Saturday's Games
In the feature game, Niagara Falls fell to Bishop Kearney, 64-56. The Kings broke away from a one-point game with 4:40 remaining, to earn the victory before a packed Wolve-Arena. It was the first time NFHS lost in the Cataract City Classic since falling to Henninger in December 2007.
Thomas Bryant, a 6-7 freshman, led BK with 15 points. Taijay Williams finished with a game-high 27 points, including five 3-pointers, and JJ Wilkes added 14 points for the Wolverines.
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Newfane had little trouble with Niagara Catholic in its 67-58 victory. The Patriots struggled with the depth and pressure of Newfane and fell behind in the third quarter, 53-28, before closing the game with a flurry of points to make the final score respectable.
Connor Sears led in the scoring column for the Panthers with 17 points, while Scott Kneeland scored 13 points and Bryan Geise added 12 points. Jonathan Jackson paced NC with 18 points and Joe Lowery scored 16 points.
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Batavia got a game-high 20 points from Jamesson Etienne in a 62-48 win over Sweet Home. Khalid Barnes led the Panthers with 15 points and Kole Gilchrist added 11 points.
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Lackawanna rolled CG Finney, 79-50. The Steelers had four players score in double figures: Shaquille Brooks - 23, Cam Smith - 19, Damom Sylvers - 11, and Larry Robinson - 10.
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St. Mary's pulled away from Amherst in the second half and won, 60-46. Erik Simmons scored 16 points and Jake Denz scored 11 points for the Lancers. Jonah Heim led the Tigers with 13 points and Johnathan Belton added 12 points.
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Wilson began day two of the Classic by defeating Grand Island, 49-43. Tyler Martin had 17 points for the Lakemen, while freshman Quinn Carey netted 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Friday's Games
Niagara Falls topped Bishop Timon-St. Jude in the evening's main event, 53-50. The Tigers led after each of the first three quarters, but Jermaine Crumpton scored 11 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter to lead NFHS to the win. Junior guard JJ Wilkes added 13 points for the Wolverines. The first true marquee matchup of top large schools in WNY this season lived up to its billing, as the game featured 13 lead changes.
Kyle Kobis scored 16 points and DeMilo Gibbs finished with 15 points for Timon.
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Sterling Taplin canned a 3-pointer to open the game and give his team a lead it would never relinquish, as Williamsville North topped Depew, 57-46. The game was competitive throughout, but the Wildcats were never able to get any closer than five points in the fourth quarter.
Taplin led the Spartans with 15 points and Brett Butler added 14 points. Jaden Cotton finished with a game-high 19 points for Depew.
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In the first game of the evening, Chaquiel Nettles scored 18 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to lead Williamsville South to a 45-42 comeback victory over Niagara Wheatfield. It was the first time in a Billies uniform for Nettles, who transferred from South Park, and his impact was the difference in the game.
The Falcons had used a 15-0 run during the second quarter to build a 10-point lead at halftime, before South came storming back. Trailing by 12 points midway through the third quarter, the Billies got a traditional three-point play from Mike Calandra, spurring a 16-2 run that put South in front 38-36.
Niagara Wheatfield was led by Jack Mulcahy's 11 points, while Anthony Cappuccilli added 10 points.
-centercourt
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