By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Reggie Simmons wanted to see his Edison Tech Inventors get a quick start, Monday night.
The third-year coach received his wish.
Edmari Binion and Mike Morgan paced the offense as Edison defeated The Patrick School – Green (N.J.), 80-71 in non-league action.
The duo combined for 10 first-quarter points when the Inventors grabbed a double-digit lead.
“We needed to come out with a bunch of energy, and we did just that,” Simmons said. “The guys were very aggressive.”
Morgan scored six straight points early in the first stanza, and Binion added four later in the quarter.
Simmons credited a defensive adjustment that helped Edison create opportunities in the open floor.
“We switched our defense,” Simmons noted. “We’ve been playing a lot of man-to-man, so we switched to a 1-3-1 to give us a different look and see how it would work. We practiced it all week, and it came through. We just threw a little twist in there for these guys.”
Morgan finished with 12 points on the night. The senior guard has scored in double figures four times this season
“He is the spark plug,” Simmons said. “If he gets going, then the team is at a different level. When he doesn’t do well – he was a little shaky at McQuaid – then we suffer. He has to learn to be consistent each and every night, and I know he can do that.”
And-one Mike Morgan and @EDTechAthletics has a 10-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/cRx3asJAs6
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 13, 2021
Brandon Latson connected on a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight points in the second quarter to help Edison take a 33-22 lead into halftime.
Divine Thomas scored back-to-back buckets to start the third quarter, and Morgan added six more midway through the stanza as Edison pushed its advantage to 20 at 47-27. The Inventors took a 58-40 lead into the fourth quarter over the New Jersey school.
Second half is underway: High-low action Edmari Binion to Divine Thomas for the and-one. pic.twitter.com/ZbQ1ttxtAq
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 14, 2021
“We didn’t know what to expect,” Simmons said of The Patrick School whose national team includes NBA stars Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Bembry among its list of alums. “We didn’t know if they were coming in 6-foot-8, 6-foot-9 guys. We prepared ourselves for anything.”
More Edmari Binion. pic.twitter.com/Vjn0n6PNCP
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 13, 2021
Binion finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Latson and Thomas added 10 points apiece. Davijon Lipscomb had eight. Marcqell Freeman chipped in six points.
Davijon Lipscomb to Zirell Williams. Heading to the 4th: @EDTechAthletics 58-40 pic.twitter.com/ZToOK1R0G7
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 14, 2021
Jabari Johnson (5), Jearney Higdon (5), Raliq Moore (3), Tyler Bethea (2), Andy Larancuent (2) and Zirell Williams (2) rounded out the scoring for Edison.
Jordan Delanoy paced The Patrick School with 35 points including 17 in the fourth quarter. Wayne Best scored all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter.
Jordan Delanoy connects for @tps_hsbb Green pic.twitter.com/MONz1MNlYp
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 14, 2021
Edison improved to 4-2 on the season. The Inventors host Franklin on Wednesday for a 6:30 PM tipoff.
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