By BILLY HEYEN HENRIETTA, N.Y. — Jerice Crouch needed to sit down. Monday was his first game as UPrep’s head coach, and he hadn’t planned for triple overtime. After the buzzer sounded for the final time, after Crouch had hugged a number of his players, he was exhausted. The Griffins’ postgame huddle was conducted with Crouch’s back to the bleachers and legs stretched out on … [Read more...] about UPrep beats Rush-Henrietta in triple-overtime for Jerice Crouch’s first win
UPrep basketball
NBA 2K19 simulation of East vs. UPrep: What we learned
By BILLY HEYEN East and UPrep didn't face off during the regular season, and because the two sectional champions were in different state classes, they weren't due to change that. But with the cancellation of the state tournament due to the coronavirus, both teams were left wondering what might've been. To come up with some hypothetical answers, Pickin' Splinters simulated a … [Read more...] about NBA 2K19 simulation of East vs. UPrep: What we learned
UPrep Griffins soar to Class AA sectional title
By BILLY HEYEN ROCHESTER, N.Y. — UPrep’s Na’Zea Fowlks didn’t consider what he was going to do, the ferocity with which he was about to throw the ball through the rim with his left hand. He was just energized. He’d soaked up the Blue Cross Arena atmosphere throughout pregame warmups, dancing and smiling and clapping his hands. It built up inside of him. So midway through the … [Read more...] about UPrep Griffins soar to Class AA sectional title
‘We didn’t want to go home’: UPrep secures sectional final rematch
By BILLY HEYEN ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Christian Edwards drove right with about a minute to play Tuesday night, and he didn’t hesitate to push through contact and flip the ball up toward the rim as the whistle blew. One bounce straight up was followed by the ball dropping through the basket. And-one. Edwards isn’t one of the names that casual Section V fans think of when they … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t want to go home’: UPrep secures sectional final rematch
‘Gave us back our swagger’: Aquinas comes back to beat UPrep, 68-66
By BILLY HEYEN ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Wesley Henderson’s desperation heave at the shot clock buzzer with about a minute remaining Wednesday could’ve spelled disaster for Aquinas. It could’ve led to a run-out and layup or dunk for UPrep which would’ve tied the game. It could’ve been the tipping point to a fifth-straight Li’l Irish loss. Instead, Myles Blackwood crashed toward the … [Read more...] about ‘Gave us back our swagger’: Aquinas comes back to beat UPrep, 68-66