By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Jahmere Kirkland scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as No. 11 Leadership Academy held off a late rally to defeat No. 6 Monroe, 83-81 in opening-round action of the Section V Class A2 Boys’ basketball tournament, Wednesday.
Kirkland’s 3-pointer, his second of the game, with less than two minutes remaining in the game, helped the Lions pull away from a one-possession game.
From yesterday: Jahmere Kirkland’s 3 gives Leadership an 81-74 advantage. pic.twitter.com/7Uwld09Pmr
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 24, 2022
“The rim got bigger,” the senior guard said with a smile. “I saw the chance and felt like I had it. I saw through the rim.”
DaiQuon McKinney converted a pair of free throws the next trip down the floor, and the Lions had an 83-76 lead with 49.3 seconds remaining in the game.
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The win snapped a three-game Leadership Academy losing streak.
“It feels good,” Kirkland said of the win. “We just had to bounce back. We all knew what we had to do. We just got tired of everybody not respecting us. We just had to prove them wrong.”
Trailing 61-57 late in the third quarter, Leadership scored 16 straight points to take a lead it did not surrender.
McKinney tied the game at 61 with a trey. After Kenny Couser converted 1-of-2 free throws, Navier Ford connected from distance for a 65-61 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
Dayveon Weems scored on a putback and then hit a turnaround jumper in the lane. Ford finished a layup, and Kirkland hit two from the charity stripe for a 73-61 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
Dayveon Weems hits a turnaround in the lane. Jahmere Kirkland follows with a layup. Leadership has scored 10 straight for a 71-61 advantage. 4:59 remaining pic.twitter.com/mStK3dlbZQ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 23, 2022
“We just had to bring back the intensity and the energy,” Kirkland said. “We knew what we had to do.”
Monroe rallied.
Davion Jones hit a jumper. Jaquan Shears and Felton Gray had back-to-back dunks. Khalil Graham went the length of the floor for a layup, and Jeremiah Kpor hit a free throw to pull the Red Jackets within five at 75-70.
Shears sliced through the defense from the wing to make it three-point game, and Graham connected on two more charity tosses to make it a two-point game at 76-74 with 2:03 left in the game.
Kirkland took over from there.
“I just had to be patient and wait my turn,” he said. “Went play by play.”
Couser connected on five 3-pointers (all in the first half) and scored 20 points to top Leadership. Ninth-grader Cameron Miller scored 17. Ford added seven points. Weems had four points. Matt Thomas (3), Jose Melendez (3) and Charles Fairley (2) also scored for Leadership.
Monroe’s Shears led all scorers with 24 points. Gray had 19. Jones contributed 11. Graham had nine and Kpor seven points. Tyrece Stewart (6) and Javel Tanksley (3) also scored for Monroe.
Jaquan Shears makes it a one-possession game with 2:12 remaining. pic.twitter.com/X8nAizehQH
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 23, 2022
Leadership will face No. 3 Wayne in the quarter-finals on Saturday. A 7 PM tip-off is scheduled at Wayne High School.
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