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Athena outlasts Canandaigua in overtime

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I’Zick Reaves (seen here in an earlier game, poured in 25 of his career-high 38 points after halftime as host Greece Athena erased a double-digit deficit and went on to defeat Canandaigua in overtime, 73-67 in Monroe County Division III action on Wednesday. (Photo: Jennifer Laemlein/Perfect Motion Photography. No commercial use without permission. No printing. Copyright is enforced legally.)

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — I’Zick Reaves poured in 25 of his career-high 38 points after halftime as host Greece Athena erased a double-digit deficit and went on to defeat Canandaigua in overtime, 73-67 in Monroe County Division III action on Wednesday.

Reaves tied the game at 53 with a putback and then gave the Trojans their first lead of the night when he converted a pair of free throws for a 55-53 edge with 3:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“It’s really fun to see a player get in the zone like that,” said Athena head coach Mike Setzer. “He was unconscious for a little while.”

Reaves finished the night 12-of-22 from the floor including 4-of-9 from behind the 3-point arc. The senior guard also drew the late-game assignment of defending Canandaigua’s Connor Chapman and held the Gray Wolves’ guard to two points in the fourth quarter.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN HERE. 

“I thought he did a great job when he moved to him,” Setzer said. “He had a great game on both ends of the floor.”

Athena scored the first five points of overtime to take a lead it did not surrender.

I’Zayah Reaves hit 1-of-2 from the free throw line to start the scoring in the extra period. Ne’Sean Fowlks followed with back-to-back baskets including a steal and dunk to give the Trojans a 65-60 lead.

I’Zick Reaves connected on 5-of-6 free throws over the final two minutes to put the game away.

Athena, ranked No. 3 in the New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) Class AA poll, improved to 10-0 on the season. The Trojans entered play having won eight games by double digits with an average margin of victory at 21.3 points.

Only reigning Class AAA champion UPrep (79-75) had been able to stay closer to the Trojans than Canandaigua did on Wednesday.

“We needed that,” Setzer said of the battle. “I knew this was going to be a tough matchup for us. They gave us a huge test and something we’ve sorely needed.”

Canandaigua scored the game’s first nine points and then used a 10-2 run in the second quarter to grab its largest lead of the night.

“We had the energy,” said Canandaigua head coach Jimmy Davern. “We were laser-focused. Sometimes, you put kids on a bus for an hour, and you don’t get that. Tonight, I think they wanted to show everybody we can play basketball in Ontario County, too.”

Leading 18-12, Chapman hit a jumper. Drew Williamee followed with a baseline drive for a layup and next trip down the floor Kobe Maroney connected on a corner three. Finn Damann drew contact on a bucket in the paint, and the Canandaigua lead had swelled to 28-14 with three minutes remaining in the second quarter.

“Usually, their games are over by the middle of the second quarter,” Davern said. “Taking them to overtime at the their place, our kids can leave feeling good. Obviously, we have some things we have to go back and work on.”

Chapman scored 19 of team-high 24 points over the first three quarters. Damann accounted for 18 points, and Nate Brinza added 11 for Canandaigua (8-3) which came into the game winners of five straight.

“I told our kids, ‘If we win tonight, it will feel good but it doesn’t mean anything. If we lose, it will hurt, but It doesn’t mean anything.’ We want to see them at the Blue Cross (Arena – site of the Section V Class AA2 championship game). That’s what our goal is. Now we know kinda where we’re at. We have great respect for them. They have a heckuva team. They made some great plays. No one’s leaving the gym tonight saying Canandaigua doesn’t belong.”

I’Zick Reaves finished his night with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals without committing a turnover. Fowlks accounted for 15 points, three rebounds and three assists. Dominic LaMar grabbed seven rebounds and added four points in the win.

Athena has won 32 straight regular season games – a streak that stretches back to February 8th, 2023. Batavia (96-91) was the last team to beat the Trojans in the regular season.

Athena travels to play Eastridge on Friday for a scheduled 7:15 p.m. tip-off. Canandaigua heads to Livonia for a 7:00 p.m. start time on Friday.

The same two teams meet again on February 19th at Canandaigua.

CANANDAIGUA (8-3)
Jaiden Pierce 1 0-0 3, Tate York 0 0-0 0, Connor Chapman 9 4-6 24, Drew Williamee 2 0-0 4, Jeremiah Laird 0 0-0 0, Finn Damann 6 5-5 18, Kobe Maroney 3 0-0 7, Nate Brinza 5 1-2 11 TOTALS: 26 10-13 — 67

GREECE ATHENA (10-0)
Na’Sean Fowlks 6 2-2 15, I’Zick Reaves 12 10-15 38, I’Zayah Reaves 2 2-2 6, Dominic LaMar 2 0-0 4, Travis Mack 1 0-2 2, Xaviel Lewis 0 0-0 0, Russell Ellis 2 3-3 8, Ethan Gorham 0 0-0 0 TOTALS: 25 17-24 — 73

CANANDAIGUA 14 18 15 13 7 — 67
GREECE ATHENA 9 14 21 16 13 — 73

3-point goals: CANANDAIGUA 5 (Pierce 1, Chapman 2, Damann 1, Maroney 1); GREECE ATHENA 6 (Fowlks 1, I’Zick Reaves 4, Ellis 1).

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