By JOHN LIKANJE
IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. — At the beginning of the season, University Prep head coach Demond Stewart emphasized about how his squad has a “no cupcake” schedule this year. Unlike the majority of the other Section V schools, the Griffins have only played three of their seven games against teams in the Rochester area (Fairport, Greece Athena, and Aquinas).
Their tough non-league schedule continued on Saturday afternoon at the Bishop Kearney Christmas Classic as the UPrep Griffins (2-5) fell to the Saint Mary’s Gaels (XI), 80-60 at the Bishop Kearney Christmas Showcase.
Senior guard Jakhi Lucas attempted to rally the Griffins from a sizable deficit with a game-high 29 points. Trailing by as many as 20 in the second half, Lucas relentlessly attacked the tall and lengthy Gaels’ defense and led the Griffins on a couple of rallies.
“I don’t think my guys were ready to play at the beginning of the game,” Stewart explained about the Griffins’ slow start. “We tried to pick it up a little bit later but it was too late by then.”
Coach Stewart’s squad cut the lead down to eight points twice. Trailing 53-33 with three and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Griffins burst out for a 14-2 run to trim the deficit down to 55-47. Lucas and junior guards Na’Zea Folks and Kayshawn Ross combined to score all 14 points.
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“At that point, I was looking at the free throw stats and we missed 11 free throws,” Stewart said about why his squad could not complete the comeback. “You play against a team like that that’s got good height and we’re a smaller team, we got to be efficient and take care of free throws.”
Lucas also went on a personal run of his own, scoring eight straight from the end of the third into the middle of the fourth quarter to cut the Gaels’ lead to 61-53. He converted a layup, finished a three point play, and knocked down four of his five attempts from the charity stripe.
Lucas was also named co-MVP of the game as well.
“He does whatever it takes to win the game,” Stewart commented about his senior guard’s performance. “He’s probably the best guard in Rochester.”
Folks finished the game with 10 points. Ross scored all nine of his points in the third quarter, including a breakaway dunk after the Griffins forced a turnover.
Christian Jefferson-Edwards (7), Krystain Lee (4), and Kendrick Cheyshad (1) rounded out the scoring for the Griffins.
For the Gaels, junior forward Jovayne Walters poured in 10 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter. Junior guard Sal Saputo scored 17.
“I want to give credit to Saint Mary’s,” Stewart said. “They did a great job and finished the game off strong.”
Nicholas Cham (11), Josh Minton (10), Kawar Singh (7), Kyle Jackson (6), Alex Longworth (3), and Matthew Neree (2) rounded out the scoring for the Gaels.
The UPrep Griffins will play at Edison Tech on Tuesday night at 6:00 PM.
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