Boys basketball: Syracuse can’t keep up with Copper Hills’ outside shooting
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- Syracuse High’s Skyler Orton (2) tries to keep the ball against contact from Copper Hills player Jacob Curtis on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse’s Carter Robinson (24) handles the basketball against Copper Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Hudson Hess, right, handles the ball against the defense of Copper Hills player Isaiah Reiser on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse’s Hudson Hess, left, tries to grab a loose ball against Copper Hills player Austin Ormond (21) on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Bradlee Trejo (5) tries to score around Copper Hills player Brock Mitchell on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse player Colton Hoenigman rises to shoot against Copper Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse’s Skyler Orton, center, surveys the floor against pressure from Copper Hills player Boston Lambourne (4) on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse player Cohen Godderidge, left, looks to score against Copper Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Hudson Hess lines up a shot against Copper Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Carter Robinson (24) contests the jump ball with Copper Hills player Brock Mitchell on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse guard Bradlee Trejo slaps hands during player introductions before a game against Copper Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE — Other than 3-point shooting, points in the paint and free throws, Syracuse matched up well with Copper Hills in a boys basketball bout on Tuesday.
Unfortunately for the Titans, Copper Hills had all of those elements on display in a 79-69, non-region road victory.
“We’ll have to get their shooting coach here at Syracuse. They did a good job,” Syracuse coach Greg Godderidge lamented.
The Grizzlies made 24 field goals on the night, with 14 of them coming from 3-point land.
“It was all outside the arc; they knew what they were doing. They were pulling us out,” Godderidge said. “We gave up the middle too much and they kicked it out to their shooters.”
Isaiah Reiser raised havoc for the Grizzlies, scoring 24 points on four 3-pointers and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.
“We were focused on stopping Reiser and they were kicking it out and hitting them, so that’s the story of the game,” Godderidge said.
Syracuse junior center Carter Robinson netted 24 points for the Titans, 13 coming in the first half against 6-foot-8 Copper Hills center Wesley Curtis.
“Carter’s come a long way. He’s a first-year starter and went 10 of 13 (from the floor),” Godderidge said. “He played great and I’m very proud of him. That was our game plan and will be moving forward — inside out.”
Syracuse (7-6) trailed 16-14 after one quarter, then gave up 27 points in the second stanza and was down 10 (43-33) at the half.
The Titans played the Grizzlies even in the second half, losing the third period by a point and capturing the final frame 21-20.
Copper Hills (9-4) shot 17 of 19 from the charity stripe, including eight in the last 1:38 of the fourth quarter when the Titans put the Grizzlies at the line, trying to catch up with the clock stopped.
Three times Syracuse closed to within six points in the fourth quarter, and once even five (69-64) with 2:50 remaining, but Copper Hills held off the hometown effort.
“We couldn’t quite get over the hump … we tried several different strategies,” Godderidge said. “They’re a good team and are going to be right there at the end of the year. It was a good fight.”
Skyler Orton scored nine points for Syracuse. Beckam Rees and Colton Hoenigman added eight points each, and Cohen Godderidge checked in with 10. Rees, Hoenigman and Godderidge all did their damage off of the bench.
“I thought our guys played hard. We gave effort, just the focus at times wasn’t there,” Greg Godderidge said.
