By PAUL GOTHAM
In what will be the first of two regular season meetings, Fairport (HM NYSSWA Class AAA) welcomes Rush-Henrietta (No. 22 NYSSWA Class AAA), Friday night. Fairport is coming off a 20-point win over Webster Thomas, Wednesday night. R-H went on the road last Saturday and knocked off reigning NYSPHSAA Class AAA champ, Green Tech (II).
Fairport (8-0) will enter action scoring better than 76 points per game while holding opponents under 46. The Red Raiders have held seven of eight opponents to 52 points or fewer. Only Bishop Timon (No. 9 NYSSWA Class AA) has scored more (79) against Fairport.
R-H (8-0) is scoring 70.9 points per game. The Royal Comets have topped the 70-point mark in four games and have not been held under 64 this season.
Fairport forced 22 turnovers in its win over Thomas on Wednesday. How will that translate against Rush-Henrietta and its backcourt of Avery Council and Jalen Taggart?
Fairport’s LaShard Lowry Jr. has scored in double figures in all but one game this year and is averaging better than 20 points per game. Teammate Landon Brunken adds 10.6 per contest.
Taggart is scoring 25.8 for R-H. Council nets 22.9. The Royal Comets will have a size advantage with 6-foot-6 forward Amir Abdul-Haqq.
The Monroe County Division I foes will meet again February 12th.
Friday’s tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Coach Fitch Court.
Rush-Henrietta is one of 17 Section V squads ranked in the most recent New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) polls.
Avon (No. 2 NYSSWA Class B) and Geneseo (No. 7 NYSSWA Class C) won’t meet in the postseason which should only add to the importance of Friday’s Livingston County Athletic Association matchup. Both Avon (6-1) and Geneseo (9-1) have won six straight heading into Friday’s clash.
Avon’s Riverhawks are holding opponent to 45. 1 points per game. Geneseo scores better than 57 points per game and has topped 60 in four of its past six games. The same two teams meet again on February 7th. Friday’s tilt is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.
East High (No. 2 NYSSWA Class A) travels west to the Keystone State where the Eagles will play a pair of games in the Royal Rumble Tournament at Erie High School in Erie, Pennsylvania. East will face Rich Township, the No. 2-ranked team out of Chicago. That game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start on Friday. The Eagles face Meadville (PA) on Saturday.
Other local state-ranked teams in action this weekend:
Greece Athena (No. 3 NYSSWA Class AA) will travel to Pittsford Sutherland on Friday for a 7:15 p.m. start.
Penfield (No. 13 AA) travels to face reigning Section V Class AA champ, Victor on Saturday. A 5:15 tip off is slated.
Wayne (No. 7 NYSSWA) will travel to face Finger Lakes rival, Palmyra-Macedon (HM Class A) on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. start.
World of Inquiry (No. 1 B) heads to Rochester Prep for a 6:00 p.m. start time on Friday.
Marcus Whitman (No. 13 Class C) hosts a 7 p.m. start against Livonia.
East Rochester (No. 19 C) travels to Bloomfield for a 2:30 p.m. start on Saturday.
Arkport-Canaseraga (No. 18 C) hosts a 7:15 p.m. tip-off with Avoca-Prattsburgh on Friday.
Fillmore (No. 1 D) travels to Bolivar-Richburg for a 7:30 tip-off on Friday.
Local state-ranked teams not playing this weekend: Canisteo-Greenwood (No. 12 B), South Seneca (No. 8 C), Wheatland-Chili (No. 14 C), Alexander (No. 22 C) and Notre Dame-Batavia (No. 24 C).
For a complete listing of this weekend’s games click here.
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