By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tyler Bethea scored 22 of his season-high 34 points in the second half as the Edison Tech boys’ basketball team erased a pair of deficits and went on to defeat Wilson Magnet, 77-69 in Rochester City Athletic Conference (RCAC) action, Thursday night.
Trailing 56-54 heading to the fourth quarter, Bethea paced a 10-0 run with six points. His bucket off an assist from teammate Davijon Lipscomb gave the Inventors a lead they did not surrender at 58-56.
Next time down the floor, Lipscomb drove baseline for another basket, and Bethea converted on the next two possessions. Both coming on finishes in the lane – a common theme for the Inventors in the second half.
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“Just go to the rack because the middle was wide open,” Bethea said echoing the words of head coach Reggie Simmons during halftime. “The middle was wide open. That was it. He said to just attack.”
The senior guard connected 10 times from the floor in the final 16 minutes of game time – all of those in and around the lane.
Tyler Bethea gets in the lane for two more. @EDTechAthletics has scored the first 10 of the fourth leads 64-56. pic.twitter.com/PihQ7KQzXn
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 13, 2023
“We were missing a lot jump shots,” Bethea noted of Edison’s first-half effort. “A lot of shots that we didn’t need to take. We said let’s just keep on attacking and that’s how we’re going to win the game. Keep attacking and be humble.”
The win snapped a five-game losing streak that included setbacks to four teams (Horseheads Honorable Mention NYSSWA Class A/ Nottingham Honorable Mention NYSSWA Class AA/ Cicero-North Syracuse No. 30 NYSSWA Class AA and Irondequoit No. 27 NYSSWA Class A) either ranked or receiving votes in this week’s state poll.
“In the past couple of games, we had shots that weren’t falling,” Bethea said. “This game was one to prove it to ourselves.”
Bethea netted 10 of Edison’s first 11 points in the third quarter as the teams combined for three lead changes and six ties during the frame. After teammate Davijon Lipscomb converted one-of-two free throws to open the third-quarter scoring, Bethea got in the lane off the dribble for two points and followed the next possession with a layup in transition. Two trips down the floor later, he finished again at the rim. A steal and slam pushed the lead to five at 42-37.
Steal and slam. Tyler Bethea has 8 this quarter. Edison 42-37. pic.twitter.com/VzJbNgk7tp
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 13, 2023
Wilson sophomore DaSiah White netted eight of his team-high 17 points in the third quarter to help the Wildcats keep pace. His third 3-pointer of the game tied the score at 42. Mike Wiggins gave Wilson a 49-48 edge with a triple of his own, and Mikey Mitchell finished a layup in the open floor for the edge heading into the fourth quarter.
DaSiah White finds Dolcin Flood for two. Wilson 34-31. pic.twitter.com/VH8Z29CRgA
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 13, 2023
Edison forced five turnovers while limiting Wilson to five field goals in the fourth quarter.
“We tried to at least press them a little bit to get them to pass the ball, so we could get wide open steals,” Bethea stated.
Bethea also collected seven steals and seven assists in the win. Lipscomb had 12 points, five steals and six assists. Jabari Johnson added 15 points. Chris Taggart (7), Jearney Higdon (5) and Jabric Larkins (4) rounded out the scoring for Edison (6-6).
Wilson’s White had four assists and five rebounds. Dolcin Flood contributed 16 points. Mitchell accounted for 10. Wiggins added nine. Kendrick Moxley (8), Lemar Rhone (6), Jalen Hardeman (2) and Brandon Davis (1) also scored for the Wildcats (2-8).
Edison hosts Eastridge in a non-league matchup next Tuesday. A 6:15 p.m. tip time is scheduled. Wilson will welcome Gates Chili the same night for a 6:30 p.m. start.
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