Lenny Jefferson Sparks STM Blast MCI
MONTVILLE, CONNECTICUT -- For most of the first half, it looked like St. Thomas More was going to play in the consolation game today of their Pride's Corner home tournament. MCI was playing well and was ready to take a double digit lead into the half.
But a smackering of what was to come in the second half happened as the first half expired. Kevin Reed hit a long-range three at the buzzer to slice a double-digit disadvantage down to seven points.
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There was more to come. And it came in the form of offense from Reed, Lenny Jefferson, and Aaron Johnson.
Reed's 18 points, Jefferson's 27 points and Johnson's 25 points propelled St. Thomas More past MCI, 104-79. This score was certainly not indicative of the first half lead by MCI, 47-40.
MCI had built that first-half lead due to Kevin Massiah's 12 points, Jai Lewis' eight points, and Rodney Epperson and Daniel Rumph's nine points. "Then we just wilted," said MCI head coach Karl Henrikson. "We came into this game at 13-2. It was our worst game of the year. We didn't play well at all in the second half."
What happened was Reed and Jefferson broke down the MCI with their dribbles. They got into the lanes for medium range jumpers. And when they weren't stopping in the lanes, they were either taking it to the basket or feeding Johnson inside for easy short range jumpers or layups.
"They just killed us inside with that stuff," Henrikson. "Give them credit. Their guards played well. Their big guy did a great job on it."
STM also got help from John Zito, who had 11 points, and Cilk McSweeney who had eight points.
MCI was led by Lewis, who had 21 points. Massiah had 17 points and Rumph had 16 points in the loss. MCI will face Bridgton Academy in the consolation game today at 3:30 PM ET.