MANHATTAN, NEW YORK – Lincoln Steinkamp (Form V) propelled the Eagles to an easy win over the Collegiate Dutchmen Friday night, in the last regular season game of the year, leading Fieldston with 16 points. The forward shot 4/10 from the field, 1/4 from beyond the arc, made all seven free throw attempts and added four rebounds and a steal. And he would likely have contributed more on offense had head coach John Dwinell needed it, but the Eagles finished the third quarter up 54-30, allowing Dwinell to rest all five of his starters for much of the fourth quarter and give his reserves an opportunity.
The Fieldston win marked the conclusion of a two-round tournament hosted by Collegiate, also featuring Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School and Hunter College High School. The Eagles reached the championship after a 75-47 blowout over Hunter on Thursday afternoon, while the Dutchmen just barely squeaked by FDR 47-42 to advance. The two played the championship after the third place game between FDR and Hunter.
The Eagles showed their intensity from the first quarter, wielding a full-court press and scoring 14 of the game’s first 17 points. After that point, Collegiate brought the game within seven points, 16-9, before Fieldston pulled away for good. The Eagles led 33-19 at halftime following a buzzer-beated from forward Cooper King (Form III) assisted by guard Shaan Daly (Form V), and the lead only increased. A 13-2 Eagles run to start the third quarter put them up 46-21, erasing any possible hope for Collegiate, who ended up losing by 29 points.
The Dutchmen never gave themselves a chance on offense, as they turned the ball over 14 times over the first three quarters, during which they attempted just 23 field goals and seven three-pointers. Even on possessions that did result in shots, they failed to score any second chance points, grabbing only three offensive boards compared to Fieldston’s nine (of which Steinkamp had three). Collegiate’s record fell to 9-16 with the loss, and their season record against Fieldston 0-3. In those three games, the Eagles outscored the Dutchmen 209-116.
Sam Bienvenu (Form VI) led the Eagles’ defense—which even forced a 35-second shot-clock violation in the second quarter—with three steals. The forward had an uncharacteristically quiet day on offense, scoring just nine points (4/8 FG, 1/3 3PT). Bienvenu added five rebounds and an assist as well.
For much of the game, the Eagles found themselves in foul trouble. Bienvenu and King both committed three fouls, and Collegiate took advantage, shooting 13/18 (72.7%) from the charity stripe.
Overall, it was a remarkably efficient offensive showing for the Eagles. They shot 26/48 (54.2%) from the field and made all 13 free throw attempts. Daly and guard Carter Samuels (Form VI) each contributed 11 points. Daly (4/6 FG, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT) added a rebound, four assists and two steals. Samuels (5/10 FG, 1/2 3PT) recorded three rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block.
The 72-43 victory and tournament win served as an ideal finale to the Eagles’ regular season, as they finished with a 17-6 record, winning their last five after losing three straight. As the top seed in their bracket, their first playoff game will be at home in the quarterfinals, Saturday, February 21, against the winner of Berkeley Carroll (8) and Brooklyn Friends (9) on Thursday.
