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Clutch Westchester Legends Claim AAU Title In Boston

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – They came, they saw, they conquered.

The Westchester Legends claim a last second victory to win the Zero Gravity national tournament in Boston.

Photo Credit: Contributed
The Westchester Legends at the Zero Gravity national tournament in Boston, featuring players from Armonk, Yonkers, Eastchester, Bronxville.

The Westchester Legends at the Zero Gravity national tournament in Boston, featuring players from Armonk, Yonkers, Eastchester, Bronxville.

Photo Credit: Contributed
The champion Westchester Legends at the Zero Gravity national tournament in Boston, featuring players from Armonk, Yonkers, Eastchester, Bronxville.

The champion Westchester Legends at the Zero Gravity national tournament in Boston, featuring players from Armonk, Yonkers, Eastchester, Bronxville.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Westchester Legends basketball squad - comprised of players from New Rochelle, Eastchester, Yonkers, Armonk and the Bronx - pulled off the improbable over the weekend, topping more than 500 teams from around the country and Canada to win the Zero Gravity National tournament in Massachusetts.

It wasn’t always easy for the Legends, who faced adversity during their undefeated seven game tournament run, as they won their final five games by three, two, one, five and two points.

Head Coach Steve Donnellan, who’s been at the helm for four years, called the games, and his players, “incredibly close, and incredibly clutch.”

“There were some good, dramatic victories. There were some nail biters,” he said. “It was a very good and even competition.”

After winning their pool by going a smooth 4-0 in the group stage, the Legends won their quarterfinal matchup in overtime after hitting a clutch three-point shot to tie the game in regulation before pulling away in extra time. They then went on to an easier, but still close, semifinal win, before topping even themselves by coming back from a 16-point deficit and making a last second shot to claim the national title.

With six seconds to go and his team in the bonus, Sean Donnellan was sent to the free throw line to shoot a one-and-one with his team down a point. After making the first to reach a tie, he hit the back of the rim on the second, with the ball caroming to the right side of the floor, where teammate Khari Manns pulled down the offensive rebound with three defenders battling him for the ball.

With the defense flocking toward the ball, Manns quickly swung the ball back to Donnellan in the middle of the key, who found Nick Scaglione wide open under the basket with two seconds left, and he made an easy layup to claim the title, sending fans of the Legends into a frenzy as they stormed the court when the buzzer sounded.

“We’ve really improved over the last four years with most of the same players,” Donnellan said. “I’ve seen these kids grow up before my very eyes. It’s been a great ride and a great experience.”

Donnellan said that while some of his players have a bright future in basketball, even achieving this level of accomplishment is a feat that every one of his players will remember the rest of their lives, no matter their future in the sport.

“It’s an absolutely satisfying and gratifying experience to see the success and to look at each of our players’ eyes and know they came together as a team and embraced their role on the team,” he said. “Clearly, we have players that are destined for great things in basketball, and other kids who fill an important role on the team, but maybe won’t be stars in the sport as they move forward with their lives.

“The life lessons they will take away from being a part of something that comes to a successful end will bode well for all of their futures.”

 

 

 

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