Leysath’s late putback lifts Aquinas

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Chris Leysath converted on an offensive rebound with less than 10 seconds remaining, and the Aquinas boys’ basketball team held off a late rally to defeat host McQuaid Jesuit, 58-57 on the final day of the Section V regular season.

Trailing by one, Leysath slipped behind the defense and was in position when teammate Mykel White’s jumper in the lane found iron.

“I knew I had to crash the basket,” the 6-foot-5 junior forward said. “Once I saw Mykel was going to the basket, I knew I can get higher than everybody else, so I used that to my advantage.”

Chris Leysath converts the putback. Aquinas 58 McQuaid 57 (final) ⁦@SecVBBasketball⁩ pic.twitter.com/mGisUhrQ4y

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 17, 2023

Leysath’s bucket came after Patrick Tehan gave the Jesuit Knights a 57-56 lead with 36.6 seconds remaining in the game.

“When we play McQuaid, it’s always going to be like this,” White said of closely-contested game. “I just tell the guys that we got to learn how to play in these types of environments because the sectionals every game is going to be packed. Every game is going to be big.”

Patrick Tehan gives McQuaid a 57-56 lead with less than a minute remaining. pic.twitter.com/VaIScBEH7F

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 17, 2023

Leysath scored four of his 18 points in the third quarter, and the Li’l Irish took a 49-39 lead into the final eight minutes of play.

McQuaid rallied.

Chris Woodard converted an and-one followed by a Gabe Zawolo 3-pointer to pull the Jesuit Knights within four at 50-46.

Casey Montesano’s layup in traffic cut the deficit to two.

“We just got to learn how to fight through every game, fight through the adversity that we had here,” White said.

Jah Breedlove finished at the rim, and White converted a pair of one-and-one free throws to give Aquinas a 56-51 lead.

McQuaid scored on its next three possessions. Tehan found Woodard cutting baseline for a lay-in. Montesano scored off the dribble to set up Tehan for the lead.

Casey Montesano makes it a one-point game with 53.9 to go. Aquinas 56 McQuaid 55 pic.twitter.com/QiSL0t8AmR

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 17, 2023

The Jesuit Knights’ defense forced six turnovers in the fourth quarter including a pair of offensive fouls taken against Jayon Alexander. On the second of which the Aquinas sophomore guard fouled out with more than three minutes remaining in the game, and the Li’l Irish clinging to a 50-48 edge.

CJ Azor buries a 3. ⁦@AQ_Basketball⁩ 35 ⁦@McQuaidBball⁩ 26 (halftime) ⁦@SecVBBasketball⁩ pic.twitter.com/BJT28emmhs

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 17, 2023

“Knowing that Jayon was out of the game, I just told the guys we got to stay resilient,” White said.

Alexander scored four points. Micah Anderson had six. Mackie Terry (5), C.J. Azor (3), Jah Breedlove (2) and Quante Gillians (1) rounded out the scoring for Aquinas (14-6). The Li’l Irish took a 50-49 decision when the two teams met in December.

Montesano led McQuaid (7-13) with 18. Woodard had 17. Tehan added eight. Ian Florence (7), Jaiyden Jones (4) and Zawolo (3) also scored. The Jesuit Knights had won three straight and five of six entering play Thursday night.

“It feels great especially since we’re going to sectionals and it was against a good team like McQuaid,” Leysath said of the win. “It’s a good way to get ready for sectionals.”