By JOHN LIKANJE
BLOOMFIELD, N.Y. – In last year’s postseason, the Lyons Lions steamrolled through their opponents en route to a second straight title. For the first game and a half of this year’s sectionals, it looked like a similar scenario would repeat. However, Geneseo had other ideas Monday night.
Trailing 51-41 going into the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils scored the first six points of the stanza to make it a two-possession game. But the Lions kept their composure and dug in defensively, accruing key stops and holding on for a 62-60 victory.
Despite only making four field goals in 14 fourth-quarter possessions, the Lions’ defense forced two turnovers and three missed field goals in eight possessions during the last two and a half minutes of the game. Dean Schott’s squad did not allow a made field goal for the last three minutes of the contest as well.
“Our defense is our staple this year,” Schott explained. “Last year, we were an offensive team. This year, we really turned it around on defense. That is what got us out into the lead: our pressure. We pressure all over the place.”
Horace Betts IV and JC Walker combined for seven of Lyon’s 11 fourth-quarter points. Walker made a pair of mid-range jumpers – one from the foul line and another from the left wing. Betts knocked down three free throws.
“They won the game,” Schott said about the duo of Betts and Walker. “They made big shots. They weren’t scared to attack. They did everything that I tried to teach them how to do and I was very proud of them.”
Five players (Jahtezz Barber, Jaylen Battle, Ahmir James, Benji Kemp and Walker) scored during an 13-3 run to start the contest. The Lions maintained the lead from there, extending their margin to as large as 15 points in a wire-to-wire victory.
Betts led the offense with 18 points. The sophomore guard connected on a pair of three-pointers and 8-of-13 free throws.
“He kept us under control all night,” Schott said of Betts. “When they were coming back and we were in desperate foul trouble, he took time off the clock and still ended up getting us good shots. He showed that he’s been my point guard for two years now on varsity, four years overall. He was just calm, cool and collected.”
Battle scored nine of his 13 points in the first half as Lyons took a 38-26 lead into intermission. Walker (9), James (6), Kemp (6), Barber (5), Jerell Petty (3) and Nate Henry (2) rounded out the scoring for Lyons, who forced 17 turnovers and 31 missed field goals in 70 possessions.
.@SecVBBasketball C2 Semifinals – @GCSBoysBball vs. @AthleticsLY: Jaylen Battle with the steal and layup. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/06gdgykQPs
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) March 3, 2020
For Geneseo, Adam Wright poured in 22 of his 34 points in the second half, including 11 of the Blue Devils’ 15 third-quarter tallies. The junior guard scored five in the opening period, seven in the second and 11 in the fourth as well. Wright made nine of his 10 shots from inside the arc and 13-of-24 free throws.
.@SecVBBasketball C2 Semifinals – @GCSBoysBball vs. @AthleticsLY: Adam Wright putback. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/QTDTMabE0b
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) March 2, 2020
Noah Reilly chipped in 13 points. Daniel Kelly (8), Brennan Smith (4) and Nicholas Lamb (1) rounded out the scoring for Geneseo, who scored on six of their first eight possessions of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 58-54.
Lyons will seek its third straight sectional title Friday at 7 p.m. at the Blue Cross Arena. The Lions match up with No. 2 seed Perry, which defeated Alexander in the other semifinal game, 63-56.
“It means a lot,” Schott said on advancing to the final. “We were down two of our best players. The kids were really resilient and they battled their behinds off. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
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