By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Andrew Eschner led three in double figures with 24 points and was among four scorers in overtime as No. 5 Northstar Christian rallied from a double-digit deficit in the first half to defeat top-seeded Rochester Academy Charter School (RACS) in overtime 71-61 in Section V Class C1 semifinal action, Monday night.
“We got down early, and we responded,” Northstar head coach Roger Leo said. “Found ourselves with some adversity, but the guys never gave up.”
Eschner converted a pair of free throws in overtime to give the Knights a 67-61 lead with less than a minute remaining.
“It’s such a condensed period of time,” Leo said. “Four minutes, you blink and you’re either up four or down four. Thankfully, we were up. The guys dug in. They got stops when we had to have them, and we converted on offense.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN HERE.
Justin Robinson opened the scoring in overtime. David Eschner followed with a corner three.
David Eschner buries a corner 3. Northstar 65-60 pic.twitter.com/7bdOK5lyEt
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 28, 2023
At the other end of the floor, Northstar’s defense forced three turnovers in the first five possessions – all empty trips for Rochester Academy.
“When there’s four minutes on the clock, those first two possessions of overtime are the most important,” Leo said. “If you’re on defense, you have to get a stop. If you’re on offense, you have to get a bucket because four minutes, if you seize the momentum right away, it’s a huge advantage. We did that. That’s what we talked about in the huddle before we went out there, and the guys went out and did it. I’m proud of them.”
Robinson opened the fourth-quarter scoring with jumper in the lane to give Northstar a 50-49 edge, its first advantage since 14-12 late in the first quarter. The teams traded leads five times in the fourth before Eschner scored back-to-back buckets in the final minute of regulation to give the Knights the lead, and they did not trail again.
Justin Robinson opens the fourth with a jumper to give Northstar a 50-49 lead. pic.twitter.com/DJbfZU8peR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 27, 2023
“He’s a bully down in the paint,” Leo said of the senior forward. “He didn’t start out that way. He likes to be on the perimeter, but he’s a bully in there.”
Rochester Academy’s Christian Coleman hit four 3-pointers including one with 3.6 remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.
Christian Coleman. Tie game . 3.6 to go. pic.twitter.com/inPSCkw0FC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 28, 2023
“They have two or three shooters, and we just can’t help off them. You can’t leave them. We made some mistakes early in the game and in the fourth quarter of leaving [Coleman]. He made us pay at the end of the game.
“Stay with their shooters and make every shot difficult. Get a hand up, contest and make sure we come away with the rebounds. We really did that in the overtime.”
The Private-Parochial league rivals split a pair of games during the regular season. Rochester Academy took the first meeting, 80-73. Northstar avenged the loss on February 3rd, 68-63.
Early in the second quarter, RACS (17-4) looked ready to take the third meeting. Kam McDonald connected on a pair of 3-pointers. Cam Miller twice converted rebound and putback opportunities, and the Racers had a 30-19 lead.
“Both teams know each other really well. We’ve been playing each other twice for years now, so there’s no secrets. What it comes down to it it’s a game of runs with them. They’re going to make runs. The key is to respond, and we did that.”
Northstar held RACS to its second lowest offensive output of the season and nearly 19 points under the Racers season average.
“About midway through the season, we really started to dig in on the defensive end of the floor. That’s where the difference has been as we have progressed throughout the season. We really compete defensively on every possession.”
Robinson finished with 18 points in the win. Gavin Jones had 12. David Eschner accounted for eight points. Jacob Rybcznski (6) and Lorenzo Danesi (3) rounded out the scoring for Northstar.
Miller led RACS with 14 points. Coleman and McDonald scored 13 apiece. Evariste Omebe had 10 points. Joe Aiken (8) and Perry Washington (3) also scored for the Racers.
Northstar (15-8) will face No. 2 Avon (18-4) in Friday’s championship game.
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