During the regular season Tilden finished tied for fourth place in the Brooklyn III-A division with a 7-7 record. Thanks to a new rule instituted by the PSAL requiring a .500 record in league games, the Blue Devils qualified for the city playoffs.

Seeded 23rd among 51 schools that began play in mid-February for the chance to be crowned the best team in the city, Tilden didn’t seem to have much of a chance to get out of the first round. But that’s why they play the games.

On the heels of a thrilling 56-54 overtime victory over #7 Frederick Douglass Academy behind a layup by Delphin Jean Pierre at the buzzer, the Blue Devils now find themselves among the final eight teams in the city.

If it were not for Jean Pierre, who scored six of his team-high 14 points in the extra session, the Blue Devils would not advance to play #2 Grady. Jean Pierre struggled with his shooting all night and missed a couple of layups late in the second half, but stepped up his game in the overtime.

“I was upset,” said Jean Pierre. “I wanted to make it up some how.”

After Stephen McKoy, Jr. (19 points) of Frederick Douglass tied the game at 54 with seven seconds left, James Mills took the inbounds pass, dribbled the length of the court and fed Jean Pierre for the game-winning layup that just beat the buzzer.

“God blessed me with that last shot.” said Jean Pierre. “It’s a great feeling. I looked up and the ball went through.”

The Blue Devils would never have been in that situation if it were not for the three-pointer that Brendon Luckain pulled up and drained from the right side of the court with 14 seconds remaining that forced the extra period. Tilden then opened a six point lead in the overtime and almost gave the game away before Jean Pierre’s game-winning basket.

Tilden, which had beaten #10 Wings in the first round, is peaking at the right time. The Blue Devils’ tough division schedule, which almost cost them a playoff spot, is helping them win close games.

“I feel Brooklyn III-A is consistently the best high school division in the country,” said Tilden coach Eric Eisenberg. “Playing in this division helped us mature and understand what it takes to win.”

While Frederick Douglass went undefeated in Manhattan I-A and won the Manhattan Borough championship, a lack of senior leadership hurt the Lions.

“Our youth really showed,” said Frederick Douglass coach Pat Mangan, who has no seniors on his roster. “They have seniors and size, very important at this time of year.”