By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — James Barnes scored 19 of his team-high 21 points in the second half, and Prep rallied to defeat Liverpool (III), 70-62 at the third annual Bishop Kearney Christmas Showcase.
Barnes scored seven straight as UPrep erased a six-point halftime deficit.
“This is a big game for Barnes,” UPrep head coach James Reaves said. “He kinda started off the season slow. He’s gradually picked up his game. He’s got his confidence back.”
Trailing 35-28, Barnes went on a personal 7-0 run. He drilled a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the right corner. He followed with a pair of free throws before converting a steal and dunk to cut the deficit to one at 35-34.
“He’s kind of our glue guy,” Reaves added. “When he goes, we go. I’m glad to see him have a good game.”
After a Liverpool timeout and a Nahjier Johnson basket in the lane, Barnes knotted the score at 37 with a near carbon copy three pointer from the right corner.
“It just happened in the flow of the offense,” Barnes said of the near duplication. “It was a close game. I wanted to give my team the energy.”
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Freshman point guard Jakhi Lucas gave UPrep the lead at 44-42 with a steal and layup.
“He’s our floor general,” Reaves said of Lucas. “He’s the coach on the floor. He controls the tempo. He controls the offense. With him in the game I’m sure we’re going to take care of the ball.”
UPrep did not trail again.
Tamar Jackson converted a rebound and putback. Barnes pushed the lead to six with a layup on the break.
Charles Pride scored 10 of his game-high 25 as Liverpool outscored UPrep 19-8 in the second quarter.
Noah Issakainen knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing to start the scoring in the second. Pride followed with a spectacular putback slam on the break. Johnson had a tap in to give Liverpool its first lead of the game at 19-17.
Kyle Butler-Gaffney led Pride for a layup. Pride finished two more layups to give Liverpool a 31-25 advantage at half.
UPrep limited Liverpool to two field goals and eight points over a 13-possession stretch in the third quarter to take the lead.
“They were beating us in transition, getting in the lane, Reaves said of the first half. “We went to 2-3 and we closed it in. They weren’t really hitting from the outside. Our goal was to keep them out of the middle That worked for us.”
Jeenathan Williams paced UPrep with six points in the first quarter including a thunderous dunk in transition on a feed from Lucas.
Williams finished the game with 18. Lucas had 11. Tamar Jackson added nine for UPrep.
Johnson chipped in 20 for Liverpool
UPrep will play Niagara Falls (VI) on Sunday at Bishop Kearney. It is the second of three games on the day. A 1:45 tip time is scheduled.
Liverpool plays the host. A 3:30 start time is slated.
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