By Paul Casey Gotham
ROCHESTER, NY — Tevin Chisolm led three in double figures as the Henninger Black Knights (III) defeated the Bishop Kearney Kings 50-42 New York State High School Boys Basketball action at Ed Nietopski Gymnasium Friday night.
Chisolm scored seven as the Black Knights took control in the game’s second quarter. Henninger scored the first ten of the quarter.
The 6’2″ guard started the period with a pull up three. On the next trip down the floor, Chisolm drove the lane and finished with a tear drop over the outstretched hands of the Kearney defense.
“He’s our glue,” said Henninger coach Erik Saroney of his three-year starter. “He’s a very old-school player. Not fast, not quick, but he gets by you. He’s got some old YMCA moves.”
The Black Knights grabbed their largest lead of the game at 26-11 when Chisolm penetrated the paint and kicked to Keith Tyson for a catch-and-shoot three. Tyson added another trey moments later on a baseline out-of-bounds play when he started on the low block and used a picket fence screen created by two teammates for the basket.
The Black Knights led 35-22 at the half.
“Defensively, our number one goal was to keep them away from the basket, and we did a horrible job of that,” Kearney coach Jon Boon said. “Almost everything was at the basket. The threes were created by people getting into the lane and breaking us down.”
After falling behind 8-7, Henninger held the Kings to just three field goals for the remainder of the half. Kearney’s formidable front court of Chinonso Obokoh (6’9″) and Thomas Bryant (6’7″) were held to a combined 10 points in the first half and 16 for the game.
Saroney pointed out the play of junior Ahmad McKinney getting just his third start of the year.
“I thought he did a phenomenal job on Thomas inside and on the perimeter. Marquies Young did a great job on Obokoh. We tried to front him and keep it out of his hands as much as possible.”
“A lot of our problems were self-inflicted,” Boon explained. “We had 17 turnovers through the first three quarters. You got to be stronger with the basketball. We talked about it before the game. They are very athletic. They’re very long.”
Bryant and Obokoh managed just five field goals for the contest.
“I’m real proud of our big guys. Defensively, we executed what we worked on against their size which we don’t see very often.”
Struggling with their offensive execution, the Kings used their defense to rally in the fourth. BK created turnovers on five straight possessions and six overall in the stanza.
“This is a state level game,” Saroney continued. “It was so physical. I think both teams were worn down, and it became a battle of attrition at the end.”
Redell Freeman got into the lane off the dribble created contact and got to the free throw line where he converted one of two. The senior point guard followed with a steal and layup. Alvin English hit a leaner, and the Kings were within nine at 43-34.
The rally continued.
Freeman hit two from the charity stripe. On the next trip, he drove the baseline and took advantage of the space created by Obokoh posting up for a basket and BK was within five.
But the Black Knights responded.
Kavon Delee hit a three to increase the lead.
English answered with a trifecta, but it was for naught.
Chisolm scored four of Henninger’s final six in the last minute to seal the victory. He finished with a game-high 15. Delee added 13, and Marquies Young chipped in 12.
English led Kearney with 13. Obokoh had 10. Freeman and Bryant added nine and six respectively.
Henninger improves to 13-3 with the win. The Black Knights have two more regular season games before sectional play begins. They host Central Square on Tuesday before finishing at Liverpool next Friday.
Kearney falls to 10-4. The Kings play at Pittsford-Mendon Wednesday night. BK finishes out the season ledger with games against Canisius (VI) and John Marshall.
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