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Rochester Academy grabs early lead, stays unbeaten

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Josiah Heyward (22) scored 21 points to lead Rochester Academy CS to a 77-62 win over World of Inquiry. (Photo: RON ANDREWS)

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Josiah Heyward scored 10 of his game-high 21 points during a 12-2 first-quarter run as the Rochester Academy Charter School (RACS) boys’ basketball team took a lead it did not surrender and went on to beat host World of Inquiry, 77-62 in non-league action on Friday.

The 6-foot-3 senior forward snapped an eight-all tie with a drive from the wing. He followed with a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. Three possessions later, he connected again from distance before converting a putback to give Rochester Academy its first double-digit lead of the game at 20-10.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS HERE. 

“When he’s hitting his three he’s tough to stop,” said fifth-year Rochester Academy head coach Rob Cocilova. “We’ve been trying to get him to not settle for a three and to be more aggressive going to the basket. He was definitely more aggressive going to the basket in the first quarter. Then his three was dropping.”

Heyward buried another trey to start the second quarter and then set up Kam McDonald for a layup.

“He’s one of our best kids,” Cocilova said. “He is the first one in the gym (for practice) and last one to leave. He started off the season a little bit slow, but he’s coming along right now.”

Getting offensive production from nine other players, RACS did not allow World of Inquiry to make it a single-possession game for the remainder of the contest.

Perry Washington used a spin move along the wing to get to the bucket for two then followed with a steal and layup as RACS took a 41-31 advantage into halftime.

Deonte Major opened the third-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer. Major’s steal and layup later in the frame pushed the Racers advantage to 13 at 57-44.

“Our best offense is our defense,” Cocilova stated. “We just get off the bus a little slow. A 5 o’clock start tonight. We started a little slow, but it was the energy, getting guys to run for each other and being aggressive.”

Heyward’s theft and finish made it a 67-52 game with 4:02 on the clock.

Major had 13 points and handed out six assists in the win. Washington scored 10. McDonald accounted for nine points and four steals. Evariste Omebe (8), Joseph Aikens (5), Ja’seir Samuels (3), Jaylin Duval (2), Adrian McMath (2), and Christian Coleman (2) rounded out the scoring for RACS. Heyward also had five steals, five rebounds and four blocks. He finished 9-of-14 from the floor for the night including 3-of-6 from long range.

The Racers finished with 3 wins and 7 losses in the abbreviated 2021 season. Prior to that, Cocilova’s squad went 11-9 in 2019-20 and 9-13. in 2018-19 With Friday’s win, RACS (No. 17 NYSSWA Class C) improved to 13-0 on the season.

“We had a great off-season,” Cocilova said noting experiences in the East High summer league and the Irondequoit High fall league. “We kinda knew what we had a little bit. To be 13-and-O, I can’t say much more about these guys. They’re great kids. They’re great to coach. They come hard every practice.”

Keyon Concepcion paced the WOI offense with 16 points. Jalen Breedy had 12. Jaedon Adams-Griffin added 10. Umar Richardson (9), Christian Ortiz (6), Diego Martinez (5) and Eddie Leonard (4) also scored for the Griffins (3). WOI played the game without starting guard Rodney Nunnally, Jr.

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