BY PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Count Pittsford Sutherland boys’ basketball coach John Nally among the believers.
After Nally’s Knights surrendered nearly the century mark in a loss to the Leadership Academy Lions on Saturday, the 18th-year coach had good reason to sprinkle praises about his opposition.
“That’s certainly the best guard play we’ve seen this year,” Nally said after Leadership Academy downed Sutherland, 97-89 in the Rush-Henrietta showcase. “That’s not taking away from anybody. These guys, today, were as good or better than what we’ve seen.”
The numbers back up Nally. Sutherland entered play holding opponents under 55 points per game. In 15 previous contests, the Knights only allowed opponents to reach 60 or more on four occasions. None of those squads reached the 70-point mark.
On Saturday, Leadership netted 65 points in the first three quarters against the Knights.
“If you told me we were going to give up 90 to anybody this year, I would have been surprised,” Nally stated.
But this is Leadership Academy. The Lions have topped 100 points on three separate occasions this season. They average more than 86 per game and looked the part Saturday.
Rondell Watson needed little time to get in rhythm. The junior guard, who poured in 52 is a game earlier this season, drilled five first-half 3-pointers. Part of an overall effort which saw the Lions connect nine times behind the arc in the first 16 minutes and 13 for the contest.
From yesterday: Rondell Watson uses the ???? screen for three of his game-high 32 points. pic.twitter.com/zEPf1OdTBC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 4, 2018
“If they’re going to make shots like that,” Nally said referring to the number of 3-pointers Leadership made. “They’re going to be really hard to beat.”
Davon Brown scored seven of his 19 points on the day in a 9-2 first-quarter spurt as the Lions grabbed a double-digit less than seven minutes into the game. They took a 25-11 advantage into the second quarter, and Watson used a ball screen to get free for a trey early in the second as the Lions had their largest lead of the half at 28-13.
“I’m so proud of my guys and the efforts that we put forth,” Leadership head coach Reggie Simmons said. “They are one of the top teams in the area. We worked very hard preparing for them.”
Sutherland did everything they could to try and slow the Lions.
The Knights threw a variety of defensive looks at Leadership. They seamlessly switched between man-to-man and zone defenses, used even-front and odd-front looks and switched slide patterns within those schemes. If there is a kitchen sink defense, Sutherland might have had that ready as well.
“We knew they were going to throw everything at us,” Simmons said. “My guys just kept making adjustments.”
Sutherland (13-3), though, didn’t go away easily.
Kevin Ryan scored six straight late in the second quarter to cut the deficit to six. Trailing by as many as 20 early in the fourth, the Knights whittled away at the margin, and Matt Thaney got loose on the wing and finished at the rim for two of his 14 points on the day to make it a nine-point game.
From yesterday: Class is in session. Lesson – fundamental footwork in the post/up and under. Instructor – Kevin Ryan @SutherlandHoops pic.twitter.com/m6Ya5n73y0
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 4, 2018
Craig Rosen converted one of two free throws and Sutherland trailed 89-81 with 1:07 to go. The Knights did not get any closer.
“The way that they shot there were multiple times in the game where we could have just gone away,” Nally commented. “I was proud of the kids for sticking with it and keeping it a game all the way through the fourth quarter.”
Leadership (16-1) responded to its only loss of the season a week ago with its third win of the week.
“After this huge win, I’m feeling great about us,” Simmons said. “We’re right on track. We’re doing what we’re supposed to do. The guys are working hard in practice. I couldn’t be any prouder of these young men than I am today.”
Watson led all scorers with 32. Dez Ellis collected 11 points, 10 assists and three steals. Brown grabbed seven for Leadership. Leevonson Mcknight grabbed seven boards to go with six points for the Lions.
Second-chance points: Leevonson Mcknight corrals one of his seven rebounds in the game and converts the putback. pic.twitter.com/EQbIi58bIQ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 4, 2018
Javon Beard added eight points for Leadership. Shaheem Britt and Shamir Mccullough scored six apiece. Nate Doyle added five, and Marcus Barr had four.
Ryan paced Sutherland with 26. Craig Rosen had 15, and Josh Rosen added 13 for the Knights. Chris Cox scored nine. Ben DiGiovanni had seven. Graham Schild added five points for the Knights.
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