Randolph's Drew Hinds (center) is closely guarded by the Lions' JJ Johnson (left) and Devin Williams during the Class C Far West Regional game Friday at Buffalo State Sports Arena. ing.Photo credit: Mike Frame
BUFFALO — At halftime of the Class C Far West Regional basketball game Friday night at Buffalo State Sports Arena, the defending state champions found themselves right where they wanted to be.
“We had a game plan, we had a scouting report, and it worked,” Randolph head coach Kevin Hynd said.
But the Cardinals saw it all go away in the blink of an eye.
Led by Stephen Lebrecht's 10 points, the Lions went on an 18-2 run in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the third quarter and won 61-44.
With the win, the Lions (22-1), who lost to Randolph in last year's district tournament, advance to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Final Four next weekend at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. Ta. Meanwhile, the Cardinals finished the season with 21 wins and 3 losses.
Lorne Kelly of the Cardinals drove to the basket and made a layup.Photo credit: Mike Frame
But in the first two quarters last night, Hinds kept his all-guard starting lineup even with the Lions, shooting 7-of-22 from the field despite ceding size to 6-foot-5 center JJ Johnson. He gave up only one hit and had 10 turnovers. .
That was offset by five 3-pointers, including two from Kevin McElwain. A Devin Williams trey near the end of the first half was enough for the Lions to head into the locker room with a 24-22 lead.
From there, the Section V champions took control.
In a game-changing way.
Williams started the third quarter with a 3-pointer in the first minute. LeBrecht hit two jumpers. Dezmen Bell scored on a putback. Lebrecht then drilled trays in succession and Bell canned yet another tray.
Randolph's Griffin Nelson brings the ball up the court.Photo credit: Mike Frame
Randolph's only points in the blitz were two free throws by Drew Hinds. The Lions held a 42-24 lead and were not seriously challenged for the rest of the game.
“You can't just guard everyone evenly and just get destroyed by the big men, so you have to be selective,” Coach Hinds said. “Coming out at halftime, they had three or four shots in a row and we couldn't make anything. We talked about it from day one. It's going to be tough when it gets cold. Second. We're on the back foot with very few shot opportunities, basically zero. We're trying, we're fighting, and they're making shots.”
The Cardinals went on a mini-run thanks to a trey from Griffin Nelson and three consecutive layups from Lorne Kelly, but the Lions' Jaheim Morris hit a 40-foot shot at the buzzer to halt Randolph's momentum.
Johnson, only a sophomore, led the Lions with 21 points. LeBrecht, Bell and Williams each had 10. And Morris added nine.
Nelson had 12 points, Drew Hinds had 11 points and McElwain and Kelly each had nine points for the Cardinals.
Randolph's Cooper Freeman will be looking for an open teammate for Friday's Class C Far West Regional at Buffalo State Sports Arena. The Cardinals lost to the Lions in Round 5, 61-44.Photo courtesy of Mike Frame.
A return trip to the North Country wasn't planned this year, but Hinds didn't seem downhearted as he spoke about the season outside Randolph's locker room.
“It was never about a state championship or a loss,” he said. “We have flaws, we were small and we faced bad matchups for us. We are working with our heart and soul.”
Hind called Friday a “great day” and acknowledged that “opportunities like this don't come around very often.”
“Any kind of win would be an unbelievable day, a great day. … We had a great record and a good season. I'm still a state champion and the guys that are in (the locker room). So too. No one can take that away. A better team beat us tonight. The same team that we beat last year (in the Far West region) showed good coordination. They did a good job with Drew. We don't have anything to worry about.”
As for next season, the Cardinals will return everyone except Kelly, who will graduate in June.
The Lions' Jaheim Morris closely guards Randolph's Kevin McElwain (left) during Friday's Class C Far West Regional game at Buffalo State Sports Arena.Photo courtesy of Mike Frame.
“We were basically already talking about next year,” Coach Hind continued. “The great things you want don't come easily. Don't sit here and feel sorry for yourself. …The first thing you have to do to beat a team like that is get 20 pounds stronger. It's about coming back, because you're not going to grow eight inches. You have to control what you can control.”
Last night, for a half, Randolph did it well.
after that?
“The bottom line is they were better than us tonight,” Hinds said.
Lions (61)
Johnson 10 1 21, LeBrecht 4 0 10, Briggs 0 0 0, Bell 4 0 10, Williams 4 0 10, Morris 4 0 9, Horn 0 1 1. Total 26 2 61.
Randolph (44)
Hinds 3 5 11, McElwain 3 0 9, Kelly 4 0 9, Nelson 4 0 12, Freeman 0 0 0, Brooks 1 0 3. Total 15 5 44.
3-point goals – LeBrecht 2, Bell 2, Williams 2, Morris, McElwain 3, Kelly, Nelson 4, Brooks.
Lions 10 14 22 15 — 61
Randolph 11 11 11 11 — 44
