By Paul Casey Gotham
(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) –Gerry Burns and his Monroe Community College Tribunes needed redemption on Sunday afternoon. One Tribune in particular went seeking a second chance.
Isaiah Jefferson (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo East) scored six points and grabbed three rebounds in the final 60 seconds of play as the Tribunes came from behind to to trim the CCAC-Allegheny Cougars 73-67 in action at Monagan Court.
Trailing by one, Jefferson put the Tribunes ahead to stay with a rebound and putback of a missed free throw. At the other end of the floor, the 6’3″ guard was fouled when he leaped across the lane to corral a defensive rebound. He hit both chances (two of his four free throws in the final minute) to seal the victory.
“I could hear his voice in my head,” Jefferson said of his head coach.
It didn’t take much imagination. Jefferson got a clear message from his head coach in the first half.
“Coach tells us everyday to play hard,” Jefferson explained. “I wasn’t playing hard. I had to stop turning over the ball and make good decisions.”
Jefferson earned some time on the bench. The freshman made good of the experience and finished with nine points, five rebounds and two assists.
“He played well,” Burns said of Jefferson. “I don’t think our team played particularly well, but he played hard.”
Despite committing 14 turnovers, the Tribs led 33-32 at half.
MCC’s defense kept the game close in the first half. The Black and Gold extended its pressure 40 feet from the basket and forced a shot clock violation. On the next possession, Mike Wilson (Philadelphia, PA/Rise Prep) grabbed a defensive rebound and hit Algeron Torrance (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran) in stride for a basket in transition.
With the Cougars continuing to push the ball, Torrance got on the floor for a loose ball and freed Chris Thompson (Far Rockaway, NY/ Beach Channel) with an outlet pass who found Marcus Feagin (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) ahead of the pack. Torrance sprinted the floor, again, and received the return dime for an easy deuce. MCC trailed 23-19.
“When nothing goes right, you have to defend,” Burns explained. “We didn’t execute well. We didn’t shoot the ball from the free throw well, but those are the games that make you better. If you can survive and win that game, you’ll be a better basketball team next time you play.”
Feagin stripped the dribble next time down the floor and went end-to-end to draw the Tribs within two at 23-21. The 6’2″ Feagin made one of two free throws before Wilson tied the score at 24 with a steal and bucket.
After making one of two free throws, Wilson had a steal and a bucket. On the next possession, the freshman guard drew contact in the lane and finished both from the charity stripe.
Then Wilson found Thompson to the left of the basket for a layup.
Andre Armstrong (Queens, NY/Notre Dame Prep) had a steal and finished with a layup at the other end, and Eddie Callender (Philadelphia, PA/Lankenau) finished the scoring before halftime with a free throw.
The teams traded punches in the second half.
Callender gave the Black and Gold a three-point edge at 42-39 with a rebound and putback of his own miss.
But Marcus Smith (Perry Traditional) answered for the Cougars with a layup and free throw.
Richardo Chatman gave Allegheny a 50-49 lead with a free throw.
The teams traded leads twice in the game’s final eight minutes.
Wilson led the Tribs with 17 points. The 6’4″ guard added four assists and seven rebounds.
Callender chipped in 15 points and six boards.
Torrance had a game-high eight rebounds.
Allegheny’s Ajani Ogbonna (Westinghouse) led all scorers with 28.
MCC improves to 2-0 with the win.
The Tribunes host Cuyahoga CC next Saturday in the opening round of the MCC Tournament. A 3 p.m. tipoff is scheduled.
Great job Tribunes keep up the good work in the class and on the court !!!