Boys HS Hoops: East Tech Tops Glenville 48-45 for 83rd Senate Championship

By Don DiFrancesco​​ @MayorNEOPrep

Glenville​ 12​ 11​ 9​ 13 =​45
East Tech​ 2​1 7 18​ 11 =​48

CLEVELAND– East Tech started the game ice cold, hitting just one of 16 shots in the first quarter and falling behind east side rival Glenville 12-2.

But the Scarabs bounced back on the clutch shooting of senior guard Ronald Jenkins, Jr. to beat Glenville 48-45 in the 83rd Senate League boys’ championship.

It was the 25th victory in 32 championship games for the Scarabs, and their sixth title in the last seven seasons.

Neither team scored until more than three minutes into the first quarter. But Glenville, behind back-to-back buckets from junior guard Bryon Ottrix, surged ahead by the time the quarter ended.

East Tech finally found the range in quarter #2. Junior forward Devonte Green scored 8 points in the period and led all scorers with 10 points at halftime. The Scarabs also turned up the defense, forcing 9 Glenville turnovers in the second quarter.

East Tech had their best offensive performance in the third period. The Scarabs sank 8 of the 9 shots they attempted including a nice stretch where Jenkins made a 3-pointer, another 3-pointer, and a layup on consecutive possessions.

A layup by Green with 2:40 remaining in the quarter gave East Tech their largest lead at 35-29, and they closed out the period with a 37-32 advantage.

Glenville retook the lead on a put-back from junior forward Tyishawn Smiley, giving the Tarblooders a 41-40 lead with 3:30 to play. A layup by junior forward Caleb Bolton extended the lead to 45-42 with 1:13 remaining in the game.

Smiley and Bolton scored 10 points each to lead the Tarblooders in scoring for the evening.

A 3-point shot by East Tech’s Jenkins, who led all scorers with 21 points, tied the game at 45-45 with 0:53 to go.

Glenville missed two free throws with 0:26 remaining to set up the final sequence of the game.

East Tech missed a short jumper and Glenville appeared to have the rebound. But the referee blew the whistle with 0:06.1 to play as the Glenville player’s foot touched the end line.

The ball was delivered to Jenkins on the ensuing inbounds play. Despite heavy coverage by Glenville, the 5-8 Scarab sparkplug managed to put up a desperation shot just before the game clock expired.

The final buzzer coincided with the “swish” of the net. Count it! Final score: East Tech 48, Glenville 45.

Glenville
Bolton​​4-2-10
Smiley​​4-1-10
Bryant​​4-1-9
Nettles​​3-2-9
Ottrix​​2-0-4
Anglen​​1-1-3

Field goals overall: 18/41, 44%​​3-point shots: 2/14, 14%​Free throws: 7/15, 47%

Rebounds: 32​​Turnovers: 22

East Tech
Jenkins, Jr.​7-2-21
Green​​5-2-12
Peoples​​4-2-11
Vazquez​2-0-4
Huff​​0-0-0

Field goals overall: 18/48, 38%​​3-point shots: 6/19, 32%​Free throws: 6/8, 75%

Rebounds: 27​​Turnovers: 18