GREECE, N.Y. — Zee Johnson converted a putback with 2 seconds left in the game to cap a late rally as the Greece Athena boys’ basketball team defeated previously unbeaten Irondequoit, 53-52.
The win was the second straight for Athena and avenged an earlier loss.
The Trojans missed two shots before Johnson gathered the rebound and laid it in for the game-winning bucket, part of his team-leading 14 points – eight of which he scored in the fourth quarter.
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Trailing 44–33, the Trojans chipped away at the lead in the fourth quarter, pulling to within two points near the three-minute mark of the final stanza. With less than 20 seconds remaining, Jovon Barfield hit a triple to give the Trojans their first lead since early in the second quarter.
On the ensuing Irondequoit possession, Isaiah Ballard grabbed the offensive rebound from a missed a free throw and was fouled in the act of shooting. Ballard drained both free throws to put the Eagles up 52-51 with 12 seconds left.
Athena (9-2) jumped out to a quick 11-2 lead midway through the first quarter as Connor Osier netted six of his 13 points in the first four minutes of play.
Ryan Heath scored eight of his game-high 20 points during a 9-0 Irondequoit to tie the game early in the second.
Open looks were hard to come by for the remainder of the first half in a tight defensive battle that saw Irondequoit take a 22-20 lead into the break.
The Eagles found their shooting stroke from distance in the third, knocking in three triples to take the double-digit lead into the fourth.
Athena’s Johnson connected on 6-of-11 shots from the floor. The junior guard also grabbed six rebounds. Osier hauled in 16 boards on the night.
Khorie Reaves, the Trojans leading scorer with 19.1 points per game, was limited by foul trouble and eventually picked up his fifth infraction with 1:30 remaining in the game. The junior captain ended with seven points. I’zayah Reaves also had seven points. Barfield and I’zick Reaves accounted for six points apiece.
Irondequoit’s Xavier Gissendanner scored 12 points. Kenyen Lovette had nine points and Ballard four. Quinn VanKerkhove contributed seven points.
Irondequoit (9-1/No. 9 NYSSWA Class A) won 70-54 when the two teams met in the finals of the Hilton Holiday Tournament.
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