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FLC's Eleby leads way in win over Overbrook

The senior guard scored 25 points to help the Bobcats turn away every Panthers challenge.

The way Malcolm Eleby figures it, he will have plenty of time to show his stuff.

But somehow the spotlight always falls on the Franklin Learning Center senior.

Great players can't help it.

And so, every time a determined Overbrook made a stab at Franklin Learning Center yesterday, the unassuming Eleby countered for the Bobcats. The 6-foot-2 guard low-keyed a game-high 25 points as FLC skirted past Overbrook, 62-57, to remain unbeaten in Public League Division A play.

Eleby reached 20-plus points for the ninth consecutive game by shooting 8 of 17 from the field and 8 of 17 from the free-throw line. But the St. Bonaventure recruit was more pleased with his seven assists and nine rebounds.

"A lot of people always think that I only shoot," Eleby said, "but that's not my game."

Indeed, with the Panthers forcing the deft outside shooter into the paint, collapsing its defense, Eleby was able to dish to his open teammates for easy buckets.

At least some of them were easy. Overbrook's Kevin Leland contested many a shot, altering several and blocking five. In the first half, the 6-3 junior scored 14 points and snared 10 rebounds as Overbrook zoomed ahead.

The Panthers, who have been depleted by injuries and had just seven dressed players yesterday, overcame early turnover woes and raced to a 31-29 halftime lead. Then sophomore phenom Nurideen Lindsey (20 points) got cooking for Overbrook (7-8, 6-4 Public League) in the third quarter and even took a cue from the unselfish Eleby.

The 6-2 Lindsey fed Vernon Harris for an early fourth-quarter deuce, giving the Panthers a 49-48 cushion. But Eleby, at the other end, muscled a layup as he was fouled. He converted the three-point play, giving FLC (14-4, 10-0) a lead - 51-50 - it did not surrender.

The Panthers, playing in their newly refurbished gym - which contained nary a mention of their most famous alum, Wilt Chamberlain (what's up with that?) - fought valiantly. Although he failed to notch another point after the intermission, Leland finished with 16 rebounds.

But with 5 minutes, 22 seconds remaining, the situation was getting dire for Overbrook. First, point guard Derrick Evans fouled out. A few seconds later, the Panthers burned their last timeout. Then Lindsey had to sit when a cut on his forearm bled onto his shorts.

Lindsey ducked into a utility room and switched shorts with Markeyse Carter, who was injured. But Carter wore size XL trunks, so the rail-thin Lindsey had to flip over the waistband.

"They were too big," Lindsey said. "I couldn't move like I wanted to move."

When he checked back in, though, Lindsey followed a miss to pull the Panthers to within 57-55. But he missed a trey attempt the next time down the floor, and Overbrook turned over the ball for the 23d time on the following possession.

Eleby made enough free throws to clinch the win. It wasn't as if he kept calling for the ball, however. It just kept ending up in his hands. The Panthers kept sending him to the line.

"I would never say it's the Malcolm Eleby show," Eleby said. "I'm just one of the players."

Franklin Learning Center15 14 19 14 - 62

Overbrook11 20 16 10 - 57

FLC: Malcolm Eleby 25, Dante Wooten 6, Ryan White 12, Kyle Sawyer 11, Denzel Yard 2, Khalief Trawick 6.

O: Nurideen Lindsey 20, Derrick Evans 7, Najee Underwood 2, Kevin Leland 14, Vernon Harris 14.