By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kenny Couser and DaiQuon McKinney scored 13 points apiece as Leadership Academy held off a late rally to beat NE Douglass, 53-47 in the opening round of the 2021 Al Masino Memorial Tip-Off Tournament at Eastridge High School.
McKinney scored seven in the first half when the Lions led by as many as 12 before taking a 25-17 advantage into the locker room.
Couser connected three times from behind the 3-point arc including twice in the second half to secure a win in the season opener.
Kenny Couser connects from the wing. Leadership 41-34. pic.twitter.com/ljdOw1wTGR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 4, 2021
“I was nervous,” Leadership head coach William Broome said of the season’s first game. “You scrimmage and all that. You know what you got, but you never know what you’re going to get depending on the situation. Some of the kids didn’t play last year because of Covid, and you don’t know necessarily know when the bright lights are on what you’re going to get.”
Couser’s first triple of the night gave Leadership a 3-2 edge, and the Lions didn’t trail again. McKinney made it a double-digit lead at 18-8 early in the second quarter with a steal and layup.
“They’re a tight-knit group of guys,” Broome said of his squad. “I’ve always preached family, team, together. You win together; you lose together. That’s just how it’s going to be. With this group, they’re buying into it sooner rather than later. That helped us because you didn’t see any selfish basketball out there. They, for the most part, played together.”
Jose Melendez finds the measure from distance. Leadership 30-21 pic.twitter.com/yIFrgV9O0W
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 3, 2021
Jahmere Kirkland and Matt Thomas added six points apiece in the win. Shamirr Brooks added five. Jose Melendez had four points.
Chris James and Wilson Riaa combined for 30 points as NE Douglass made it a one-possession game late in the third quarter.
Trailing by eight, James got in the lane for a layup. Riaa followed converting one of two free throws. Three possessions later, Riaa converted a rebound and putback to make it 33-30 game.
It was as close as NE Douglass would get for the remainder of the game.
Chris James hits the pull-up jumper. 3:38 remaining Leadership 43 NE Douglass 36. pic.twitter.com/yEz46YTc46
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 4, 2021
Loren Thomas had eight points for NE Douglass.
Loren Thomas: Board. Harm. Bucket. pic.twitter.com/eyxlYQJIoI
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 3, 2021
Leadership will play Eastridge in Saturday’s championship game.
NE Douglass will face Monroe.
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