News > Boys Varsity > Section V - Round 3 - East High
02.28.07
H.S. basketball: Fairport sets up final shot at R-H
Raiders trip East in 'AAA' semifinal
Jeff DiVeronica
Staff writer
(February 28, 2007) — Fairport may not have played the perfect game in Tuesday night's 74-63 win over East High, but if the Red Raiders are as razor sharp in Saturday's Section V Class AAA title game vs. No. 1 Rush-Henrietta, area high school basketball fans are in for a show.
It's a rematch of last year's championship, won 52-50 by Fairport for the school's first crown since 1975, and will be the fourth time the Monroe County Division I rivals square off this season. R-H (20-2) has won two of three, including the last matchup on Feb. 16.
"Fairport really passed the ball well and they were physical down low. We weren't tough tonight," East coach Darrell Barley said of the No. 2 seeds.
"We didn't trap well. We didn't shoot well. We didn't do anything well and they did everything right. They deserved to win."
Junior guard Kyle Downey scored 27 points to lead Fairport (18-3) at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, where a crowd of 2,972 watched a Section V tripleheader.
He made 11 of 19 shots, as the Raiders shot 57 percent (25-for-44), including a blistering 17-for-29 in a fast-paced first half that saw them take a 44-36 lead.
Senior forward Kevin Borden added 14 of his 18 points in the opening half, scoring eight while Downey experienced minor foul trouble in the second quarter, and Brian Gebhardt epitomized Fairport's efficiency. The senior point guard had seven points, seven assists, three steals and only two turnovers, playing all 32 minutes.
"Borden was great and our other guys stepped up, too," said coach Scott Fitch. "Gebhardt makes us go. Him not turning the ball over was one of the keys to the game."
So was Fairport hurting No. 3 East (15-6) after beating its full-court press.
Fairport trailed 18-14 after one quarter as the Orientals came out hot behind junior point guard Norman Simmons (15 points) and sophomore Jerrold Brooks (16, four 3-pointers).
Fairport seized control with a 13-2 run over the first 2:16 of the second quarter. Center Tyler Launer scored the first seven points in that flurry and Downey had the rest, including an extra-pass "3" from the right wing, thanks to the unselfishness of Scott Deady and Gebhardt, and a conventional 3-point play on a runner in the lane.
"We've been a good shooting team all year but we took good shots. That's what happens when you press us. You take the risk that you're going to give up some looks," Fitch said.
East got as close as 45-41 in the third quarter and trailed just 63-58 with three minutes remaining. Fairport seemed always in control but never comfortable because the Orientals are so explosive. Top scorer Bobby Bell, however, was limited to 10 points on 3-for-12 shooting. East was 24-for-60 overall, 9-for-27 from 3-point land.
"Mark Bruce has been our stopper all year," Fitch said of the senior who guarded Bell, just as he hounded East's go-to guy last season, Keion Mitchem.
"He doesn't get much press but he's one reason we're here."
And have earned one more shot at Rush-Henrietta. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. Saturday.
"It's always fun when we play them," Downey said.
JDIVERON@DemocratandChronicle.com
source: http://rochesterdandc.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070228/SPORTS08/702280354/1026
photos by KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer, Rochester D&C
photos by KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer, Rochester D&C
photos by KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer, Rochester D&C
photos by KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer, Rochester D&C
photos by KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer, Rochester D&C
photos by KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer, Rochester D&C