By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Jalen Taggart scored 26 points and Avery Council added 21 to lead top-seeded Rush-Henrietta past No. 5 McQuaid, 65-57 in Section V Class AAA action from Gates Chili High School, Monday night.
The duo combined for 15 points in the first quarter when the Royal Comets grabbed a lead they did not surrender.
“At this point, it’s whoever wants it more,” said second-year R-H head coach Calvin Betts. “That’s what we’re preaching to the guys. Xs and Os and those types of things matter, obviously. But it’s sectional time. It’s who’s got the most heart. That’s what it’s going to come down to.”
Taggart connected three times from the floor including two of his five 3-pointers on the night. Council hit once from distance and converted 2-of-2 free throws as part of a seven-point effort over the first eight minutes.
The Royal Comets had a 19-11 lead heading to the second and did not allow McQuaid to make it a single-possession game for the remainder of the contest.
“They’ve been doing this all year,” Betts said if the junior tandem. “These guys have been consistent for us all season long. They actually got another level they can go to. We as a team still feel like we haven’t played a complete game.”
Taggart was fouled on a 3-point attempt midway through the third and gave R-H its largest lead of the game at 47-34.
Jalen Taggart, from distance and-one. @RHBoysVarsityBB pic.twitter.com/WUkXJgNZyE
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 3, 2025
Avery Council grabs a defensive board and goes the length for an and-one. @RHBoysVarsityBB 61-56 with 1:09 remaining. pic.twitter.com/NjNhZL39US
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 3, 2025
McQuaid rallied, and a step back triple from Henry Fox made it a 55-50 game with less than four minutes to go in the contest.
“They used their size a lot more than they did in the beginning of the season and they’re playing through Quinn (McQuaid center, Wilson) a lot more,” Betts said of the Jesuit Knights. “That’s a very good team with their size and their athleticism.”
Rush-Henrietta (19-2) advances to face No. 2 Fairport in Saturday’s championship game.
“For a while in the second half of the season we were kinda the hunted a little bit,” Betts said. “We want to be back to being the hunters. We are coming after people. We’re not sitting back any more.”
Amir Abdul-Haqq (7), Talhah Ali (5), Jahquin Brown (2), JJ Ward (2) and Kingston Henry (2) also scored for R-H.
Wilson led McQuaid with 20 points. Fox added 19. Jaiyden Jones scored 5. Gavin Vander Wal had nine points.
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