By BILLY HEYEN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. As the Leadership Academy gym emptied Wednesday night, some of the Lions ate cake. Others scrambled up the bleachers to take the blown-up photos of themselves off the wall. And a few made sure to hold on to their bouquet of balloons lest they float to the ceiling.
Senior Night was over, but Leadership’s players, coaches and families wanted to savor it. Thanks to contributions from both the hyped-up seniors and the unsung members of the Lions’ eldest class, they had a victory to bask in.
“I told them, win or lose, I’m still proud of them,” Leadership head coach William Broome said. “Again, we’re out here fighting and competing.”
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By BILLY HEYEN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. For East High School, head coach Darrell Barley said, the goal is to score 100 points every game.
Friday afternoon at Leadership Academy? Mission accomplished.
“We like to use, ‘We all eat,’” Barley said. “It keeps everyone happy, energized and ready to play harder on the defensive end.”
The Eagles flew out of the gates as the visitors and didn’t look back, winning 107-82 against the Lions. All five East (2-1) starters scored in double figures: Justus Ross-Simmons with 28, Damani Barley 25, Darren Blocker Jr. 20, Kai McCullough 16 and Clinique Jackson 12. That was more than enough to hold off Leadership’s (1-2) duo of Mo McKinney Jr. (23) and Sean Smith (19) and earn the Eagles a statement win.