Small Apple Sports

During the first two quarters, Nathan Frandino shot some raw footage of the crowd and of the Invitational’s first matchup between the Boys & Girls and Rice.

Rice’s Kevin Perez brings the ball up the court as Boys & Girls Malik Nichols defends. Nichols leads the Kangaroos with 7 points at the half, as Rice leads 25-21. I just spent the halftime timeout reading Robert Abruzzese’s touching story on Nichols, whose mother died tragically on New Year’s Eve.

The Brooklyn Express Drum Line from Ocean Hill (photo: Nathan Frandino)

Jermaine Sanders leads the way for Rice with 10 points at the 5:30 mark in the second quarter.

The play has been sloppy so far as Boys & Girls leads Rice 19-14 after the first quarter. Forwards Jeffland Neverson and Leroy Fludd lead the way for the Kangaroos with 6 points apiece. Cincinnati-bound Jermaine Sanders has been a load on the boards and leads Rice with 5 points.

Boys & Girls Kangaroos (17-3) vs. Rice Raiders (10-6), 6 p.m.

St. John’s vs. Syracuse at Madison Square Garden