By JOHN LIKANJE
IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. – Despite coaching them at the varsity level for the first time, Leadership Academy’s William Broome has mentored most of his players since they were eighth graders. Now, the first-year head coach is along for the ride on what has been an undefeated season so far.
“I just try to motivate the kids the same way that I felt that I wanted to be motivated when I was playing in high school and when I was playing in college,” Broome explained.
The Lions continued their early-season success Sunday afternoon at the Bishop Kearney Holiday Showcase, taking down Utica Academy of Science (III), 75-50, to improve to 7-0.
The Lions’ defense was on complete lockdown with their full court press and half court traps forcing 39 missed field goals and 25 turnovers in 78 possessions. Broome’s squad held the Atoms to six points in the opening period and 11 in the fourth quarter as well.
“The most consistent thing is that the intensity never changes,” Broome said as his squad grabbed 22 defensive rebounds and accumulated 15 steals. “Because of our intensity, even if we’re in the wrong spots sometimes, it seems that our intensity makes us get a steal or get us in the right spots.”
“We don’t get hype off just dunks. We get hype off steals because we know once we get a steal, we convert that into points. Points is what make us hype.”
Ja’mez Aiken scored eight of his 13 points during a 14-4 run midway through the third quarter in which the Lions expanded their 10-point lead and put the game away. The senior guard made a layup and a pair of right-corner three-pointers. Kennyh Hardeman converted a pair of layups and Maurice McKinney netted a floater as the Lions took a commanding 53-33 advantage.
“We’re a fast team, so we’re quick,” McKinney explained. “We’re very active on the ball. We’re all hungry. We all want the ball so we go after it.”
Hardeman led the offense with 14 of his team-high 22 points in the first half, including nine in the second quarter. The senior forward grabbed seven boards, swatted three shots and swiped a pair of steals to earn game MVP honors.
“That’s my boy, man,” McKinney proclaimed about Hardeman. “He could do everything. He’s AGR (All-Greater Rochester). He should be because he’s a monster.”
“He’s just put it into extra gear,” Broome said about his senior forward. “He’s working harder. He wants to be better.”
.@KearneyBoys Showcase – Leadership vs. Utica: Kennyh Hardeman putback. End of 3: Leadership 55 Utica 39. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/bfGgvK1aAo
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 22, 2019
McKinney had 13 of his 15 points after the opening period. The senior guard dished out eight assists, collected seven rebounds and swiped six steals as well.
“I’m a pass-first point guard,” McKinney stated. “My job is to get my teammates involved. I feel like when I get my teammates involved, they make it so much easier for me to create for myself because they’re going to think that I’m going to keep on dishing it. That’s when I stop and pop and do my thing.”
“Mauice is consistent,” Broome said about McKinney. “That’s something I expect from him. He’s a guard that knows if his three ball’s not falling or if his floater’s not falling, he can impact the game on the defensive end.”
Shamir McCullough netted 11 of his 13 points through the first 16 minutes of game action as the Lions took a 35-21 lead into the locker room. The senior guard collected six assists and three steals.
“Shamir McCullough, to me, has played so much better this year than I think he’s played in the last few years even though maybe he might have scored more then,” Broome proclaimed. “But I think he’s a more complete player now because not only is he sharing the ball, but I believe that he’s playing better on defense. He’s a big catalyst.”
Calvin Washington (6), Jordan Lindo (3), Nuhsar Mike (3) and Nymeer Young (3) rounded out the scoring for the Lions.
For Utica Academy, Dekwan Grant poured in 20 of his 22 points after the first quarter. The junior guard knocked down 4-of-4 free throws and a pair of long-range shots.
Kaiden Hakim-Monteiro and Darius Struckman scored eight points apiece. Jaiovonni Bowman (6), Drayton Belton (4) and Wol Machteng (2) rounded out the scoring for the Atoms.
.@KearneyBoys Showcase – Leadership vs. Utica: Darius Stuckman gets an open layup. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/j82dPnkcCO
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) December 22, 2019
Leadership will clash with UPrep Friday evening at 6 p.m. at the Aquinas Institute. Utica Academy matches up with Lyons Saturday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.
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