By PAUL GOTHAM
JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — Tah’Jae Hill (Hilton) led four players in double figures as Rochester (Boys) opened the 2019 Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) Summer Hoops Festival with a convincing, 96-68 win over Capital on Friday.
Hill connected five times from behind the three-point arc, part of an overall effort which saw Rochester hit 14 shots from long range. The senior guard scored 21 points, this despite not playing for the final eight minutes of the contest when Rochester built a 20-plus point lead.
Early going at BCANY: Tahj Hill nails the pull-up 3. Rochester leads Capital 8-4. pic.twitter.com/gtbHhPUKuz
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) August 2, 2019
Kayshawn Ross (UPrep) added 15 points. While Kidtrell Blocker (Bishop Kearney) had 14, and Kobe Long (McQuaid), 13 points.
“This team is a lot of fun,” head coach John McCauley said.
Blocker sparked an 8-0 spurt midway through the first half to give Rochester its first double-digit lead.
Kidtrell Blocker connects on his second triple. 7 to go in the half: Rochester leads Capital 18-12. pic.twitter.com/FUdsnMw1rp
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) August 2, 2019
The 6-foot-4 guard nailed a pull-up three then followed with a rebound and putback. Hill slipped ahead of the defense for a layup then converted one of two from the free throw line for 23-12 advantage.
Rochester led 38-28 at halftime. Hill hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions early in the second half over Capital’s 1-3-1 defense. A 13-2 run followed not long after that to put the game out of reach.
Steve Mahar (Aquinas) converted a pair of free throws. Miles Rose (Bishop Kearney) led Hill into the open court for a bucket. Long finished in the lane and Blocker got credit for two points on a goaltending call for a 68-50.
Miles Rose gets the and-one in transition. 12:40 to go: Rochester leads 52-40 pic.twitter.com/NDUXBB34JU
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) August 2, 2019
Four possessions later, Ross hit a three and followed the next trip down the floor with an and-one to make it a 79-55 game.
Coming out of a timeout: Kobe Long finds Na’Zea Fowlks who keeps it moving to Kayshawn Ross for the triple. Rochester pulling away 79-55 pic.twitter.com/fmjViaFPjV
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) August 2, 2019
“Kayshawn Ross is a spark plug,” McCauley said of the senior guard. “His energy is contagious because he plays the game with such passion and aggression. If you’re out there on the court with him, you can’t help but to get amped up and meet him where he’s at. He’s a leader from that standpoint. I know when he’s on the court we’re going to play hard. We’re going to play fast. We’re going to play aggressively.”
Kobe Long uses the hesi to get free in the lane. pic.twitter.com/XwRrELp7uv
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) August 2, 2019
Miles Monchecourt (Bishop Kearney) and Rose scored seven points apiece. Luke Insley (Webster Schroeder) added six. Mahar chipped in with four points. Kidder Lindley (Pittsford Mendon) hit a 3-pointers. Chase Dickens (Victor), Na’Zea Fowlks (UPrep) and Connor Williams (Victor) rounded out the scoring with three points each.
Rochester converted on 14 of 17 free throw attempts.
Rochester continues the tournament with games on Saturday against Hudson Valley (9 AM) and Nassau (noon).
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