By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For the East High boys’ basketball team on Wednesday night, it was a matter of taking advantage of opportunities given from a distance of 15 feet.
That and a stingy defense.
The Eagles used a 12-point advantage at the free-throw line to pull out a 61-47 victory over host Monroe in Rochester City Athletic Conference (RCAC) action.
“That was huge,” East head coach Darrell Barley said of the work from the stripe. “We usually don’t make free throws. We usually miss about 11.”
East converted 19-of-23 charity tosses on the night including 12-of-13 in the second half and outscored Monroe overall 19-7 from the line.
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“That’s what really made a difference,” the 22nd-year coach said.
Three players scored in double figures for the Eagles (No. 1 NYSSWA Class A) who improved to 12-1 with their second straight win.
“A lot of our kids stepped up,” Barley said. “They played together. Nobody cares who scores, and that’s what I like about this team.”
Markell Johnson scored eight of his 14 points in the third quarter when East used a 16-2 run to turn a deficit into a double-digit advantage.
Johnson opened the scoring in the second half with an assist from teammate Kesean Leonard. His second basket – a rebound and putback – gave East a 43-35 lead.
“He’s playing out of position,” Barley said of the 6-foot-1 junior who spends the bulk of his time on the offensive end in the lane. “I like to play my five best players. I think they all deserve it. Sometimes it’s hurt us because I don’t have a lot of height, but it’s good because we can space the floor.”
Johnson converted a pair of free throws then grabbed another offensive rebound and finished for a 49-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The basket was his third rebound and putback in the game.
Kamell Little gets baseline and feeds Kesean Leonard for the layin. @EastEpo 17-16. @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/gEyn9sYxHp
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2024
Kesean Leonard sets up Markell Johnson to start the third-quarter scoring. pic.twitter.com/kSzdnff9vH
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2024
Rebound and putback, Markell Johnson gives East a 49-36 lead heading to the fourth. pic.twitter.com/ZmO0IEBYjh
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2024
“My teammates were boxing out,” said Johnson – a guard by trade. “I had to chance to get the rebound and I went for it.
“I had to keep moving and wait for them to turn their heads then take advantage. In my eyes, no one can stop me when I get airborne.”
Micah Johnson hit a pair of 3-pointers and went 6-of-6 from the free throw line to lead East with 18 points. Kesean Leonard added 10 in the win.
“Those guys fought,” Barley said. “They’re a bunch of nice kids. You got to bring the toughness out of them.”
The Eagles held Monroe more than 24 points under its season average of 71.1 points per game. A big part of the effort on the defensive end was slowing down DaiQuon and Will McKinney in the second half.
Will McKinney hit three 3-pointers and the pair combined for 18 points in the first half. East’s pressure limited the duo to three points over the final 16 minutes of play.
Will McKinney opens the second quarter scoring with his second triple of the night. @EastEpo 12 @RCSDRedJackets 12 pic.twitter.com/bY2lPotqwG
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2024
Tajmir Mullins, with the kiss. @RCSDRedJackets 28-27. pic.twitter.com/fcwOWoEgfP
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 31, 2024
“The McKinney brothers are strong guards,” Barley said. “They shoot the ball really well. We might have caught them on an off-night.”
East had a defender at all times on both of the Monroe guards throughout the second half.
“That’s our amoeba defense we’ve been working on,” Barley said with a smile referring to the loose structure similar to that used by Jerry Tarkanian and the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels of the late 1980 and early 1990s. “We weren’t leaving the McKinney brothers. This was probably the best we’ve played defense. Those guys stepped up.”
East allowed just three field goals in the third quarter
The 47 points matched a season-low for Monroe (10-3/No. 8 NYSSWA Class A).
“East did a great job of taking us out of our rhythm,” said Monroe head coach Matt McCormick. “Credit to Darrell and his guys for a solid road win.”
Tajmir Mullins scored on back-to-back trips down the floor to give the Redjackets a 26-25 lead late in the second quarter. The junior then connected in the lane for a 28-27 Monroe edge.
Cam Miller’s rebound and putback less than three minutes into the second half gave Monroe its last lead of the game at 33-31.
“Losses any time of the season are not what you want, but in many cases it gives a team a lens to see things through,” McCormick said. The lens in January normally shows that basics win games. With all the innovations of the game over its time, winning comes down to math. Less turnovers and more rebounds win the possession column. Tonight we were out-rebounded, had bad turnovers and missed a bunch of free throws. The sky is not falling, and we will continue to grind it out and get better.”
EAST
Zion Parson 1 3-4 5, Micah Johnson 4 6-6 18, Kesean Leonard 5 0-0 10, Zymier Jackson 2 2-2 8, Markell Johnson 4 6-8 14, Jayden Holmes 1 0-0 2, Kamell Little 1 2-3 4 TOTALS 18 19-23 — 61
MONROE
DaiQuon McKinney 3 4-7 10, Cam Miller 5 2-3 12, Will McKinney 4 0-0 11, Tajmir Mullins 5 1-2 12, Markus Freeman 1 0-0 2, Navareon Patton 0 0-0 0, Luis Carrasquillo 0 0-0 0, Anthony Davis 0 0-0 0 TOTALS 18 7-12 — 47
EAST 12 17 20 12 — 61
MONROE 9 19 8 11 — 47
3-point goals — EAST 4 (Micah Johnson 2, Jackson 2); Monroe 4 (Will McKinney 3, Mullins 1).
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