By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Back-to-back games may save the East High boys’ basketball team from a few laps after Friday’s uneven performance left head coach Darrell Barley scratching his head.
Never mind that the Eagles won their eighth straight game and haven’t tasted defeat since mid-December.
Zion Parson led four in double figures, and Quentin Gordon-Smith delivered at the right time as the host Eagles erased a late deficit to force overtime and hand RCAC foe Monroe its second loss of the season, 68-65.
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Gordon-Smith’s first bucket of the night (a 3-pointer from the left side at the top of the key) came with less than five minutes remaining in regulation and East trailing by three. His second basket gave the Eagles a lead in overtime that they did not surrender.
“I’m the leader of the team,” the senior guard said. “I had to fill my role, fill my spot because I know my teammates are looking for me to lead them.”
Trailing 63-61, Gordon-Smith used a ball screen from Parson to get space for the go-ahead bucket.
“I came off the screen and saw the defender backed up, so shooters shoot. I shot it.”
Quinton Gordon-Smith comes off the ball screen and … splash. East 64-63.1:01 to go pic.twitter.com/YRQx7OS649
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 10, 2023
Next trip down the floor, Parson got to the basket off the dribble and finished. The Eagles, who had trailed by five after three quarters of play and only led briefly during the fourth quarter, had all the points they needed.
“We’re a hard-working team,” Gordon-Smith said. “We’re brothers. The coaches preach that in practice that we got to be one unit. We got to come together when things aren’t going right. Every day is not going to be a good day. We just have to stay together.”
The Eagles, who committed 10 turnovers in the second half and only led once in the final 12 minutes of regulation, found a way to win.
“It was so loud I don’t know if they understood what plays we were calling,” Barley said of the atmosphere inside the East gymnasium. “Sometimes we were getting rebounds and just hoisting up shots.”
Jaquan Shears topped the Monroe offense with 25 points. The senior guard/forward scored 10 in the second half and two more in overtime. After a Davion Jones steal and layup, Shears grabbed a defensive board, went the length of the floor for a basket and a 41-38 Monroe lead late in the third quarter. He hit a running one-hander for a 56-53 advantage with three-and-change remaining in the fourth.
“Monroe did a good job,” Barley said. “They pressured us, took our legs away. Usually teams that press don’t like to be pressed. We kinda showed that today.”
Parson’s rebound and putback made it a one-possession game at 58-55 with less than three minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
“Zion really stepped up tonight,” Barley said of the ninth-grade guard. “He really attacked their two bigs. He took over the game at the end. He wanted the ball.”
Parson finished with 20 points. Micah Johnson had 16. Kesean Leonard and Kollin McCullough added 11 apiece. Nigel Copeland (3) and Kani McNeil (1) rounded out the scoring for East.
Micah Johnson buries a 3 to give @Easthighbasket9 a 14-13 lead. pic.twitter.com/to7HFUTaYV
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 10, 2023
“It was about getting a bucket,” Parson said of his mindset late in the game. “I would do anything to help my team get the win and come out on top. It was about getting to the basket, keeping our composure and playing as a team.”
Jones and Will McKinney both scored 12 for Monroe (15-2/No. 28 NYSSWA Class A). DaiQuon McKinney had eight. Felton Gray (7) and Casimer Bradford-Sawyer (1) also scored for the Redjackets.
DaiQuon McKinney hits the pull-up jumper in transition. @JMHSRedjackets 43-38 middle third. pic.twitter.com/SRVPgUxJpb
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 10, 2023
The game consisted of eight ties and nine leads changes where neither team had an advantage of more than six points.
For Barley, though, his team that starts three underclassmen showed their inexperience on Friday night.
“They were more physical than us,” Barley said. “I was surprised. We didn’t really handle their pressure. We turned the ball over too much.
“We play tomorrow. I was going to say we run tomorrow at practice, but we got to go to Buffalo.”
The Eagles (14-2/No. 15 NYSSWA Class A) head west on the thruway to play Park School of Buffalo on Saturday.
Paul, thank you for sharing your talents with us. Your coverages, photos and clips are all First Class!!