Out of their league: Boys calls Hayes win statement of PSAL superiority

It was a victory that didn’t just prove something for Boys & Girls, coach Ruth Lovelace said, but for the public school league as a whole.

Boys High held off rallying host Cardinal Hayes for a big, 63-61 win in non-league boys basketball Saturday afternoon in front of a raucous Bronx crowd. Coming in, Hayes was ranked No. 1 in the city by The Post and Boys was No. 3.

“We convincingly won that game,” Lovelace said. “The score doesn’t really indicate the game. I feel playing in the PSAL it’s the toughest division in the city. Our division is tough. The city is tough. We beat two No. 1 teams this year – Christ the King and these guys. It’s definitely a statement.”

Denis Gostev

Boys and Girls' Leroy Fludd soars for a slam in the game in the fourth quarter.

Photos: Boys & Girls-Cardinal Hayes

Boys & Girls (17-3) did lead 57-41 with just 3:05 left before Hayes (16-2) went on a wild, 14-1 run. The Cardinals trailed just 62-61 with 4.8 seconds left after two Tyler Wilson free throws.

But it was too little too late. The Kangaroos celebrated on their court, making a case that the PSAL is stronger this year than the CHSAA. Both Lincoln and South Shore have defeated Boys High this year in PSAL Brooklyn AA league play.

“It’s a different type of game in the public school league,” said Boys & Girls senior Joel Angus, who transferred this year from Bishop Loughlin. “It’s a faster pace. …It’s tough, gritty and every night we’re playing against somebody that’s not gonna back down from you. I love it.”

Leroy (Truck) Fludd had 16 points, Angus and Wesley Myers had 15 points and Bryce Jones added eight for the Kangaroos, who upped the speed of the game, pressuring the Hayes guards and fronting future Division I posts Amadou Sidibe (Fairfield) and Jalen Jenkins. Boys & Girls led 21-20 after a helter skelter first half.

“It was a slugfest defensively in that first half and I think that worked to our favor,” Lovelace said.

The game didn’t change until sophomore Shavar Newkirk went off for Hayes. He had 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and almost led the Cardinals all the way back. Newkirk had a personal 7-0 run to get Hayes within 58-55 with 1:18 remaining.

“We showed a lot of toughness by holding onto our lead, but we have to do a better job sustaining that lead and taking care of the ball,” Angus said.

Hayes coach Joe Lods downplayed the notion that this game’s result means the PSAL is better.

“They beat us today, sure,” he said. “They got us today. But I’m a Catholic league basketball supporter. I’ll take my chances with the Jack Currans (legendary Molloy coach) and the Tim Learys (St. Francis Prep) and the Jack Alesis (Xaverian) against the public schools.”

Sidibe, Chris Robinson and Tyler Wilson all had 10 points apiece for Hayes, which was playing without starting guard Naasir Williams (coach’s decision).

Boys & Girls has now defeated two of the top CHSAA teams in Cardinal Hayes and Christ the King. When asked if he’d like some more Catholic school teams on the schedule, Fludd didn’t hesitate.

“Yes,” he said. “In states.”

mraimondi@nypost.com