By JOHN LIKANJE
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – With the losses of leading scorers Jiahmere Mitchell (graduation) and Lamar Loveless (finger injury) coming into this season, NE Douglass turned to Adonis Flagler to shoulder the offense. The senior forward responded with 21.6 points per game through the first five contests. On Tuesday evening at James Monroe High School, Flagler silenced a raucous crowd with a career-high 47 points in a 72-56 victory.
“To be honest, my coaching staff does a great job of keeping me under control,” Flagler said. “Trying to get me when I’m forcing shots. Let me know to take a break and get my team involved.”
“Quite frankly, the single most thing I’ve seen from Adonis this year has been his leadership,” NE Douglass head coach Kyle Crandall stated. “He’s really buying into the things that we’re trying to work with him on.”
Flagler scored eight points during a 10-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters as the Panthers pulled away for a 59-47 advantage. The senior forward knocked down a pair of three-pointers and free throws. Trynzeir Parker capped off the run with a contact layup.
“We hit a few open shots,” Crandall said. “Got a couple of big defensive stops and got those rebounds. What we were struggling with some was Monroe was getting a bunch of offensive rebounds and we really tried to focus on that down the stretch.”
.@SecVBBasketball – NE Douglass vs. @JMHSRedjackets: Adonis Flagler pulls up from deep. 33 points after 3 quarters for the senior forward. NE Douglass 52 Monroe 47. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/LtcA8cy0o3
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 18, 2019
Flagler scored 10 points in the first quarter, another 10 in the second, 13 in the third and 14 in the fourth. The senior forward netted six long-range shots and 15-of-19 free throws. Flagler hauled down eight boards, drew five charges, handed out three assists, swiped three steals and swatted a shot as well.
“My team, they brought a lot of energy and I just fed off of them,” the senior forward said. “It just kept me going through the whole game.”
“Our team is going a lot as how Adonis goes,” Crandall explained. “That does not just mean Adonis scoring points. He’s being asked to distribute the ball. He’s being asked to score. He’s being asked to rebound. He’s stepped up and he’s played a pivotal role for our team.”
.@SecVBBasketball – NE Douglass vs. @JMHSRedjackets: Adonis Flagler gets to the rim off the handoff. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/ujxJ0pVkSf
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 18, 2019
Nicolas Jeanty scored all nine of his points in the first and third quarters combined and collected four assists, three rebounds and a block. Parker (6), Jayden Berry (5), Jason Jones (3) and Manny Rivera (2) rounded out the scoring for the Panthers.
For Monroe, Jabez Thompson scored 11 of his 18 points in the second half.
.@SecVBBasketball – NE Douglass vs. @JMHSRedjackets: Jabez Thompson’s effort gets him the bucket and the foul. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/494bAhtJlB
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 18, 2019
Jahmir Bloom netted all 13 of his points after the opening period. The senior guard swished three long-range shots in the beginning of the third quarter. Jamar Williams had 10 of his 12 points at halftime. Axel Mejias added 11 points. Ezekiel Williams (2) rounded out the scoring for the Red Jackets.
NE Douglass will enjoy the holiday with 10 days off before taking on East Rochester December 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Honeoye Falls-Lima High School. Monroe will host Eastridge Friday evening at 6:15 p.m.
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