By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tony Arnold keyed a decisive run that started late in the first half, and the Eastridge Lancers (9-8) held on for their second straight win with a 68-63 victory over the Canandaigua Braves, Monday night.
Arnold connected four times from the floor during the pivotal stretch as Eastridge turned a double-digit deficit into a lead they did not surrender.
“It was really my teammates,” the sophomore guard said. “When they get the energy, they get me going. It was really them.”
His rebound and putback followed by a pair of free throws pulled Eastridge within one 28-27. The 5-foot-10 guard ended the first half with a layup in the open court.
Eastridge led 34-29 going into the break.
Arnold scored on the first two possessions of the second half and minutes later he shook free on the wing, got in the lane and found teammate Adrian Rodgers open for a three ball.
Tony Arnold gets in the lane and kicks it to Adrian Rodgers for three. @EastridgeHoops pic.twitter.com/opvVz8Mybu
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 6, 2018
After managing just two points during the contest’s first 11 minutes, Arnold scored 14 over the next eight. Eastridge led 50-40.
“We knew he was going to come through for us tonight at some point,” fifth-year Eastridge coach Dan Roser said. “We just got to stick him. He knows we’re going to stick with him and mentally he’s just going to keep grinding out there and pushing our team forward.”
The effort was the fifth straight in which Arnold has scored 20 or more. He has reached the 20-point mark on 10 occasions this season.
Tony Arnold bringing the JELLY ???????????? @EastridgeHoops pic.twitter.com/VOZfCBnhuw
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 6, 2018
“We trust him; he trusts us, and that’s the most important thing,” Roser said.
The Eastridge defense forced seven turnovers during the decisive run.
“The kids believe in the press, and that’s what’s winning us some of these games and keeping us in some of these games,” Roser noted. “We just got to stick with it long enough and see it to its fruition.
“We’re pretty quick and when the guys get in the right position, good things will happen for us. When we play together as a team, sprint back and don’t give up layups that’s the most important thing for the press.”
The Lancers created 13 ball handling miscues on the night.
“We applied pressure, and they couldn’t handle it, forced turnovers,” Arnold said. “Turnovers lead to baskets. That really helped us tonight.”
Eastridge managed the second-quarter rally with starters Kyndal Taggart and Jalen Rose Hannah on the the sidelines with foul trouble.
SherRon Davis took advantage of the opportunity and pumped in five points.
“We got guys who can come off the bench and contribute, for sure,” Roser said. “Their number was called. They came in and played their butts off.”
Amir Spain connected three times behind the arc and finished with nine points on the night.
“He stuck with it this year,” Roser said of Spain. “He went through some rough patches where he wasn’t playing a lot but just kept on working.
“Whenever we call his number, he seems to come in there and do great things for us. He steps up in those moments and makes some really huge threes.”
Arnold added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Taggart scored 10 points and handed out four assists. Hannah and Rodgers had eight apiece. Terrence Reid scored six and grabbed six rebonds. Robert Clark added two points.
Davis had three steals.
Danny Herrick scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half as Canandaigua twice made it a one-possession game.
Herrick sparked a 9-2 spurt with a pair of layups early in the fourth, and Canandaigua cut the deficit to one at 57-56. Trailing by six in the final minute, the senior guard nailed a catch-and shoot three. The Braves had a chance to tie the game but could not convert.
Chris Kurowski scored 15 for Canandaigua (10-8). The junior guard connected four times behind the 3-point arc. His triple midway through the second quarter gave Canandaigua a 25-15 lead. Eastridge started its rally two possessions later.
Devin O’Dell gets baseline for @Canandaigua_BB pic.twitter.com/eafo8HEBfh
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 6, 2018
Scott LoForte added 12 for the Braves. Devin O’Dell scored eight, and Noah Emerson had seven. Zach Johnson chipped in two points. The loss was the second straight for Canandaigua which six in row before falling to Pittsford Sutherland last Friday.
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