By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The UPrep Griffins took a double-digit lead late in the third quarter and did not allow Churchville-Chili within single digits for the remainder of the contest.
Just don’t expect second-year coach James Reaves to be satisfied with the win.
“I didn’t like our effort,” Reaves said after his sixth-seeded Griffins defeated No. 11 Churchville-Chili, 64-46 in Section V Class AA opening round action at Roberts Wesleyan. “The score doesn’t justify how we played at all. Obviously, we’re a better team. You got to have more consistency on defense. We have to do it, or we’re going to end a little early this year.”
Elroy Clark finished with a game-high 25 points including seven during a pivotal stretch.
“He definitely stepped up big,” Reaves said of the senior guard who started his high school career at Churchville-Chili before transferring to UPrep. “I know he had a little energy and pep to him. He stepped up big, made big shots and kinda carried us a little bit.”
Leading by two late in the second quarter, the Griffins scored seven straight to end the half. Clark converted a rebound and putback, found teammate Jakhi Lucas underneath for a bucket and drilled a 3-pointer off an inbound play to give UPrep a 33-24 lead going into the break.
Clark set up Lucas on a free-throw line jumper early in the third and followed with another bucket in the lane. Lucas finished a three-on-one break for a 41-31 UPrep lead.
Kani Lagree took a Clark pass on an inbound play and scored for a 48-38 advantage. Clark capped the quarter with another triple. UPrep led 51-38 and did not look back.
Sophomore Zach Harris Scott added 15 points for UPrep. Lucas had 12 points. Lagree scored seven.
Fidel Brock paced C-C with 14 points. Marcellus James, Eric Lewis and Griffen Stella scored nine apiece for the Saints.
UPrep advances to play No. 3 Gates-Chili in Friday’s quarter-final round. Game time will be announced. Gates-Chili edged UPrep, 64-60 when the two teams met earlier in the month.
UPrep reached the Section V Class AA finals a year ago and lost to Fairport, 56-53. The Red Raiders fell in the state finals.
Leave a Reply