By PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER , N.Y — James Matthews scored nine of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter when UPrep erased a double-digit deficit and rallied to beat host Webster Schroeder, 51-46 in non-league action Monday night.
Trailing 42-32, UPrep closed the game on a 19-4 run.
“We decided that we wanted to guard,” said second-year head coach Jerice Crouch. “I told them ‘it’s time to finish a game.’ We have struggled finishing games prior to this. It was time to get on the other side of it.”
Putback Andrew Edwards 4:18 remaining @WebWarriorBball 43 @UprepBball 38 pic.twitter.com/Tsqg6WBDy7
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 11, 2022
Mylan Maxwell started the rally with a bucket in the lane. Matthews converted a pair of free throws. Andrew Edwards added two more, and Brandon Moore hit a pair of free throws. Matthews made it a one-point game at 43-42, and Maxwell’s putback gave UPrep its first lead of the fourth quarter at 44-43.
James Matthews makes it a one-point game. pic.twitter.com/UpbqzWPsMu
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 11, 2022
Schroeder’s Michael Salina responded with his second 3-pointer of the half. Schroeder led 46-44 with 1:54 left in the game.
Moore knotted the game with a steal and bucket.
Matthews scored the final five points of the game.
“We talked, me and him,” Crouch said. “It was about you got to be a leader, be a point guard. You got to be able to finish games for us. He finished the game for us. That was big for him. He’s finally stepping up and making the most of it.”
The fourth-quarter rally came after Schroeder outscored UPrep 21-8 in the third quarter.
It was an eight-minute stretch that started with Salina converting a four-point play and ended with Ben Carey getting a steal and 3-pointer at the horn. In between, the Warriors scored on seven of 10 possessions.
Ben. Carey. Steal and 3 at the buzzer. @WebWarriorBball outscores @UprepBball 21-8 in the 3rd to take 40-32 lead into the fourth. pic.twitter.com/0eXCENPS9l
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 11, 2022
“We didn’t guard in that third quarter,” Crouch stated. “I was thinking we are back to our old ways. Kudos to the kids. They fought through it. They said that this is going to be a night where finish in the fourth.”
UPrep forced eight turnovers in the fourth quarter.
The win was the third in four games for the Griffins (4-4).
James Matthews finishes in traffic. @UprepBball 22-19 1:13 remaining in the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/52RETo0cJi
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 11, 2022
“We had a week off, and we needed it,” Crouch said. “We haven’t really been home. We’ve been traveling. We’ve been in Syracuse, Buffalo so to finally get to play in Rochester against local talent is good for our kids.”
Maxwell finished with 16 points. Moore had 11. Edwards accounted for three points, and Emmanuel Charley added a free throw for the Griffins.
Carey paced the Schroeder offense with 15 points. Michael Salina added 14. Alex DeRosa accounted for six points. Matthew Salina (5), Jon McCaffrey (4) and Nick Hauman (2) rounded out the scoring for Schroeder (6-2). The Warriors travel to play cross-town rival Webster Thomas on Wednesday. A 7:15 p.m. tip-off is scheduled.
UPrep travels to play at Fairport also on Wednesday. A 7:30 p.m. start time is slated.
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