Aussies, King said. Sophomore Jaheam Cornwall, the Patriots’ 15-year-old starting point guard, led both his and team and the scoreboard, ending the game with 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds – the first triple-double Francis Lewis has seen in about three years, Ciarleglio said. Cornwall achieved his goal of “being aggressive” right out the gate, faking and driving hard to the basket, making lay-up after lay-up throughout the game. Guard Ashton Rosa seemed to be the always-open man, both hitting from the perimeter and going to the basket. He racked up 17 points and seven rebounds. Despite the Cobras’ fast transition and quick offense, they were unable to see through the majority of their shots. The Patriots nearly tripled the international visitors’ score through all four quarters. Francis Lewis maintained a good defense and grabbed rebounds from the Cobras’ failed shots. Center Quentin Williams followed Cornwall in rebounds, ending with 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Following the 84-30 victory, Ciarleglio said he wants his team to “keep playing hard,” and particularly work on executing offensive plays, passing and boxing out. For the Cobras, the next move was getting some rest. “They need some sleep,” King said. Name: TRAVIS Atson School: Christ the King High School Grade: Junior Sport: Basketball Position: Forward Travis Atson is a junior forward on the Christ the King high school basketball team. Standing at 6’5,” he is one of the team’s big men. As the reigning state champions, Atson is a part of a team that hopes to defend its title. He has made a name for himself working the inside defensively, while still fi nding ways to score big points. Atson averages a double-double and has scored an average of nearly 20 points and 12 rebounds per game in the season’s fi ve games. In addition to his athletic prowess, Atson is maintaining an 85 percent grade point average, participates in blood drives and volunteers to teach basketball to younger children. Why did you start playing basketball? “I started when I was about six years old. My mom’s friend was babysitting me and she brought me to a game, and I said I want to play. My fi rst game I scored 16 points.” What colleges are you thinking about attending next year? “The main thing is to get a free scholarship to school. I haven’t thought about college yet. But I have received interest from Boston University, Hofstra, VCU and Georgetown.” What kind of community service do you do? “With my school with do a lot of community service. We just did a blood drive.” What do you like to do besides basketball? “In school I take a hip hop dance class. We performed in front of the whole school. It gets my footwork and coordination better.” What would you do if “Actually, I would want to be a teacher and I would want to be a basketball coach for my school Christ the King. First, because they get to play sports all day and I just love being around kids and having fun.” commuclass. you couldn’t be a probasketball player? STAR of the WEEK STAR of the WEEK TRAVIS ATSON
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