By PAUL GOTHAM
CHILI, N.Y. — Garrett Clar scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the first quarter when Victor boys’ basketball grabbed a double-digit lead and went on to defeat UPrep, 67-57 in non-league action from Roberts Wesleyan University, Saturday afternoon.
Clar connected on a trio of 3-pointers as part of a 22-10 opening eight minutes that saw six different Blue Devils contribute to the offensive production.
“We knew the challenge in front of us,” said Victor head coach Tyler Roberts. “UPrep is a very good team, and our guys were focused right from the start.”
Griffen Hopkins also found the range from distance and added five of his 17 points in the first while Owen Dake had a trey as well.
“It was important to play from ahead,” Roberts said. “Of course, we try to do that all the time. Easier said than done. The guys were locked in tonight.”
Victor (8-3) led by six at halftime before using a 19-16 advantage in the third quarter to take a nine-point lead into final quarter.
Nick Leonard’s traditional 3-point play gave Victor a 60-49 lead with 2:34 remaining in the contest.
The win was the fourth in the past five games for Victor which was coming off a 76-67 loss to Monroe County Division I rival, Hilton earlier in the week.
“We needed to rebound better than we have been,” Roberts said when asked about the key to Saturday’s win. “It’s something we’ve worked on in practice a lot. I don’t know how many rebounds each guy grabbed, but each guy did his job when a shot went up and boxed out. We were able to rebound as a team. That a lot of times leads to our offense.”
Garrett Clar to Nick Leonard for an and-one. @victorboysbball 60-49. pic.twitter.com/JJloA9zNb0
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 20, 2024
Steal and layup, Jermelle Cotton. @UprepBball is within seven at 52-45. @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/Gj0xCWs6hR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 20, 2024
Jermelle Cotton’s steal and layup followed by Ja’yvion Sampson’s floater in the lane and Quentin Nowden’s basket off the drive pulled UPrep (6-5) within five at 54-49 with less than five minutes to go in the game.
“It was effort and energy and understanding that basketball is a game of runs,” said UPrep head coach Jerice Crouch. “They are going to make a run, but we had to withstand it and get after it when we had our chance.”
The loss came less than 24 hours after UPrep’s 57-50 setback against Bishop Kearney.
“We’re just building a championship mentality,” Crouch said. “At the end of day, nothing is won in January or February. You schedule games against teams that are going to prepare you for the postseason, so you can get prepared for those moments.”
Cotton led UPrep with 18 points.
Clar converted 8-of-8 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
Victor played without Cam Ryan, a starter on the state championship team from last year. Ryan has been sidelined since the beginning of the season with an ACL injury that he suffered playing lacrosse last spring. The senior guard has recently started to participate in light activities with the idea of returning to the lineup before the end of the regular season.
Victor will host Webster Thomas for a 7:15 PM tip off on Wednesday.
UPrep hosts Franklin, Tuesday at Roberts Wesleyan. A 7:45 start time is scheduled.
VICTOR
Griffen Hopkins 5 7-8 17, Colin Barber 0 0-0 0, Colin Kubrich 2 0-0 4, Garrett Clar 4 8-8 19, Justine Rosello 0 0-0 0, RJ Johnson 1 1-2 3, Nick Leonard 4 5-6 13, Owne Dake 4 0-0 9, Brody Burgess 1 0-0 2 TOTALS 21 21-24 –67
UPREP
Ja’yvion Sampson 1 2-2 4, Gregory Bodine 0 0-0 0, Gavin White 4 0-0 8, Keone Manigault 2 2-2 7, Quentin Nowden 3 0-0 7, Jermelle Cotton 7 0-0 18, Knekose Mack 2 2-4 6, ALex Webb 2 0-0 5, Cai’ryn Jessie 1 0-0 2 TOTALS 22 6-8 — 57
VICTOR 22 11 19 15 — 67
UPREP 10 17 16 14 — 57
3-point goals — Victor 7 (Hopkins 3, Clar 3, Dake 1); UPrep 7 (Manigault 1, Nowden 1, Cotton 4, Webb 1)
*Article has been updated to reflect Victor’s accurate record.
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