By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Jeenathan Williams netted six of his game-high 20 points in the first quarter as the UPrep Griffins scored first and never trailed en route to a 59-51 victory over the Rush-Henrietta Comets in the consolation match of the 2016 Rush-Henrietta Boys Basketball Christmas Tournament.
Williams converted a rebound and putback then a steal and layup before ending the first quarter with a runner in the lane to give UPrep an 11-5 lead after eight minutes.
The junior guard pushed the advantage to 10 with an uptake and step through for a 15-5 UPrep lead in the second quarter.
The Griffins eventually pushed the lead to 20 in the third quarter and took a 46-25 advantage into the fourth quarter.
But UPrep, which committed just four turnovers in the first half while forcing 12 mishandles from Rush-Henrietta, turned the ball over seven times in the final eight minutes and watched their lead dwindle to single digits.
“First half we showed some enthusiasm, played our defense,” first-year coach James Reaves said. “Second half we got too comfortable. That’s been our season. We’re a one-half team. We can’t put two together.”
Kailee White sparked a 10-2 R-H run to start the final quarter with a three-pointer. The junior guard followed with a runner from just outside the lane. Eric Black took a Justen Polk feed another for two, and Shamire Broyld finished a traditional three-point play to cut the deficit to 13 at 48-35.
White made it a single-digit game with another trey. Shakeem Turner connected from long range and trimmed the margin to seven at 58-51 with 23 seconds remaining. The Royal Comets, though, could not get any closer.
Jeenathan Williams showing the back to basket game. pic.twitter.com/vm38XK2OzC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 30, 2016
“Sometimes we let other teams dictate how we are going to play instead of playing our style,” Reaves stated. “Being a young team and me being a new coach just keeping the composure and attitude of the team is important.”
UPrep’s Kassius Williams added nine points. Tamar Jackson and Elroy Clark scored seven apiece as the Griffins recovered from a 65-62 loss to Irondequoit on Wednesday.
“Happy that we had another game today,” Reaves commented. “It eliminates the pain a little bit. Irondequoit is a well-coached, well-disciplined and talented team. Again, a good response on our end. Still a little sore about yesterday, but the season goes on. We learn from it.”
Wednesday’s loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the No. 20th-ranked team in the state.
“We lost last night, but we didn’t point fingers. They said ‘individually we have to do better.’ It showed today. We still got work to do, but they don’t point fingers.”
Derek Minigan finishes in traffic. pic.twitter.com/VzWZ1zb9JZ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 30, 2016
UPrep (8-2) plays reigning state champion Aquinas (5-1) next Thursday at Roberts Wesleyan College.
White finished with 19 points for R-H. Broyld and Turner added eight apiece.
Rush-Henrietta (3-4) will host Churchville-Chili next Wednesday.
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