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Relentless Aquinas uses big fourth to beat McQuaid

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Jadeir Breedlove finished with a game-high 23 points to lead Aquinas past host McQuaid Jesuit, 63-47 on Friday, December 20, 2024. (Photo: Paul Gotham)

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — At every position across the floor Friday night, the Aquinas boys’ basketball team faced a size disadvantage.

And the Li’l Irish turned that fact into an ally.

Bringing waves of defensive pressure, Aquinas turned a single-digit game into a 63-47 victory over host McQuaid Jesuit.

“We had to be smart and stay the course,” said Aquinas head coach Jeff LaFave. “We pulled away late and I’m very pleased with the outcome.”

Leading 46-42 after three quarters, AQ’s defense turned in a master class over the final eight minutes of play. The Li’l Irish forced turnovers on the first five McQuaid possessions of the stanza and eight of nine to grab a double-digit lead.

“You can’t expect to get turnovers in the first four minutes of the game,” LaFave said. “We were setting it up for the long haul. There were certain spots on the floor we wanted to latch down on.”

The Aquinas pressure started 75 to 80 feet from the basket and did not stop. The Li’l Irish forced turnovers in the back court and when McQuaid was able to advance the ball, AQ’s defense forced rushed passes.

“The brain does not work well when it’s tired,” LaFave said of the fourth-quarter surge. “The brain works great when it’s not tired, so early in the game we’re not going to get those mistakes.”

By the final count, Aquinas held McQuaid to six shots and five points in the fourth quarter. At the same time, they forced 14 turnovers in the frame.

“They were putting nobody in the middle. It was like Christmas, and we weren’t doing anything about it. Finally, I called timeout, and we started to get it. We started getting them to turn the ball over.”

Jadier Breedlove scored four of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter.

“That’s what we do every day,” Breedlove said. “We get after it, get after it, get after it. We don’t let size or anything keep from doing what we have to do.”

Coming out of a timeout halfway through the third quarter, LaFave took the 6-foot guard and planted him in the middle of the offense. From there, Aquinas attacked McQuaid’s zone with Breedlove going at 6-foot-6 big man Quinn Wilson.

“I have to do my job at the end of the day,” he said. “I don’t really care about size or anything. I got to do my job. I’m not scared of anybody.”

Breedlove took a pass from teammate Christian “Noonie” McCullough at the free throw line, turned and drove the lane for a layup. Next trip down the floor, he finished again under the basket. Breedlove capped the three-possession sequence with an up-and-under move and another layup for a 44-36 lead.

“Pick your poison,” LaFave said of the decision to counter McQuaid’s zone with Breedlove playing inside. “He’s one of the best mid-range players in Section V. If you’re going to sag, he’s going to kill you. If you collapse on him, we’ve got two really good shooters in Mackie Terry and “Noonie” McCullough. Let’s see how they want to defend it. We were ready either way.”

McCullough finished with 21 points, five steals and three assists in the win. Terry had eight points (seven in the fourth) along with seven rebounds and five steals. Breedlove also had five assists.

“I’m happy to see them answering the challenge,” LaFave said. “We got some pretty guard play. I’m proud of them.”

Henry Fox led McQuaid with 15 points. Fox’s jumper from the free-throw line beat the halftime horn and made it a two-point game with Aquinas leading 32-30 heading into the locker room.

Andrew Gerenski finished in the low post to give the Jesuit Knights (3-4) their last lead of the game at 28-27 late in the second quarter.

“They did a really good job as the game wore on of taking us out of our rhythm,” said first-year McQuaid head coach Taylor Roth. “Mentally, we weren’t able to sustain the plan. That’s where it shifted.

“When we value the basketball and get to familiar places on the floor, we’re very good. We execute very well. That’s what was working. We were getting some offense out of the things we want to run. We’re not a good off-schedule team. We try to stay on schedule as much as we can.”

The win was the third straight by double digits for Aquinas (3-0) which will host Nichols Academy from the Buffalo-area Monsignor Martin Athletic Association on Monday. A 12:30 p.m. tipoff is scheduled at the Wegman-Napier Gymnasium.

“They’re all good wins, but let’s not put the cart in front of the horse,” LaFave said. “It’s just a win. I’m going to get out of here and go to 1127 Dewey Avenue. When I get off the bus, guess what I’m working on? Nichols. They’re the last team to beat us at home in two and half years. We want that one.”

AQUINAS (3-0)
Trent Buttles 3 0-0 7, Christian McCullough 8 2-7 21, Mackie Terry 1 6-8 8, DerrionBattle 1 0-0 2, Jadeir Breedlove 10 3-7 23, Carson Allen 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 24 11-22 63.

McQUAID JESUIT (3-4)
Jaiyden Jones 2 0-0 4, Lucas Wachter 1 0-0 3, Quinn Wilson 5 0-0 10, Brayden Woodard 1 0-0 2, Henry Fox 6 2-2 15, Andrew Gerenski 6 0-2 12 TOTALS 21 2-4 47

3-point goals: AQUINAS 3 (McCullough, 3); McQUAID JESUIT 2 (Fox 1, Wachter 1).

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