By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kaysia Jones and Gabriela Lopez combined for 31 points as the host Edison Tech girls’ basketball team took a double-digit lead into halftime and held off a late surge to defeat Greece Arcadia/Olympia, 51-46 in non-league action, Wednesday night.
Jones and Lopez hit back-to-back 3-pointers to highlight a 16-3 run to close the second quarter.
“They locked in defensively,” second-year head coach Jazmyn Haywood said of her team’s effort to close the half. “We pressed and we made the big plays.”
After trailing 7-2 in the early going, Makayla Gantt’s bucket in the lane gave Edison a lead it did not surrender at 12-11. Lopez hit her second of three first-half 3-pointers. That was the start of a stretch that saw the Inventors produce points on seven of 11 possessions to end the half.
Ava Taylor steps in a passing lane for a steal and layup. Arcadia/Olympia out to an6-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/545Y1lnG09
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 18, 2023
“We talk about ball movement all the time just because we have really quick guards who can score,” Haywood explained when asked how her team found its offensive rhythm in the second quarter. “When we move the ball it’s hard to guard us. In practice, we work a lot on moving the ball, getting into open spots and reading the defense. These girls are great basketball players. They work every day to get better, and it shows on the court.”
Jakayla Costello found herself open behind a 2-3 zone for a bucket before Lopez and Jones dialed long distance. Chasity Edwards added to the outburst. Edison led 28-14 heading into the locker room at halftime.
The win was the fifth straight for Edison (8-3), a team that just a year ago failed to win a game.
Gabriela Lopez buries her third three. @EDTechAthletics 20-11. pic.twitter.com/wgFb8tCe8w
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 18, 2023
“Everyone’s expecting the team that we were last year,” Haywood noted. “With a couple of additions, we worked all summer to get better. It’s great to see them all come together and work as a team to get these Ws.”
Lopez, a junior, finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jones, a ninth-grader, scored 14 points to go with four rebounds and three assists. Lopez averages 18.5 points with 3.4 rebounds and nearly two assists per game. Jones scores 16.4 points along with 3.8 steals per game.
“They’re special,” Haywood said of her starting backcourt. “They’re special kids. They feed off each other. They feed off the energy each of them gives. They work hard to get better each and every day. They battle in practice. They’re checking each other in practice, helping each other get better in practice.”
Steal and bucket Kaysia Jones. pic.twitter.com/vCNmKhowTr
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 19, 2023
Greece’s Shania Estrich scored 19 of her game-high 26 points in the second half. The junior guard connected on a trio of triples in the fourth quarter. Her first shot from distance cut the deficit to five at 40-35 with 6:42 remaining in the game.
Lopez responded with a jumper from the left corner. Edwards added a bucket, and Nakayla Costello finished in the lane to help seal the win.
“They work together as a team,” Haywood said of her squad. “They try to get each other involved. They feed off each other’s energy.”
Ball movement finds Shania Estrich for 3. Arcadia/Olympia has scored the first 8 of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to five. Edison 40-35 pic.twitter.com/SCHbs1MUJZ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 19, 2023
Edwards finished with eight points in the win. Costello and Lynia Taylor had four apiece.
Maddy Kielkowicz (4), Ava Taylor (4), Hailey Romansky (3), Carly Cegielski (2) and Aimee Turner (2) also scored for Greece (5-7).
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