By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Four players contributed to the scoring during an 11-0 run late in the fourth quarter as the East High boys’ basketball team defeated host Franklin, 73-62 in Rochester City Athletic Conference (RCAC) action, Tuesday night.
Trailing 57-55 with less than six minutes remaining, Kesean Leonard started the decisive run hitting one of two free throws. Three possessions later, Kemel White came off the bench and converted an and-one to give the Eagles (No. 20 NYSSWA Class A) a lead they did not surrender at 60-59.
Kollin McCullough and -one East 63-59 pic.twitter.com/ilcS1wbo1K
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 11, 2023
“We caught our composure and got the ball to the right people,” East High head coach Darrell Barley said. “That caused a lot of problems.”
Kollin McCullough scored the next six points – completing a traditional three-point play before connecting from behind the 3-point arc for a 66-59 East lead. Zion Parsons finished in the post for two of his team-high 22 points.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS HERE.
McCullough scored on an inbound play to cap the run and give East its first double-digit advantage of the game, 70-59.
“We did a good job breaking the press,” Barley noted. “A much better job breaking the press in the second half.”
Clarence Thompson and Sha’mere Franklin combined for four 3-pointers and 16 pointers in the first quarter as Franklin grabbed a 23-22 lead after first eight minutes of play.
Clarence Thomson connects for his second triple of the first quarter. Franklin 18-14 pic.twitter.com/D2uZ6zH24Z
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 11, 2023
Parsons scored nine in the second quarter as East took a 36-35 lead into halftime.
Back-to-back buckets from Shawn Goins early in the third quarter spotted Franklin a 40-39.
East (8-2) responded. Parsons grabbed an offensive rebound and scored. McCullough added a bucket, and Parsons led Quinton Gordon-Smith into the open court for a layup. East led 52-46 and looked to pull away.
Zion Parsons 💪 East 44-42 pic.twitter.com/fg0bbXtAtn
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 11, 2023
“No matter where you go, you got to be physical and you got to be tough,” Barley commented. “We started off the game really weak. As the game went on, we got more confident.”
Clarence Thompson scored eight straight including two more 3-pointers. Another triple from Thompson early in the fourth gave Franklin a 56-54 edge.
Foul trouble played a role in the final minutes as both Freeman and Terence Thompson watched the game from the bench with five fouls.
“No doubt, they’re a good team,” Barley said of Franklin. “Both teams were aggressive. I think we play the same brand of basketball.
“We were trying to go at [Terence Thompson] and [Freeman]. We knew we had to get them in foul trouble because we knew they don’t have a deep team.”
East’s McCullough scored 17 points. Smith had 13. Michah Johnson added nine while Leonard had seven. Zymier Jackson (2) rounded out the scoring for East.
Clarence Thompson hit six 3-pointers for Franklin (6-4) and finished with a game-high 27 points along with five rebounds and three blocks. Goins added 15 points. Terence Thompson had 12 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks. Freeman contributed nine points and six rebounds. Daniel Gay had one point.
Putback slam Terence Thompson. pic.twitter.com/fKrmxJ3HNA
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 11, 2023
“The atmosphere was championship-like,” Franklin head coach Joe Jackson said. “We haven’t played in many games like that. It was a tough city game that went back and forth.
“We want to be battle-tested. We were tested and had to go deep into the bench because of foul trouble. That changed the game in the fourth quarter. East had a game plan to take Freeman away, and they were successful tonight. Good thing about it, we get to give the city something positive to cheer about. Franklin and East, part two, February 13th at East High. Circle the date.”
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