By PAUL GOTHAM
BRIGHTON, N.Y. — Sometimes a gentle reminder is all that’s needed.
Midway through the second quarter of Wednesday’s Section V Class A1 first-round game, Dave Tisa called timeout to remind his Brighton boys’ basketball team that the best player on the court was sitting there in the Bruins’ huddle.
Less than six minutes of game time later, Tisa’s squad had a 34-18 lead.
And Brighton sophomore Reggie Smith, Jr. was the centerpiece of the decisive 16-0 run.
“We stressed the ball has to go inside to Reggie,” Tisa said after No. 7 Brighton defeated No. 10 Gates-Chili, 74-50. “They didn’t have anybody that can cover him, so we were really deliberate about three or four possessions in a row of finding Reggie inside.”
Reggie Smith, Jr. goes with the baby hook in the lane. pic.twitter.com/4Uf4ga6pd4
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 24, 2022
The 6-foot-5 forward sparked the run with an and-one and he scored the last bucket of the half to give Brighton a double-digit advantage that it did not surrender.
“These guys know where their bread is buttered, and that’s Reggie,” Tisa said. “Once he got going, we started playing off him. That was really good.”
Andrew Falter followed Smith’s and-one with a 3-pointer. David Tisa, Jr. connected along the baseline.
Smith started the third-quarter scoring with a putback. Falter slipped ahead of the defense for another bucket, and Eli Desandis scored two of his 10 points to cap the run.
David Tisa, Jr. save at one end. Andrew Falter knocks a triple at the other end. @bruins_hoops 24-18 pic.twitter.com/c5G8uBFD66
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 24, 2022
“Once that starts happening (establishing Smith inside), everything else starts opening up for all of our shooters,” Tisa explained. “That was the key. We took our time, found Reggie inside and everything else went together.
Smith finished with a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds. He connected nine times from the floor including one 3-pointer and converted 1-of-2 free throws.
Best to let Reggie Smith, Jr. speak for himself at this point. @bruins_hoops 41-28. pic.twitter.com/42EXm4BFTX
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 24, 2022
“His basketball IQ,and he’s steady,” Tisa said of what separates his players from others. “Nothing bothers him. Nothing gets to him. He’s wise beyond his years. And like the rest of these kids, they’re all about our team. They play for each other.”
Tisa, Jr. added 15 points. Falter had 10. Matt Howe scored eight for the Bruins. Andrew Kotrides (4), Quinn O’Brien (2), Tryque Watkins (2) and Kendall Cleveland (2) rounded out the scoring for Brighton.
David Tisa, Jr. nails the baseline jumper. pic.twitter.com/a0rTBJ1sro
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 24, 2022
Sammy Seymour paced the Gates offense with 13 points. Cameron Brown added 10. Ryan Santiago (9), Richard Stevenson (8), Kani Mitchem (4), Jalen Hill (2), Brandon Randolph (2) and Ayden Grinion (2) also scored for the Spartans.
Sammy Seymour finishes in traffic. pic.twitter.com/mX57ymxpab
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 24, 2022
The Bruins will play at second-seeded Webster Thomas in the quarter-finals. A 7 p.m. tip off is scheduled Saturday.
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