By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The immediate challenge facing Terrell Cunningham and his Monroe High boys’ basketball team will be to see if the Redjackets can keep the momentum they’ve built over the last two games.
After a second-straight double-digit victory, Cunningham’s crew will have to wait 19 days to try and make it three wins in a row.
“The goal was to be 4-and-O to finish out the year and start the new year, but 3-and-1 is solid,” the first-year head coach said after an 84-37 victory over host Edison Tech. “We’re just looking to tighten some things up and get ready for 2025.”
Extending its defense over half court, Monroe closed the first quarter on a 12-3 run and built a 38-21 advantage heading into halftime.
“We got guys who are athletes and can run for days,” Cunningham said. “Obviously, a lot of these basketball guys are football guys. We want them to be dawgs. We want them to fly around and be athletic.”
Taj Mullins led four in double figures with 19 points in an overall effort that saw nine different RedJackets contribute to the scoring.
“But then we got hoopers that can actually shoot the ball, put the ball in the rim. We allow everybody to do what they do best. We’re just trying to get it to mesh and put it all together.”
Mullins connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter when Monroe outscored Edison 18-11. The senior guard added eight in the third quarter when Monroe pushed its lead to 34 at 65-31.
Taj Mullins steal and feed to Marcus Freeman for 2. pic.twitter.com/TMuHrMSM4N
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 20, 2024
Ja’Ron Shears pulls up in transition. pic.twitter.com/hkITWLmlOt
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 20, 2024
A First Team AGR selection for football, it can be difficult to determine if Mullins is better suited on the gridiron or on the hardwood.
“To me, it should be the same for basketball,” Cunningham said of the postseason honor. “He’s always been a good basketball player. We’re just trying to put him in position to be who he is as a good athlete.”
A running back on the football team, Mullins looks comfortable running the offense on the basketball court.
“We got a lot of ballhandlers that can score, just getting the guys open so they can do that,” he said. It’s like a whole other team than from last year. To be able to get chemistry so quickly is always good. Then to be able to get back in basketball mode from having a good football season.”
Jordan Reis finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Navareon Patton had 10 points and six assists. Marcus Freeman finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Mullins handed out five assists.
Shamier Hooks led Edison (1-4) with nine points.
MONROE (3-1)
Gavin Jones 3 2-2 8, Will McKinney 3 3-3 9, Taj Mullins 6 5-6 19, Jordan Reis 5 2-2 13, Kyair Calloway 0 0-2 0, Ja’Ron Shears 4 0-2 9, Marcus Freeman 4 2-4 10, Khalil Herring 2 0-0 4, Jermaine Montgomery 1 0-0 2 TOTALS — 33 14-20 — 84
EDISON TECH (1-4)
Jah’meir Birmingham 3 0-0 7, Royal Alexander 2 0-0 4, Javier Medina 0 1-2 1, Shamier Hooks 2 5-9 9, Karron Mack 0 0-0 0, Aden Aden 1 2-4 4, Felix Vazquez 2 2-2 7, Anthony Johnson 2 0-0 4, Isaiah Wonneberg 0 0-2 0 TOTALS 13 10-20 — 37
MONROE 20 18 27 19 — 84
EDISON TECH 10 11 10 6 — 37
3-point goals MONROE 4 (Mullins 2, Reis 1, Shears 1); EDISON TECH 3 (Birmingham 1, Aden 1, Vazquez 1).
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