By Paul Gotham
ROCHESTER, NY –With a national showcase tournament looming for the weekend, a letdown seemed possible. But any chance for a setback was quickly answered as Jon Boon’s Bishop Kearney Kings dispatched a local rival on Wednesday night.
Antwoine Anderson led four in double figures as the Kings defeated the Edison Tech Inventors, 76-58 in Section V Boys Basketball action at Ed Nietopski Gymnasium.
Anderson scored seven as the Kings sprinted to a 26-9 lead during the first quarter.
“We came out with a lot more energy than our last game,” Boon said. “When we play defense and block out, we’re a good team.”
Anderson’s layup in transition gave Kearney a 17-4 lead and prompted a timeout from the Edison bench.
The Kings did not stop from there.
Redell Freeman got into the paint and dished off to Stanley Foster for the basket. One trip later, Freeman connected on a step back jumper. Anderson made it a 24-7 Kearney advantage with a three from the wing.
The Inventors used an 8-1 rally early in the second quarter to pull within 12.
Jonathan Blythers drew contact on a drive to the basket and completed the traditional three-point play at the free throw line. Blythers got to the stripe on the next trip and connected on both. Keefa McCullough added his own three-point play on a baseline drive and trip to the charity stripe. Blythers made it 33-21 with a steal and dunk in the open floor.
Kearney responded with eight straight to take their largest lead of the game.
Jwan Smith got a tap in for two. Anderson was fouled on the arc and connected on the trio. Thomas Bryant put an exclamation point on the run with a dunk when Anderson led him along the baseline with an alley oop.
“We got a lot of guys who can finish,” Boon added. “What we do very well is get in transition.”
Blythers hit a pull up three in transition to draw Edison within nine midway through the third, but that was as close as the Inventors would get.
Freeman scored five straight late in the fourth to seal the victory. Kearney broke the Inventors 1-2-1-1 press, and Bryant fed Freeman on the arc. The point guard used a stutter step before driving the lane and finishing at the rim. Freeman grabbed a defensive rebound at the other end and went end-to-end for a lay up. The senior capped it hitting one of two free throws.
Anderson finished with 22 points. Freeman added 13 while Bryant and Alvin English chipped in 12 apiece. The Kings hit 24-of-33 from the free throw line.
Blythers led all scorers with 24.
The Kings played the game without Chinonso Obokoh who continues to recover from an injured foot.
“I’m not bringing him back until he’s 100 percent,” Boon commented about the junior.
Bishop Kearney improves to 9-1 with the win. The Kings leave for Morgantown, West Virginia where they will lay in the Moutaineer Showcase. BK plays Huntington Prep, Friday.
BK edged McQuaid Jesuit (3-9), 46-43 last time. McQuaid led 12-10 after the first quarter.
Edison falls to 5-4. The Inventors host Franklin on Friday.
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