Boston transplant Nayan lifts Northeast

WHILE IT never came to kicking and screaming, Tony Nayan did not go quietly.

The last thing a shy, reserved kid wants to hear from his mother is that he'll have to switch high schools, especially when a change in cities is also part of the unappreciated package.

Though Nayan, a 5-10, 145-pound senior wing guard for Northeast's basketball team, sports no accent, he spent his childhood in Bahston and still misses former friends and coaches. He's still kinda quiet, too.

Guess what? Wednesday, he'll be the toast of the school, and people will be involving him again and again in spirited conversations.

"It's OK," he said, smiling. "I'm definitely comfortable here now."

Tuesday, as the Vikings topped visiting Samuel Fels, 59-56, in the preliminary round of the Class AAAA portion of the Public League playoffs, Nayan totaled 18 points and nine assists.

To boot, he was involved in almost every big play in a pulsating fourth quarter that was seized by Northeast, 26-17.

He assisted Daquan Bohannan on a trey that advanced the Vikings within 42-38 and caused their fans to become much more excited. Soon, he was draining two triples of his own to provide a 44-42 lead. And in the final 65 seconds, he hit Bohannan for another threebie, then earned the assist on the winning bucket.

It came with 8 seconds remaining and broke a 56-56 tie. Senior point guard De'Andre Williams, stationed on the right wing, did the drilling.

The overall last shot was a trey by true-warrior guard Danil Mateo. Against double stalking, Mateo uncorked from a shade to the left of straight-on. The ball hit the right side of the rim.

Northeast fans came rushing out of the stands to engulf their heroes. Looking like zombies, the Panthers walked around to various parts of the gym and one, with his jersey covering his face, laid down just beyond the baseline.

Nayan said of Northeast's final possession, "We were going to try to get it inside. I didn't see any openings there, so I looked to my side and De'Andre was right there, ready for the pass. With the season he's having, I definitely had confidence in him."

At the other end, the guys covering Mateo were Williams and Elmange Watson.

"They were right there in his face," Nayan said. "He had to shoot it a shade off-balance, so I didn't think he'd hit it."

Mateo and Berny Vilsaint combined for 53 of Fels' 56 points (95 percent). Mateo finished with 31, shooting 12-for-26 (4-for-11 on threes) and 3-for-5. Vilsaint went 7-for-12 (2-for-2) and 6-for-8 for 22.

Those guys notched 46 of the Panthers' first 48 points (Jordan Grant had two free throws in the first quarter) until Mike Turnage made one at the line with 4:19 remaining. Aside from Mateo/Vilsaint, the Panthers went 0-for-10 and 3-for-4.

Coach Mark Heimerdinger had to go without his No. 2 scorer, James Cottrell, who just transferred to Imhotep Charter. Heimerdinger said Fels does not intend to sign the paperwork that would enable Cottrell to be immediately eligible at Imhotep.

While living in the Boston area, Nayan split his sports time between football and basketball. He intended to play the former at Northeast, but neglected to get a physical and later decided to concentrate on basketball.

He's known mostly for sticky defense and, despite their numbers, he did a great job switching back and forth between Mateo and the much taller Vilsaint. In fact, Mateo did most of his damage when Nayan was occupied with Vilsaint.

"I just try to move my feet as best as possible," Nayan said.

When asked to compare Boston ball with the our version, he said, "It's a lot faster and more physical up there. But down here is also challenging."

And he added, in reference to the fourth quarter, "When I hit those two threes, I had that feeling of really being alive."

A Viking rooter was standing nearby. He bellowed, loudly enough to be heard at Cottman and the Boulevard, "This game's gonna be all over Twitter and Instagram!"

Another kid added, "And Facebook!"

Williams had 17 points and three steals. Bohannan, a three-sport mainstay (also football/baseball), grabbed seven rebounds and scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter. Watson shot 4-for-5 for eight points.

Vilsaint (12) and Terrell Mason (10) topped Fels in rebounds and Turnage dealt four assists.

Nayan lives on Marple Street, two blocks off Frankford Avenue, and wants to pursue a career in sports management.

Where?

"Philly," he said. "I've started liking it here more."

They grow 'em smart in Boston . . . once they leave.