By PAUL GOTHAM
EAST ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A trio of players combined for five 3-pointers during a 21-7 run to end the second quarter, and the host East Rochester boys’ basketball team went on to beat Gananda, 67-50 in Wayne County league action, Monday night.
“They all love to score,” East Rochester head coach Pat Walsh said. “But more than that I think they understand the mentality that we got to work together.”
Leading 9-8 early in the frame, Teddy Emmings sparked the run with a drive and layup. Aidan Graves converted a rebound and putback. Then a string of 3-pointers started when ninth-grade point guard Eli Tanner connected from the right wing. Emmings followed with two triples in the next three possessions.
Teddy Emmings gets to the rim for 2. @ERocBoysBBall 11-8. pic.twitter.com/4pMoCBylEZ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2022
Tanner set up his brother, Sam Tanner, for a splash from the wing. Sam Tanner converted a pair of free throws and capped the frame with another 3-ball.
A Tanner special: Eli Tanner draws the defense. Sam Tanner buries the trey @ERocBoysBBall 25-13 pic.twitter.com/H4OLHDsClz
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2022
East Rochester took a 30-15 lead into halftime.
Gananda did not get within single digits for the remainder of the contest.
The two teams that combine during the football season opened the 2021-22 basketball campaign against each other, a game that Gananda won 60-51.
“We didn’t have our basketball legs,” Walsh said of the first game that was played just days after the school’s football team played in the New York State Class C semi-finals. “We had some guys in different positions that day. We missed a lot of shots that day.
“I thought today we did a better job of shooting from the outside, but we also took the it inside.”
Gananda did make a run late in the third.
Shamar Irving connects from the corner. pic.twitter.com/6y6NEDJf2N
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2022
Luke Ciprich hit a 3-pointer. Carter Lathrop scored back-to-back baskets, and Kamryn Bartley made it 38-28 with a trey of his own.
Emmings responded with seven points and the lead was back to 16 at 52-36.
“When they were making a run, he put a band-aid on the cut,” Walsh said of Emmings. “That was nice.”
The win was the ninth in 11 games for the Bombers which improved to 10 wins and 4 losses on the season.
“We’ve had three or four different starting lineups,” Walsh noted. “Kids really want to play. That helps.
“My assistant coaches are great. They send kids the videos and say ‘Hey, look it we’re not doing this. We’re not doing that.’ We do work on those situations.”
Emmings led with a game-high 22 points. Sam Tanner had 16. Shamar Irving scored 11, and Eli Tanner added eight points. Elijah Parsons (6) and Matt Michalski (2) also scored for the Bombers.
Cohyn Reisman led Gananda (11-4) with 13 points. Christain Jenny added nine points, and Ciprich had eight. Lathrop (7), Bartley (5), Andrew Gleason (4), Isaiah Espaillot (2) and Jordan Richards (2) also scored for the Blue Panthers. Gananda had won six straight heading into Monday’s matchup.
Kamryn Bartley finds Carter Lathrop underneath for 2. @GHSAthletics1 pic.twitter.com/2gVrWCzS6j
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2022
Earlier this month Walsh announced he will no longer coach the ER baseball team.
“I think it’s time,” said the 26th-year coach. “We got to get these young guys in there.”
Great article so helpful to the team morale.