By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — John Nally and the Pittsford Sutherland boys’ basketball coaching staff wanted Chandler Reynolds to look to score more frequently.
The senior guard chose the right time to heed his coach’s suggestions.
Reynolds scored the first five points in a 12-4 run to close the game, and fourth-seeded Sutherland knocked off No. 2 East, 53-46 in the finals of the 2023 Section V Class A2 playoffs played at Blue Cross Arena, Saturday evening.
“Sometimes we’re begging him to be more aggressive,” Nally said. “We do believe in him because he can do it.”
Trailing 42-41, Reynolds converted a pair of free throws to give the Knights a lead they did not surrender. Then coming out of a timeout, the 6-foot guard took a pass from teammate Everett Wilcox and buried a catch-and-shoot 3 for his only make for the night.
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“It wasn’t exactly by design,” Nally said. “It’s really hard to script the way they trap. You just got to play and kinda read the game. Try to stay aggressive but have some ball security.
“We got guys who can make a good read. We made a good pass on that one. We like Chandler getting that catch, being aggressive. When he’s aggressive, he knocks them down.”
Max Michalski gives Sutherland a 38-36 lead. pic.twitter.com/bC1qNfhYcI
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 5, 2023
Tournament MVP Max Michalski followed with a bucket at the end of the press break. Sam Pisanelli connected on a triple of his own and followed with another bucket to cap the run.
“Our end-of-the game experience has been incredible this year,” Nally said referring to the 14 games Sutherland played that were decided by single digits including six one-possession games. “We played such a tough schedule. Our division with Athena, Mendon and Irondequoit, we were playing sectional championship level games throughout the season.
“I thought that experience would carry us. We weren’t rattled in the end. They took that quick lead. We held out nerve and finished it out.”
Sutherland held East (18-3), averaging better than 78 points per game to a season-low offensive output.
“They can get it going pretty quick,” Nally said of East. “They got four guys that can knock it down.
“The goal was to hold them under 50, and we did. If we can get to 50 points, I like our chances. I feel like in general we’ve been pretty solid defensively for a couple years here.”
Sam Pisanelli coming at you. @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/NmVxfBNJl6
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 5, 2023
Pisanelli, who finished with a game-high 17 points joined Michalski on the All-Tournament team.
Michalski had 12 points. Dutch Pestorius (8), Luke Fliss (4) and Ivan Goettler (2) rounded out the scoring for Sutherland (16-7).
Sutherland will face A1 champion in the regional qualifier on Wednesday. Time and location are TBA.
Micah Johnson led East with 14 points. Zion Parson added 10. Quentin Gordon-Smith (9), Zymier Jackson (7), Kesean Leonard (4), and Kollin McCullough (2) also scored for East.
Gordon-Smith, Johnson and Parson each earned spots on the All-Tournament team along with Alec Gilbert (Wayne) and Davion Jones (Monroe).
Quentin Gordon-Smith snaps an 11-0 Sutherland run. Knights take a 27-20 lead into halftime. @SecVBBasketball Class A2 pic.twitter.com/hECKOnk0sH
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 5, 2023
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