By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Much of the conversation surrounding the UPrep boys basketball team involves the Griffins offensive prowess. Wednesday night at the Blue Cross Arena, UPrep flexed its defensive muscles.
UPrep limited the McQuaid Jesuit Knights to just 1-of-13 shooting from behind the 3-point line in the first half of the Class AA semifinal. It was part of an overall effort which saw the Griffins hold McQuaid to 20 of 59 from the floor on their way to a convincing 72-53 victory in the Class AA semifinal.
“We wanted to contain the shooters, close out big make them put it on the floor, and it worked,” UPrep coach James Reaves said of his team which held McQuaid to just four threes in 24 attempts for the night. “They shot contested shots.”
UPrep was at its best in the second quarter when they allowed just two field goals and outscored McQuaid 23-7 in the quarter.
“We guarded them with length,” Reaves added. “Our guys are long, so they can get out on them.”
On the offensive end, Jakhi Lucas showed a knack for timeliness. A starter for much of the season, the sophomore guard came off the bench and connected on all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half and six of seven overall in the first 16 minutes.
“He was rolling, so we had to roll with him,” Reaves said. “He’s been playing badly of late. We knew it was time for him to have a good game. It ended up being the perfect time.”
Lucas connected on his first touch of the game. He nailed two more in the first stanza before connecting on the first and last possessions of the second quarter. His fifth triple gave UPrep a 41-22 lead going into the locker room at halftime.
“He shocked the hell out of me,” Reaves stated.
Jeenathan Williams netted a game-high 24 points on 9-of-22 shooting while grabbing 13 rebounds. He combined with sophomore teammate Jabez Thomas as UPrep outrebounded 52-35 including 24-15 on the offensive end. The Griffins outscored McQuaid 20-10 on the offensive glass including a pair of putback slams by the 6-foot-7 Thomas.
“Coach says ‘second shot is the best shot,’” Williams commented. “We’re determined to get that second shot. That’s our shot. We need that. That’s an easy bucket.”
UPrep held McQuaid without field goal for the first seven possessions of the second quarter.
“We knew this is a big court, and the range is kinda pushed back,” Williams explained of the different surroundings of the arena in comparison to high school gymnasiums. “Coach had a defensive scheme to just run them off the line.”
Lucas hit a baseline floater to give UPrep its first double-digit lead of the game at 26-16. Thomas scored inside to push the lead to a dozen, and a Williams drive made it a 36-20 game in what seemed like the blink of an eye.
“Effort, energy and heart,” Reaves stated. “That’s our slogan for the year. They have big guys, but we just work at a different level of intensity, and tonight it showed.”
Lucas finished the game with a career-high 21 on 7-of-11 shooting. Thomas had 13 points and 15 rebounds. James Barnes chipped in 12.
Isaiah Stewart led McQuaid with 20 points 8-of-16 shooting. The 6-foot-8 sophomore forward grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and blocked two shots.
“The big fella is going to get his,” Reaves noted. “He’s a big, dominant guy.”
McQuaid opened the sectionals hitting 13 3s in a 68-58 win over Penfield.
Thomas Jones added 12 points for McQuaid (16-7).
UPrep (18-4) moves on to Monday’s Class AA final where they will meet Fairport. An 8:15 start time is scheduled.
*Updated to correct McQuaid’s three-point performance which happened against Penfield and not East which was originally noted.
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