By Paul Gotham
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It was a highlight dunk that never happened.
Late in the first half of Saturday’s non-league matchup, UPrep’s Keone Manigault stepped into a passing lane for a steal. The senior broke into the open court and started to prepare his ascent.
A six-point Griffins’ lead was about to become eight…maybe nine if a foul occurred. And the possible momentum to be gained? Who knows.
All that was lost as Athena’s Zee Johnson happened upon the scene.
Staying with the play, the 6-foot-2 guard swooped in and stripped Manigault before there was even a chance to raise his tomahawk.
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“When I knew he was going, I was like ‘Nah, he’s not going to dunk in our house,’” Johnson said. “I’m not going to let that happen. I hustled back and I was able to get the ball. Luckily, I did get it without a foul.”
No rim rattling happened in that moment. And no possible momentum was gained.
“We always write five or six keys to victory on the board, and one of them was we have to get back on defense,” Athena head coach Mike Setzer said. “Zee did a perfect job with that. I don’t think there are a lot of guys in the area that can make that play. Zee is one of very few that could make that play.”
In that moment, those two points may have seemed insignificant to the outcome, but little more than 16 minutes of game-time later, Johnson put the finishing touches on another Athena (15-0) victory.
“It seems fitting that he makes a play like that, and he gets the game winner,” Setzer said. “I think he deserved it.”
Zee Johnson putback. @GAHSBoysHoops 62-60 pic.twitter.com/X2FLNOnGXy
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 27, 2024
With 2.7 seconds remaining, Johnson’s tap in gave the Trojans their only lead of the second half. His subsequent free throw the final margin in a 62-60 victory.
“I was at the right place, right time you know,” Johnson said.
With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, teammate Khorie Reaves took possession of the ball just over half court on the left side of the floor. The 6-foot-3 guard used a crossover dribble to split a trap just beyond three 3-point arc. He drove the lane but his layup attempt kicked to the right side of the rim. Johnson was there for the one-handed putback.
“Khorie made a great drive to the paint. He missed the layup. I just happened to be there.”
The basket ended a game that could not be measured in lead changes and ties. Rather it was runs and responses throughout the second half.
“They have guys that have been in the fire,” said UPrep head coach Jerice Crouch. “No matter what we threw at them, their leaders stepped up when it mattered. Hats off to them for answering the bell when it was time.”
UPrep led by seven at half.
Reaves hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 33 early in the third.
Gregory Bodine’s baseline jumper gave UPrep a 41-35 advantage heading into the fourth.
Athena’s Ne’Sean Fowlks hit from distance to cut the deficit to two at 45-43.
“We talk about energy and effort,” Crouch said. “Our energy and effort has to be high. Instead of matching someone else’s energy, they have to match ours. It’s one of those things that we preach every day to get after it and give it your all for however long you are out there.”
Again, UPrep (7-7) stretched the lead. Cai’ryn Jessie converted a steal and layup for a 54-47 UPrep lead.
“Credit to UPrep,” Setzer said. “We would cut it to one. Then it was a three-possession game. Then it became a one-possession game. UPrep answered every time.”
Manigault’s layup from Jessie in transition gave the Griffins their last two-possession lead of the game at 58-54.
Johnson’s layup made it a 60-59 game setting the stage for his game winner.
“What I’m most proud of with my guys is they never got frustrated,” Setzer said. “They kept coming back. The kids, I thought, did a really get job of keeping their composure in the second half.”
UPREP
Jay’vion Sampson 3 0-2 6, Gregory Bodine 5 0-0 10, Gavin White 3 0-0 7, Keone Manigault 2 2-4 6, Quentin Nowden 4 0-1 8, Jermelle Cotton 2 2-4 6, Alex Webb 4 1-1 9, Cai’ryn Jessie 2 0-0 4 TOTALS 27 5-12 60
GREECE ATHENA
I’zick Reaves 5 1-3 11, Khorie Reaves 6 2-3 14, I’zayah Reaves 3 2-2 10, Zee Johnson 6 3-10 16, Connor Osier 3 2-2 8, Ne’Sean Fowlks 1 0-0 3 Ryan Grasley 0 0-0 0 TOTALS 24 10-20 62
UPREP 20 11 12 17 — 60
GREECE ATHENA 13 11 15 23 — 62
3-point goals — UPREP 1 (Gavin White, 1); ATHENA 4 (I’zayah Reaves 2, Johnson 1, Fowlks 1).
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