By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — India Jordan scored 24 of her game-high 34 points in the second half as the School of the Arts (SOTA) Silverhawks pulled away for a 61-43 victory over Edison Tech in RCAC girls’ basketball action, Thursday.
Clinging to a 20-18 lead at halftime, Jordan forced a turnover, grabbed the loose ball and finished at the other end of the court. She followed with a pair of 3-pointers from both sides of the floor before connecting on a pull-up jumper for a 40-27 lead.
“At halftime, we were just like ‘what if this is your last time playing?’” the senior guard said. “You love the game, go out and have fun with it and do what you do best.”
Jordan connected 10 times from the floor in the second half to lead SOTA (5-7) to its second straight victory. She finished two assists shy of a triple-double, grabbing 10 rebounds in the game.
India Jordan connects on 3 of her 17 points this half. SOTA leads Edison 47-34. pic.twitter.com/rG8N6m5PdQ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 30, 2020
“I’m just so grateful for India because even though she is such a prolific scorer she still shares the ball,” SOTA head coach Ny Lewis said while crediting her player’s game IQ. “She knows when to shoot, knows when to pass, knows where people should be cutting. She’s like a coach out there. Even if she’s on the bench. We joke around and call her Coach Jordan.”
SOTA beat Edison 62-34 when the two teams met in early December. On Thursday, though, the teams exchanged six times in the second quarter.
Khania Titus converted a pair of free throws to give the Inventors a 17-16 edge with less than two minutes remaining in the half.
“We weren’t playing our game in the first half,” Lewis noted. “We realized that we didn’t come out ready to play. We knew had to play to our potential. I made the talk (at halftime) short and sweet. India found her shot at halftime. Our other girls were able to find their shots. We did what we had to do.”
Jordan grabbed a rebound and went the length of the floor for the two-point lead going into the locker room.
India Jordan gives SOTA a 20-18 lead over Edison Tech heading into halftime. pic.twitter.com/smeXbSPiWN
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 30, 2020
After Ki’ara Jackson hit a free throw, Jordan set up freshman Jazlynn Logan for a bucket. Jordan hit a jumper. Eysha Clarke-DeSouza followed with a rebound and putback.
India Jordan finds Ki’ara Jackson underneath for 2. SOTA leads Edison 49-36 pic.twitter.com/vZLVgJxsAr
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 30, 2020
“It’s even better when almost the entire team can score,” Jordan said of the win. “Each timeout we were like ‘Eysha, it’s your turn to get a bucket. Oh, Diamond (Gay’e)? Did you get a bucket, yet? Oh, you gave me an assist. It’s all right. You’re going to get another one.’”
Clarke-DeSouza finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Logan had nine points, six assists and six rebounds. Diamond Gay’e added four points and eight rebounds. Jackson chipped in with three points and nine rebounds.
SOTA plays at Odyssey on February 3rd.
Edison cut the deficit to six late in the third quarter. Jon’Tiarra Wright connected from behind the 3-point arc. Titus finished on a drive. and Taliyah Shaw grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the putback. The Inventors trailed, 40-36.
Khania Titus goes baseline to give Edison Tech girls a 13-12 lead over SOTA. pic.twitter.com/a92cHTgi2V
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 30, 2020
Titus paced Edison with 20 points. Wright added 12. Shaw finished with six points. Jazmeir Goins (3) and MyTiana Young (1) rounded out the scoring for Edison.
Edison hosts Canandaigua on February 11.
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