By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Zac Young feels that his Lyons boys basketball team is ahead of schedule. That doesn’t bode well for Lions opponents over the next couple of years.
Junior Justice Smith turned in a dominant performance netting 21 of his game-high 33 points in the second half as Lyons Lions shrugged off an early deficit and claimed the Section V Class C2 title with a 58-53 victory over the Perry Yellowjackets, Monday night at the Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial.
“I really thought we were a year or two away,” Young said. “Justice has shown so much growth both on the court and off the court. Some of our young guys stepped up. We don’t play like freshmen and sophomores some of them. It’s just a great win for us.”
Smith was at his best when Lyons needed him most. The 6-foot-4 guard/forward connected three times behind the arc and scored 11 straight points for Lyons in the fourth quarter. His third triple of the quarter and fourth of the game gave Lyons a lead it did not surrender at 46-44 with 2:28 remaining.
“I knew I had to hit some big shots,” the tournament MVP said. “We were struggling a little bit. I knew that if I came out and hit some big shots we could come out with a win.
After connecting on only 4 of 13 shots in the first half, Smith finished 10 of 27 from the floor including four of eight from behind the 3-point arc. The junior guard converted 8 of 10 free throws and grabbed 10 rebounds to go with three assists.
Justice Smith sticks the wing 3 to give @AthleticsLY a 38-34 lead with 6:22 remaining. pic.twitter.com/WY0subEm1r
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 6, 2018
“I just got comfortable in the game and started picking my spots better,” he explained. “I was forcing a little bit in the first quarter and the second quarter a little bit.”
Smith was also part of a four-player defensive assignment on Tyler Cowie. Perry’s senior forward scored 10 points of 4-of-6 shooting in the first half.
“Early in the game Cowie was dominating both ends,” Young said. “To his credit, he’s a helluva player.
“We went to a box and one and just shadowed him wherever he was and try to make somebody else beat us. We were lucky to get enough stops.”
Cowie finished with 22 points on 5-of-14 shooting. The 6-foot-4 senior converted 11 of 13 free throws and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Tyler Cowie connects on the pull-up jumper for @PerryCSD1 pic.twitter.com/i7OfIGLTQD
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 6, 2018
“If he’s hot you got to take the ball out of his hands,” Young said of Cowie. “I think we wore him down a little bit. He does so much for them.”
Austin Croll and Michael John Grover added 12 points apiece for the Yellowjackets.
Sophomore Benji Kemp collected 11 points, four rebounds and three assists for Lyons.
Jordan Harris matched Cowie with a game-high 12 rebounds.
The title was the 18th all-time in Lyons program history.
“I’m just blessed to be a part of the program,” Young noted. “It’s an expectation around here.”
With the win Lyons set up a match with Class C1 champion Northstar Christian in the regional qualifier. The game will feature two of the best juniors in Section V. Smith, who reached the 1,000-point career plateau earlier this season and Northstar’s Miles Brown who has scored over 2,000 points. A 6:30 PM tipoff is scheduled Wednesday at Rush-Henrietta High School.
Kemp and David Weaver joined Smith on the all-tournament team. Tyler Cowie and Michael John Grover represented Perry on the squad. C.G. Fine’s Keegan O’Corr and Cuba-Rushford’s Dawson Sanderson rounded out the team.
LYONS 58, PERRY 53
LYONS (19-3)
Justice Smith 10-27 9-11 33; Benji Kemp 5-6 1-1 11; Justin Smith 1-8 3-4 5;
David Weaver 1-8 2-3 5; Jordan Harris 1-2 0-0 2; Lucas Lucieer 1-1 0-0 2;
Seth VanBuskirk 0-0 0-0 0; Kerel Kelly 0-3 0-0 0; Horace Betts 0-0 0-0 0;
Aaron Romero 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-55 15-19 58.
PERRY (21-2)
Tyler Cowie 5-14 11-13 22; Michael John Grover 5-8 1-2 12; Austin Croll 4-15
3-4 12; Challis Farmer 2-3 0-0 4; Cam Campbell 0-1 2-2 2; Michael Hockey 0-5
1-2 1; Carson DeVinney 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-46 18-23 53.
Lyons…………………….
Perry…………………….
3-point goals–Lyons 5-15 (Justice Smith 4-8; David Weaver 1-6; Justin Smith
0-1), Perry 3-16 (Michael John Grover 1-1; Austin Croll 1-6; Tyler Cowie
1-6; Michael Hockey 0-3). Fouled out–Lyons-Benji Kemp, Perry-Cam Campbell.
Rebounds–Lyons 44 (Jordan Harris 12), Perry 31 (Tyler Cowie 12).
Assists–Lyons 9 (Justice Smith 3; Benji Kemp 3), Perry 8 (Tyler Cowie 3).
Total fouls–Lyons 20, Perry 17. Technical fouls–Lyons-None, Perry-None.
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