By PAUL GOTHAM
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jackson Green and Matt Woods fueled a 14-2 run to open the fourth quarter, but the Pittsford Mendon boys’ basketball saw its season end with a 58-56 loss to Amherst (VI) in the 2022 New York State Far West Regional championship.
Trailing by nine heading into the final eight minutes of the game, Woods opened the stanza with his fourth 3-pointer of the game. Green used a spin move in the lane to finish at the rim. Woods followed with another triple to give Mendon a one-point edge at 44-43, the Vikings first lead since 15-14 midway through the second quarter.
Green followed with a steal and layup to force a timeout from Amherst.
“We decided to attack,” Mendon head coach Bob Nally said of the fourth-quarter rally. “Everyone was being more aggressive on offense. That’s who we are. That’s our identity. When we sit back and are too patient, we end up having to settle for okay shots rather than good shots. We took a little too long to put it into fifth gear.”
Jackson Green gets the and-one on the break. Mendon within 2 at 43-41. pic.twitter.com/ia4etn1xKV
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 13, 2022
Green led Kidder Lindley to the basket for a 48-45 Mendon advantage. It was the Vikings last lead of the game.
Jackson Green finds a cutting Kidder Lindley. pic.twitter.com/xV2sIoQ5pz
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 13, 2022
“We got a lot of great looks for all of our guys in the second half,” Nally added. “Everyone was part of that. When we decided to attack with the dribble, they had to collapse a little bit. That led to some open shots on the perimeter.”
Nick Moore and Gary Johnson provided Amherst’s response with back-to-back 3-pointers. Teddy McDuffie followed with a traditional 3-point play and another two more points for a 57-50 Tigers lead with less than 90 seconds remaining in the game.
“They made some big shots down the stretch,” Nally said. “They got the game back.”
Caleb Lewis and Eric Krowl scored on consecutive possessions to make it a one-possession game at 57-54. Green’s rebound and putback pulled Mendon within one at 57-56 with 8.8 seconds on the clock.
Green finished with a game-high 20 points. The junior guard picked up his second foul with 4 minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Lewis was also whistled for his second foul before halftime leaving 33 points per game on the bench for nearly three minutes.
The Vikings ended up enduring a 3 minute-and-34-second scoreless stretch to end the half.
“Ultimately their defense in the first half was very good,” Nally commented. “We were struggling to get good looks. We got into foul trouble and it took us out of rhythm. When you got your two leading scorers on the bench, it doesn’t help you.
“I thought we came out in the second half and battled. Just dug ourselves a hole in that second quarter. Foul trouble definitely killed us.”
Matt Woods stops a 7-0 Amherst run with his second three of the quarter. Mendon trails 32-21. pic.twitter.com/jBCDCLTI3u
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 13, 2022
Mendon (23-2) came into the game winners of 11 straight. The Vikings were looking to make their second trip to the state final four in four years.
“These guys are a super-talented basketball team. We were right there, a bucket away from going to the state semis. They’re a great group of kids, a great group of teammates. I just keep getting luckier and luckier every year to be able to coach great basketball players and great kids. It’s one of the best jobs out there.”
Jackson Green finds Eric Krowl for an 11-6 Mendon lead. pic.twitter.com/k9e2lPMFwV
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 13, 2022
Woods finished with 15 points. Lindley had seven. Lewis (6), Ryan Deuel (4) and Krowl (4) also scored for Mendon.
McDuffie led Amherst (23-2) with 16 points. Johnson had 12 while Moore (11) and Ahmir Dunn (10) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Tigers. Amherst will play Mekeel Christian Academy (II) vs. New Hartford (III) winner in the state semi-finals.
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