By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kanaz Linder scored 18 of his game-high 41 points in the first quarter as host Northeast boys’ basketball jumped out to a 20-point lead in the opening eight minutes and cruised to an 83-35 victory over Early College in Rochester City Athletic Conference (RCAC) action, Thursday night.
Linder connected eight times from the floor including once from behind the 3-point arc in the opening frame.
“I wanted to come out with a lot of intensity,” the sophomore guard said. “I needed a breakout game.”
Linder started the game’s scoring with a layup in the open court. He followed with a bucket in the paint before taking a pass from teammate Nahzier Beales and finishing another layup. His back-to-back baskets midway through the first gave the Panthers a 22-6 lead.
“He’s doing a good job of leading our team,” said Northeast assistant coach Martin Young. “His main focus has been on defense. He’s becoming a good defensive player. He’s getting his hands on a lot of balls that I didn’t even think he had a chance to get and then he’s able to get out on the break.”
Linder scored the last seven points of the first quarter.
Kanaz Linder converts a rebound and putback. pic.twitter.com/alMAPbzar1
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 19, 2024
Kanaz Linder gets the and-one to fall. @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/kh69ruWOXS
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 19, 2024
Kanaz Linder gives Northeast a 38-11 lead. pic.twitter.com/A16FkL7HBz
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 19, 2024
Izaiah Woods buries a 3. Northeast out to an early 16-6 lead. @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/LtcJDjMl2h
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 19, 2024
He connected on his first of two 3-pointers then converted a steal and layup. He closed the stanza with another basket in the open floor for a 31-11 lead. Northeast did not allow Early College to get any closer for the remainder of the game.
“I trusted my teammates, my brothers,” Linder said. “We came out with a mentality that we needed to defend our home court.”
Northeast forced 10 turnovers and allowed four field goals in the first quarter.
“We were looking to come out and play some hard defense, get a bunch of stops and try to get out on the fast break,” Young said. “I think we did a good job with that.
“We’ve been working on traps lately. Anything on the sideline is a trap. Tonight, that worked for us.”
Izaiah Woods added 10 points in the win. Beales had 11. Tajhmen Bowman added nine in the scoring column for Northeast (3-11).
Linder did not play in the fourth quarter.
Northeast head coach James Taylor-Lymon, Sr. missed the contest due to an illness.
Jahmeik Donald gets the floater to fall. pic.twitter.com/VYXiHERyYB
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 19, 2024
EARLY COLLEGE
Jahmeik Donald 3 1-2 7, Josue Oquendo 2 2-5 6, Antrel Jackson 5 2-5 12, Yankriel Gonzalez 0 1-2 1, Josh Jefferson 2 1-4 6, Michael Stroughter 1 0-0 3, Zyon Cooper 0 0-0 0 TOTALS 13 17-18 — 35
Antrel Jackson finds Josue LeBron for 2. @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/cFSFQ1IuU0
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 19, 2024
NORTHEAST
Kanaz Linder 19 1-3 41, Izaiah Woods 4 1-4 10, Semaj Hall 2 0-0 4, Nahzier Beales 4 0-0 11, Terrell Hollins 1 0-0 2, Tajhmen Bowman 3 0-0 9, Xavier Piner 2 0-0 6, Jason Harris 0 0-0 0, Damarice King 1 0-0 2 TOTALS 36 2-7 — 83
EARLY COLLEGE 11 6 8 10 — 35
NORTHEAST 31 16 22 14 — 83
3-point goals — Early College 2 (Jefferson 1, Stroughter 10; Northeast 9 (Linder 2, Woods 1, Beales 3, Bowman 3)
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