Jamestown's Ben Drake is Coach of the Year

 

  When the Red Raiders headed to the locker room trailing 38-19 to begin their season at Niagara Falls in the Cataract City Classic, Jamestown head coach Ben Drake had to make some adjustments.  Whatever he said to his team during that intermission was a message that was well received and stayed with the team for the remainder of the season.  Jamestown came out in the second half and battled to within four points before losing an eight-point decision.  They were a completely different team in the second half, and it was a glimpse of what lied ahead for the Red Raiders.

 

Jamestown played the rest of the season like they came out in the second half of its loss to Falls, loose and aggressive...the indelible mark of its coach, Ben Drake.  After winning its tournament in December with a victory over Williamsville South, Jamestown rolled through ECIC I to claim its first league title in four years.   The team's only loss in league play came at Williamsville North, with leading scorer Jaysean Paige noticably absent from both the starting lineup and bench.  After the game, I spoke with Drake.  He informed me that Paige was left in Jamestown for a violation of team rules, and that when he was ready to comply with the same standard set forth for the rest of the team, he would be welcomed back.  It may have been a hard result to live with, but it was an easy decision to make.  Drake is a high character coach who won't compromise what the team stands for.  Paige's one-game suspension may have cost his team a win that night, but likely enabled them to make the championship run that followed. 

 

The Red Raiders embarked on a run following that game that included nine straight wins, and four straight wins by at least 28 points, including an emphatic victory in the rematch with Willaimsville North.  Jamestown hung 102 points on Clarence in the quarterfinals, before knocking off Lancaster for a third time in the semifinals. 

 

In each of its next three games, Jamestown would trail in the fourth quarter.  The Red Raiders came from behind to defeat their nemesis, Niagara Falls, for the first time in program history and repeat as Section VI champs.  After taking a night to celebrate with his team as they soaked him with water in the Buffalo State locker room, Drake looked forward. 

 

In a true testament of his commitment to giving his program its best chance to succeed, Drake drove to Syracuse on the day of his team's regional game with Irondequoit in Rochester.  It was there that he watched Albany CBA, the opponent of the Far West Regional winner, register a 32-point win to advance to states.  Once his scouting in Syracuse was complete, Drake headed to Rochester for Jamestown's state quarterfinal game.  In a thrilling game that came down to the final possession...twice...the Red Raiders won in overtime, and earned their first ever trip to Glens Falls.

 

Against the undefeated state champions, Drake had his squad prepared and believing they were the better team.   With the game tied late in regulation, the Red Raiders forced a shot clock violation to prevent Albany CBA from taking a potential game-winning shot and force overtime for a second straight game.  In the extra session, the Red Raiders led by two, when the most memorable moment of the Jamestown season occured.  Adam Cecchini sent a lob pass from the left corner to Paige, who lept into the air and threw down a devastating two-handed slam that effectively punched the Red Raiders ticket to the Class AA state championship, the first non-Niagara Falls/LaSalle team to get there since 1984.

 

Even in the title game against a deeper and more talented Mount Vernon team, Drake had Jamestown right in the game the entire way, waiting for the Knights to yield any sort of momentum.  In the end, Jamestown fell short of a state championship, but largely exceeded the expectations coming into the season.  The Red Raiders were a talented team to be certain, but that talent was harnessed beautifully this year by Drake.  Jamestown came a long way this season from the team that trailed by 19 points at the half of its first game, to a team that became a  reflection of its coach and made it farther than any Red Raider squad before them because of it.

 

***

 

Other coaches who garnered consideration due to the impact they had on their team this season:

 

 

Rich Clifford, Cassadaga Valley

- After graduating four of five starters from the Class C finalist team, including a pair of All-WNY honorable mention selections, the Cougars weren't on anyone's radar as a postseason favorite.  The team moved up to Class B2 and were the smallest of all the teams in Class B of Section VI.  When things were all said and done, they were also the best.  Clifford's banner year began with a league title in CCAA II, and then an improbable march through all of Class B that saw them knock off higher seeds in CSAT and Wilson, before a season defining victory against Lackawanna to advance to the state quarterfinals.  The veteran coaching and team first approach from Clifford earned the first Section VI title for Cassadaga Valley in school history.

 

Starling Bryant, East

- In a recent prognostication of top teams for next season, East was picked for one main reason - Starling Bryant.  Every year, the Panthers graduate most of their rotation, and then the next season they're right back where they were the season before.  This season, East returned just one starter, but managed to win another Yale Cup.  At times, the Panthers were dominant in the city league with all but three of their league wins decided by double-digits.  After winning Class A2 as they were projected to do, East toppled a senior laden, experienced, and battle-tested Williamsville South team, by outlasting them in double overtime.  Then in a game few seemed to give them a chance in, the Panthers gave Aquinas all they could handle, before bowing out in the final minute.  Bryant got everything there was to get out of his Panther team this season and although his teams are almost always successful, he turned in one of his finest coaching performances this season.

 

Earl Schunk, Tapestry Charter

- Leaving behind a school in Grover that was largely considered a favorite to advance to states, Schunk changed the philosophy at his new school.  Tapestry had lost in the quarterfinals last season, 41-40.  "When I first met the guys, I promised them we would never lose a game 41-40 again", Schunk said.  "I told them if we were going to lose a game, I'd rather it be 101-100 than 41-40".  Under Schunk's guidance, the team increased its scoring by 30 points per game.  Schunk became the first coach ever to lead a Charter school to a Section VI championship game, and did so in dramatic fashion with a comeback victory over four-time sectional champ Maple Grove. 

 

Tim Foley, Lackawanna

- In a season marked by key players missing time for reasons within their control, the Steelers started the season just 3-7.  After a loss to Lafayette at the MLK Classic, things had reached a low point for Lackawanna.  However, Foley was able to steady the ship and reach his team, getting the Steelers to buy into the same concept he had been selling all season.  The result was the team winning 10 of its next 11 games.  That stretch included a semifinal victory over previously unbeaten Dunkirk and dominant performance over a strong Newfane team to earn the Class B1 sectional title.

 

 

-centercourt

 

 

 

  

Comments

[StateChamps2003]

CC - No love for Coach Bryant at East? Loses 3 (maybe 4) starters from last years team that had a 2nd team All-WNYer in Jackson. They go out and beat Williamsville South in the cross over game whom everyone had winning in Class 'A'. I think he deserves an honorable mention.

I think Bryant's ability to re-tool every year is quite an accomplishment in itself and his consistency over the years is amazing.

[centercourt]

State Champs -

Nothing but love for Starling Bryant. I agree with everything you said. For whatever reason, the paragraph I already had typed on Bryant never got moved to the post when I put it together, so I'm glad you said that when you did. It's up there now, where it was supposed to be all along.

[StateChamps2003]

Nice. Well said CC.

[hoopster]

Very nice job!!! Excellent choices.

[Patrick Moran]

I completely agree with this decision. Well done.. He was also my BSD Coach of the Year as well. Typically I don't like to see a coach with arguably the most talented team in WNY win, but in Drake's case it's absolutely deserved.

[McShea is God]

I would have went w Clifford of Cass Valley, but hey that's me. It's funny after reading the story CC wrote then State Champs comments cause 4 a minute u think he is totally insane! Until u keep reading down....

Mt Vernon btw I hear ended up beating Christ the King in Overtime to win the overall AA Final! Jabari Hinds had 33 - MVP. Final State ranking has Jamestown 6th - which is exactly right. Vernon 1, CTK 2, Boys N Girls 3, Lincoln 4, HHH West 5.

Needless 2 say my Sunday in Newark was NOT fun. 12 three's 4 the Wildcats so what can u do? Must say I have NEVER seen an arena w not ONE bar around it. Just crime really! Thank God the New Jersey transit is close by otherwise good chance I would b dead right now. Off 2 Houston this weekend so 1 more basketball weekend 4 me. I am REALLY hoping 2 c U Conn and Butler make the final and Butler win the whole thing. Since I wrote that I am sure VCU and Kentucky will win now lol!!

Look forward 2 the All WNY team coming out April 9th I think! Final polls 2. Should b interesting.

[TML1000]

Hahaha...first experience in Newark, MIG? It's not the most happening place in the world. My friend lives in Hoboken and works at Pru and let's just say he takes the train straight home after work.

[guest]

just a cople of other names that did a nice job-Erik O'bryan(NW),Sippell(Wilson),Meetze(KW),Kensy(amherst)

[Use Ya Left]

Jeff Anastasia of Olean deserves a shout. Started three freshmen, a sophomore and one senior in most games. Team started 0-3, but then went 15-2 before losing in A-2 semis to Buffalo East.