Pickin' Splinters

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Eastridge rides third-quarter run to win over Irondequoit

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By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Four different players scored during a 10-0 run to open the third quarter, and the Eastridge Lancers went on to beat crosstown rival Irondequoit (No. 20 NYSSWA Class A), 52-40 Saturday night on Al Masino Court.

Deadlocked at 21 coming out of halftime, Jaden Keech took a Tony Arnold pass and drilled a 3-pointer on the first possession of the second half to give Eastridge a lead it did not surrender.

“We knew we had to do it together, so in the locker room it was if we wanted to win, we had to pull together,” Arnold said. “Everyone had to buy in. That’s what we did tonight.”

Arnold converted one of two free throws next trip down the floor, and Terrence Reid drew contact on the following possession when he scored on a drive to the basket.

 


Irondequoit called a timeout. It didn’t matter. Eastridge scored on its next two trips to take a 10-point lead. The Lancers did not allow Irondequoit within five points for the remainder of the contest.

“Last couple of games we have not been playing the way I thought we should have been playing, the way we’re able to play,” said seventh-year Eastridge head coach Dan Roser. “We had a couple good days of practice. The kids they didn’t quit. Last couple of days they just stayed at it. They were really pumped for this game, but they stayed focused. They came out here and executed the game plan. I’m really proud of them.”

Jahmel Demery grabbed the rebound from Reid’s missed free throw and converted the putback. After a stop on the defensive end, Arnold nailed a pull-up jumper.

Eastridge led 31-21.

“We just to stay focused in the second half, stay disciplined on offense and keep moving the ball,” Roser said of his team’s mindset coming out of the locker room. “We had to keep trusting our teammates and taking good shots. Irondequoit’s a really good defensive team. We knew we needed to play our best game tonight to get the win.”

Eastridge held Irondequoit (averaging 67.6 points per game) to its lowest offensive output of the season. The Lancers limited the Eagles to seven field goals in the second half while forcing six turnovers during that same time.

“We knew we had to play good defense tonight,” Arnold noted. “Everyone had to buy in. That’s what we did tonight.”

Arnold finished with a team-high 18 points. The junior guard, though, was at his best late in the game when he was able to get into the paint and dish to Dehmery for a pair of buckets.

 

 

“He’s our go-to guy,” Roser said of his point guard. “He’s been struggling lately, but he pulled it together tonight. He’s just staying with the process. He’s trusting his teammates. That’s the biggest thing, continue to trust his teammates. He made really good decisions tonight.”

Like they started the half, Eastridge closed the game scoring on each of its last five possessions.

“We knew we couldn’t be sagging on offense,” Arnold stated. “We had to keep distributing the ball to each other.”

With the win, Eastridge (8-7) stopped a two-game skid which saw the Lancers drop a pair of single-digit decisions. Earlier in the week, Eastridge fell to Monroe 60-58. A game in which the Lancers rallied from nine down to tie it in the final minute. In their previous outing, they fell to Monroe County Division IV rival Batavia, 64-59.

“It’s big,” Arnold said of the win. “It’s very big, but we got practice Monday, and we have to focus on Odyssey next.”

Saturday’s victory was Eastridge’s first over their crosstown rival since Roser took over the program.

“It feels good to come out against Irondequoit, one of the best teams we’ve played all year, and get the job done,” Roser said. “This is the time of year to do it. Hopefully, we can keep it rolling. These guys have been sticking with the process and staying competitive every day. That’s what we got to keep doing.”

Demery scored 10 points. Adrian Rodgers added eight for Eastridge. Terrence Reid (7), Jalen Rose-Hannah (4), Keech (3) and Jordan Capers (2) rounded out the scoring for the Lancers.

 


Irondequoit’s Keenan Robertson finished with a game-high 19 points. The sophomore forward connected six times from the floor including a pair of 3-pointers and converted 5-of-8 from the free throw line.

 


Connor Shafer hit twice from 3-point land and added eight points overall for the Eagles (10-3) which had won six of seven coming into the contest. Freddie June, Jr. scored five. Luke Melidona and Josh Stenglein chipped in three apiece. Kenny Gonzalez had two points. Irondequoit played without starting forward Patrick Thomas (15.0 PPG). Thomas has missed the past three games.

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