By JOHN LIKANJE
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – With all five starters returning this year, School of the Arts (SOTA) was ready to run it back with the ultimate goal of making a deep postseason run. The Silverhawks hurdled past their first obstacle Tuesday night, rallying for a 74-71 road win over RCAC rival Monroe.
Ethain Clarke-Desouza scored four of his 22 points in the second overtime as SOTA ended the contest with seven straight points to rebound from a 69-64 deficit.
“It’s a great way to kick off the season,” Desouza said. “It was a great game on both sides, basically.”
Desouza knocked down a left corner three-pointer to knot the game at 71 apiece and netted a free throw to extend the lead to 74-71 with 1.1 seconds remaining.
“Stay cool and calm,” the junior guard said on his mindset taking the game-tying shot. “I’ve been here before last season, so it’s not nothing.”
.@SecVBBasketball – SOTA vs. @JMHSRedjackets: Ethain Clarke-Desouza ties the game at 71 with a left corner 3-pointer. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/VOUSstHdko
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 4, 2019
Keshaun Chatman ignited the rally with a right corner three-pointer. Reggie Smith made one of two foul shots and corralled a rebound for a fastbreak layup to give the Silverhawks a 73-71 lead they did not surrender.
.@SecVBBasketball – SOTA vs. @JMHSRedjackets: Reggie Smith gives the Silverhawks a 73-71 lead with a layup. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/rIrN7jnJYP
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 4, 2019
After allowing 50 points through the first three quarters, SOTA held the Monroe Red Jackets to nine in the fourth period to force overtime.
“We changed and tried to show them different fronts to make them second-guess themselves,” SOTA head coach Al Nash explained as his squad forced 26 turnovers. “We capitalized on some of the bad shots that they made by getting rebounds. We didn’t stay in one set for very long.”
The game featured eight ties and 13 lead changes as well.
SOTA recovered from a six-point, third quarter deficit and took a 54-53 advantage on a Ke’Vion Mitchell putback with five minutes left in regulation – its first lead since 18-16 in the opening period.
“I know that we can play better,” Nash said. “We had some breakdowns. Maybe it’s because it’s the first game and maybe some jitters, but we can play better.”
The Silverhawks took the Red Jackets’ best punches early as they found themselves down 12-2 within the first three minutes of the game and 33-24 midway through the second quarter. However, four different players scored during a 9-0 run to tie it at 33 apiece going into the locker room.
Logan Hayes made a foul shot. Raajon Moss knocked down a long-range jumper. Desouza finished a contact layup and Chatman converted a three-point play.
“I’m proud of the boys that they fought,” Nash said. “They competed. It was an up-and-down game in the second half. We got aggressive and some things worked out for us.”
Along with his 22 points, Desouza snatched a team-high eight rebounds, dished out three assists and blocked a pair of shots.
“I got to do everything that I can for my team and that’s grind out for the win,” the junior guard said.
“Ethain’s one of our mainstays,” Nash said about Desouza. “He’s the centerpiece of what we do. I brought him up as an eight-grader for one of our sectional games and he actually led us in scoring.”
Smith scored 16 of his 22 in the second half, including 12 in the fourth quarter and overtimes. The junior guard corralled five boards and had a team-high five steals.
“Reggie’s the motor,” Nash said about Smith. “He’s that guy that gets everybody going. His shot wasn’t really falling all night, but his ability to get to the basket left-handed kind of makes it hard for people to guard.”
Hayes netted 11 while collecting five rebounds and three steals. Mitchell scored 10 points, grabbed six boards, handed out five assists and had a pair of steals before fouling out.
Axel Mejias led Monroe with 11 of his 21 points in the first half. The senior guard swished a high-arching three-pointer from the left wing and a pull-up mid-range jumper in the second overtime to give the Redjackets a 71-67 advantage.
Jahmir Bloom scored 16 points. Jah’Mier Speed added nine and Jabez Thompson and Jamar Williams had eight apiece.
.@SecVBBasketball – SOTA vs. @JMHSRedjackets: Jabez Thompson layup and the foul. End of 1: Monroe 22 SOTA 18. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/hJtcyd0YkA
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 3, 2019
School of the Arts will take on Leadership Academy Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at School No. 33. Monroe travels to Irondequoit Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. tilt.
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