Random Smatterings - Week 2

Coming into this season, I heard several people suggest that Joey Licata would struggle to get 3-pointers off without Mark Coppola there to set him up.  So here's a bold prediction - Licata will make more 3's this season than he did last season. 

 

Tapestry Charter is the only school from WNY to have already scored 90 points in two games, their only two games.

 

I was happy to see Jordan Street from Falls playing up to his potential in the first quarter of the Jamestown game.  He was dominating in spots and the only thing that slowed him down was picking up his third foul.

 

On Saturday at the Classic, Batavia head coach Buddy Brasky, who's Blue Devils played in a tournament with Olean, Maple Grove, and  Hornell, was asked if Olean was down this year.  He replied, "They're not down, they're just young.  They'll be just fine".

 

Right before the Jamestown/Falls game began, a pizza delivery guy comes walking right past the scorer's table and approaches NFHS coach Sal Constantino with four boxes of pizza.  Apparently, someone decided to prank the new coach and have some pizza sent courtside, as the coach prepares for tipoff.

 

New St. Joe's forward Reggie Agbeko positionihas some serious athletic ability.  Once he improves on his positioning and boxing out, rebounds could be very hard to come by for those competing with him.

 

When Dale Stewart came into the Falls/Jamestown game on Friday, his defensive energy was hard to miss.  It reminded me of another Falls football star on the hardwood, Stewart's brother and current Green Bay Packers running back, James Starks.

 

During a third quarter run against Williamsville South, Canisius sophomore Adam Weir scored 13 consecutive points for his team.

 

I picked Panama to win Class D in Section VI this year.  Ripley has a basketball team again for the first time in several years.  The two teams played last week.  Final Score: Panama 83, Ripley 11. 

 

All five starers scored in double figures, as Clymer beat Panama, 71-67, on Monday night.

 

I wrote last week that  if I were starting a list of the Top 10 games this season, St. Mary's OT win over Newfane would be right at the top.  Since then, I've seen Will South's win over Canisius, Falls win over Aquinas, and Wilson's last second OT win over the Lancers.  Move way over St. Mary's vs. Newfane.

 

I want to know what play Sal Constantino is calling when he starts flailing his arms like a swarm of bees is attacking.  Did anyone else see what I'm talking about?

 

Prior to Aquinas and Falls tipping off on Saturday, I was looking around the Wolvarena at the banners, reflecting on the team's history over the past decade, and thinking about guys like Flynn, Starks, Harris, Garrison, Gamble, Lynch, etc..  It made me think that when schools from outside this immediate area come to Falls, they must feel like they're at a special place.

 

Coaches who are emphasizing ball movement and motion in their offense should take their team to a Williamsville South game.  The Billies are clinical in the way they run the offense.

 

 In David Hill and Tyler Funk, Clarence has two of the better players in WNY.  But the team has gotten off to a disappointing start based on the expectations that the returning talent created coming into this season.  Last year's AA finalist came into this year aiming for the top of ECIC I, but after the first couple weeks of play, that goal seems to be a lofty one,  Besides having Jamestown in the same league, Williamsville North and Frontier look like they've moved ahead of the Red Devils as well. 

   

If the weather permits it, I'm hopping in the car and going straight from Canisius to Jamestown on Saturday.  Hopefully Bennett and Fredonia is a hack fest that goes to quadruple OT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Tripp]

Congrats centercourt this a great forum to talk wny basketball. I am looking forward to seeing all the games from your prospective. I know you have the schedule down, is it to much to ask to see a daily schedule?

[Tripp]

So many teams to see so early. I think alot of these teams will show who they are by winnining the Holiday Tournaments!

[JellyDonut]

Tripp...as in the new NCCC Thunderwolves logo??? Love it. Go Vikings!!!

[centercourt]

Tripp -

We're all still waiting for the Buffalo News to print the 2010-11 season schedule in its entirety. So far, we are just getting a glimpse of the next day's games when the nightly scores come out. Keith McShea says that as soon as the new format the News is converting to has been completed, the entire schedule and all past box scores will be available all the time.

[Tripp]

Good to hear, there is plenty of talent out there to evaluate. Early observations: i see a lot of players are trying to find there roles ond once they do wny should have some good teams to watch.
Jelly D -- Good thing we had that mascot unveiling