Donnie McGrath terrorized the United Brooklyn defense all night.

With about 2:30 left in the first quarter of the game between Dyckman and United Brooklyn at Pro City Thursday night, Dyckman guard Donnie McGrath dragged his pivot foot and was called for a walk. That was about the only thing the former Second-Team All Big East selection did wrong.

McGrath absolutely abused the nets for two hours, shooting 10-for-11 including 7-for-7 from behind the arc en route to 29 points in Dyckman’s 121-104 win over United Brooklyn. Read More »

All photos by Kevin Couliau for www.asphalt-chronicles.com.

Yesterday, the West 4th St. Tournament staged their annual All-Star Game. As a member of the Gym Rats, myself and Rocco Rubino were selected.

I first played at the Cage in 1993 with coach Sid Jones’ United Brooklyn and saw limited time. I hit the hallowed ground again in 1997 with Panama’s crew and contributed a little more but no real highlights I can remember. This season, however, at the wonderful age of 42, I’ve connected on 50% of my threes (7 for 14) in the three games I’ve played, and have helped our squad to a record of 2-1 since I joined (we were winless before). I was amped when the tournament director Rick Johnson asked if I’d rock with them for the All-Star contest. No doubt!

I was hoping to see Mookie, Strick, Mike Campbell, etc. there yesterday. Read More »

Defending champion PDG Queensbridge staved off a rally to win Tuesday night.

After a missed-shot and turnover-ridden last summer in which he was heckled relentlessly at Pro City, Memphis Grizzlies guard Marko Jaric seemingly would’ve received a warmer welcome at a Duke game wearing Carolina gear than on 68th Street and Lexington. Yet there walked Jaric onto the court at Hunter College Tuesday night, big smile on his face as if he was a singer performing in front of his home-town fans.

While Jaric was far from looking like an NBA star, the former first-round selection appeared more comfortable than he was last year, scoring 18 points to help lead Dyckman past Prime Time, 111-100.

New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian showed great touch around the basket with both hands and paced Dyckman with 30 points. Donnie McGrath poured in 21. Read More »

Dyckman had a lot to talk about after giving up a huge lead Tuesday night.

As Dyckman guard Donnie McGrath exited the game after missing yet another jumper Tuesday night at Nike Pro City, he looked over to his coaches with a perplexed look on his face. For the sharpshooting McGrath, poor shooting nights are a rarity. But fortunately for the former Providence star, two shots at redemption would come a few moments later.

McGrath drilled consecutive threes from the left wing to put Dyckman, which choked up a 17-point halftime lead to the Uptowners, back on top with 1:44 remaining. Read More »

2009 Fireball Champion, Money Train.

Sundiata Gaines went up for a lay-up on the left side, took a hard foul from a N.Y.A.C. defender and watched the ball trickle through the net as he lay on the ground. The play drew screams from the Money Train fans in attendance for the Fireball championship at Baruch College on Sunday, and showed that no matter how many hits they took, the boys in green would keep coming.

After trailing by as many as 16 in the first half, Money Train rallied to defeat N.Y.A.C., 87-78, behind Antawn “Anti Freeze” Dobie’s 23 points and his Co-MVP Gaines’s 19. Dobie also added 10 assists and six rebounds. Read More »