ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kevin Ryan netted six of his game-high 26 points during the second quarter, and the Pittsford-Sutherland Knights won their third straight game with a 63-53 victory over the host Rush-Henrietta Comets in opening round action of the 2016 R-H Boys Basketball Christmas Tournament.
Ryan scored on a jump hook in the lane and fed Matthew Thaney for a catch-and-shoot three-pointer to give Sutherland a double-digit early in the second quarter at 24-12. The Knights did not allow the Comets within single digits for the remainder of the contest.
Ryan later converted an old-fashioned three-point play when he finished a turnaround jumper in the lane and followed with a free throw. Sutherland had its largest lead of the half at 31-13.
The Knights eventually pushed their advantage to 24 late in the third quarter. Craig Rosen connected behind the arc on a play which started with an inside-out pass from Ryan to Thaney before Rosen made it a 45-21 game.
Sutherland committed just two turnovers in the first half and forced four R-H mishandles. After allowing baskets on the first two trips of the game, using a stingy 3-2 zone defense Sutherland limited the Comets to points on five of the remaining 23 possessions of the first half.
Sutherland committed nine turnovers in the contest.
Eight different Knights scored with Thaney and Davis Heyman accounting for nine apiece.
Mecca McCoullough and Kailee White combined for 22 points in the fourth quarter as R-H outscored Sutherland 24-13. McCoullough connected four times behind the arc in the final stanza while White found the measure twice from long range. The junior guards scored 20 apiece for the game.
Sutherland improved to 5-2 on the season and will play Irondequoit in Thursday’s championship game. A 6:15 pm tipoff is scheduled. Irondequoit knocked off UPrep, 65-62 in the earlier game.
R-H fell to 3-3 on the season and will play UPrep in Thursday’s consolation game. A 4:30 pm tip time is slated.
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