Elton Johnson goes up for a contest layup (Photo credit: A.J. Devine)
GENESEO — In even more dominating fashion than the meeting between the two teams just last week, the Geneseo Blue Devils defeated the Keshequa Indians 77-30 Tuesday night in the first round of sectionals.
Blue Devils senior forward Elton Johnson (13 pts) opened the game’s scoring with a three-pointer en route to a 22-9 first quarter lead. It was Johnson’s first game back in the starting lineup after missing time during the last few weeks with a wrist injury.
Mo Carlon looks to the hoop on a breakaway (Photo credit: A.J. Devine)
“The wrist was still bothering him a little bit,” Geneseo head coach Brian Stout said. “but he’s shooting really good… so that’s nice to see.”
Also nice to see was the play of senior point guard Mo Carlon (14 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast), who has had to shoulder more responsibilities on the court because of injuries to teammates like Johnson and fellow senior Bryan Rollins, who is out for the season with a broken ankle. He connected on four three-pointers and was able to control the pace of the game for much of the first half with his defensive presence.
With a comfortable 43-15 lead at halftime, Stout was able to give his bench players playing time for most of the entire second half, which could prove to be invaluable later in the sectional playoffs. Senior guard Dalton VanKleeck had 15 points, all from behind the three-point line, coming off the bench.
“It’s always a good thing in sectionals,” Stout said. “We got everybody in, played really hard, and everyone stayed healthy.”
Geneseo (14-5) will play play the winner of the Naples vs. Alfred-Almond game on Friday at Geneseo High School.
Jimmy Root drives baseline against Keshequa (Photo credit: A.J. Devine)