The View From Centercourt

North and South will play earlier than expected

If you go to the championship game of the Williamsville Holiday Basketball Tournament sponsored by the Jolly Boys and the parking lot is full, just circle around a few times and some spaces are bound to open up.  That's because when South plays North tonight for Williamsville bragging rights, it will be in the consolation game. 

 

Newfane scored the biggest upset in the past two seasons with a 65-62 victory over the tenth ranked large school in WNY, Williamsville South.  The Panthers entered the game unranked and became the first small school to defeat a ranked large school since the 2009-10 season. 

 

The Panthers trailed by nine early in the second quarter, but battled back to tie the game at 30 apiece just before the half.  After canning a 3-pointer just before the intermission, South opened the second half by sinking another to go up 36-30.  But just as it seemed the Billies were taking back control of the game, Newfane went on a 19-2 run that gave them the game's largest lead at 49-38 late in the third quarter.

 

"Those two 3-pointers before and after the half were fool's gold for us, because they outworked us and outhustled us for 32 minutes tonight" South head coach Al Monaco said.  "I have all the respect in the world for the way that team plays".

 

The Billies climbed back into the game in the fourth quarter and took advantage of a technical foul.  With just under two minutes remaining, Jim Caputi sank three free throws to pull his team within three points and possesion of the ball with a chance to tie.  However, Newfane's Bryan Geise halted the comeback attempt when he came up with a huge steal at mid-court and converted it into a layup. 

 

For second year head coach Eric Klumpp, the biggest win of his young career had some special meaning.  Klumpp did his student teaching for Williamsville and spent time working under Monaco.

 

"We play a similar style and I told my guys before the game that the winner would be whoever played that style better", Klumpp said.  "We were playing Billie ball with them and getting slugged in the chest for a while.  Then we started making better decisions with the ball which allowed us to dictate the tempo more.  We did a great job of getting offensive rebounds which was a major part of stopping the transition game of South, which is deadly".

 

Justin Harvey finished with a career-high 17 points to lead four Panthers that finished in double figures.  Geise scored 14 points, while Sean Seefeldt added 11 points and Connor Sears chipped in 10 points.

 

Chaquille Nettles scored 17 points for South, while Caputi finished with 14 points.

 

Newfane will face St. Francis in the championship game tonight at 7:30 pm, following the North/South game scheduled to tip at 6 pm.

 

The Red Raiders beat Willaimsville North in the first game, 59-45.  St. Francis jumped out in front early and never trailed the Spartans as they controlled the game from the opening tip until the final buzzer.  A major part of the Red Raiders success was limiting North standout Sterling Taplin to just five points.

 

Matt Morcio led St. Francis with 16 points and Tyler Wagner scored 15 points. 

 

The Spartans were led by David Berkun's 12 points, while Ryan Winkler scored 11 points.

 

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Poll Ballots - Week Two

As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools.  The polls are based on games played through Sunday of each week.  Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.

 

Large Schools

1. Niagara Falls (AA) - Opened league play by holding Grand Island to just 24 points.  A good gauge of where these guys are at will come tonight at Kenmore West.

2. Canisius (MMA) - The Crusaders already own 77-53 win against Kenmore West and could move up on this ballot after the New Year, depending on how tonight goes.

3. Jamestown (AA) - The Class AA state finalists are now 3-0 and most recently defeated Williamsville South after taking a 24-point lead into the fourth quarter. 

4. Bishop Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - Slip behind the Red Raiders after struggling to finish off the Billies.

5. St. Joe's (MMA) - The gaudy double-double stat lines are piling up for Reggie Agbeko and so are the wins for the Marauders, now 5-0 against opponents from WNY.

 6. McKinley (A1) - The Macks didn't play this week and their next game isn't until January 4th at Hutch-Tech.

7. Riverside (A2) - Moved them up to this spot after seeing...

8. Kenmore West (AA) - the Blue Devils loss to Canisius.  Don't get me wrong, I like these guys and I think their size inside with Campbell, along with their athleticism will present problems for most teams they face.  But I'd give Riverside a slight edge at this point.  They have a chance to turn all sorts of heads tonight when they host Falls.

9. Hutch-Tech (A1) - Hoping to beat Akron tonight and gain a matchup with St. Mary's for their efforts.

10. Williamsville South (A1) - The additions of Chaquille Nettles and Trent Ferguson, along with the players who have come up through the Billies basketball program have combined to make this team a contender for a third straight Class A1 title.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - The easiest choice on either ballot, hands down.

2. St. Mary's (MMA) - As much as I was impressed by Olean last week, I thought the Lancers showed a lot of character in their loss to the Huskies.  They have talent all over, but they are also tough - as evidenced by the way they refused to go away.  The "Big 3" large schools in the MMA have a big time challenge in front of them when they face the Lancers this year.

3. OTC/MEC (C1) - Talented team with early losses to a pair of top large schools.  Beat Amherst for their lone win.

4. Depew (B1) - Took care of business against Niagara Catholic.  Travel to Amherst tonight, before hosting Lancaster in their Holiday Tournament over the break with a potential matchup against St. Mary's on the line.

5. Tonawanda (B1) - The Warriors are now 5-0, including a 50-34 win over cross-town rival North Tonawanda.

6. East (B1) - Should be ready to challenge for the Yale Cup after taking some lumps early - losses to Timon, Olean, & Aquinas, and a game at St. Joe's on Thursday.

7. Silver Creek (C2) - Another squad off and rolling with a 5-0 start.  The Black Knights early results include wins over Salamanca, Portville, and Westfield.

8. Panama (D) - Last year, the Panthers split with Cassadaga Valley in two nonleague games.  This season, the Class D favorites opened its season by sweeping last season's overall Class B champs.

9. Maple Grove (C2) - Avenged a near poll-exiting loss to Randolph with a dominating win on Friday.  From what I saw in their win over the Cardinals, the Red Dragons looked like a very cohesive unit that still deserved poll consideration from this pollster.  But the loss to Randolph still costs them a spot.

10. I-Prep (C2) - I gave them the nod after considering the competitive nature of its two losses to quality large schools (St. Joe's & Lockport). 

 

** Walsh almost made this ballot, but beating Lackawanna by 12 looked much less impressive after I saw that Holland did the same thing by nine points.  MST Seneca was also considered, but I thought the quality of I-Prep's losses trumped the Indians' resume of wins.  Dunkirk's results with Olean couldn't be considered for this ballot, but they will for the next one - they trailed by nine after three quarters and lost 53-50.

 

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Silver Creek improves to 5-0

After watching Cassadaga Valley's improbable march through sectionals that ended in the overall Class B title last March, I decided to make the effort to see more CCAA schools during the regular season this year.  After getting to Olean for the first time earlier this month, I was able to catch Maple Grove dominate its rematch with Randolph  on Friday in Bemus Point.  Then, as I looked at the lineup of games on Monday, the first matchup to jump out was St. Joe's vs. OTC/MEC.  But after considering the number of times I've seen each of those teams the last few years, I opted instead to make another trip south to see a pair of CCAA II contenders go at it with Salamanca visiting Silver Creek.  I had just voted the Black Knights #7 on my small school poll ballot the night before, after they opened the year with 30-point wins over Lake Shore and Gowanda, and also beat both Portville and Westfield.

 

The Black Knights looked like they will be a tough team to top in their league this season, using a big second half to put away the visiting Warriors, 66-48, on Monday night.  Silver Creek was led by junior Steve Marcey's game-high 24 points, while junior Zeddy Williams added 15 points, along with several assists and rebounds. 

 

Trailing 14-10 in the first quarter, Silver Creek pulled to within a point when Williams penetrated and kicked out a pass for John Jimerson, who hit a '3' at the buzzer.  The second quarter began the same way with Williams again finding Jimerson for a long-range bomb as part of a 12-0 run.  The Black Knights built a 9-point lead during the second, but Salamanca was able to narrow the gap to 31-28 at the half, thanks in part to the strong inside play of Bryce Stahlman, who scored eight of his 14 points in the quarter.

 

The second half began with a flurry of Silver Creek 3-pointers as part of a 16-3 run that effectively put the Warriors away.  Jimerson began the ambush from beyond the arc, before Marcey got hot and drilled three straight from downtown.  On the third, Marcey was clapping for the ball, and when the pass came, drilled it right over the defender's outstretched arm.  In the first three minutes of the third quarter, Marcey netted 11 of his 24 points.

 

"He's a pure shooter and a classic gym rat" Silver Creek head coach Robert Genco said of Marcey.  The junior showed off his skills on several occasions throughout the game by breaking down defenders with dribbling, a nice touch from the perimeter (a total of five 3-pointers), a nifty up-and-under move around the basket, and the highlight play of the game.  Driving the lane in the second quarter, Marcey blew past two defenders with by wrapping the ball around his back and finishing with a layup.

 

 

Salamanca got the score back to 51-42 at the start of the fourth quarter on a basket by Jevon Battle (team-high 18 points).  But once again, the Black Knights asserted themselves and built their lead to 20 points with a 15-4 run. 

 

Silver Creek offers a little of everything -  balance at each position, can shoot from the perimeter, score well in transition, and have a star player in Williams who plays every position on the court.  Williams has the size to play inside, but also has a good handle on the ball and was exceptional at drawing the defense with penetration and always found an open teammate.  After what I saw last night, I am comfortable having voted for the Black Knights at number seven, ahead of Maple Grove, who I voted ninth. 

 

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Random Smatterings - Round 1

Within seconds of the chicken wing eating competition ending at the Pastor-Cooper Showcase, Inside High School Sports's Roger Weiss swooped in to try a wing on my plate.  He said if the wings were mild, he could win the contest.  I think that should be considered an entry application for next year.

 

When checking into the Timon/Falls game, rather than report to the scorer's table and sit in front of it, Tigers big man DeMilo Gibbs would instead stand at his bench, look behind the table, and yell "Hey, sub...sub".

 

Leading 59-25 after three quarters, Dunkirk proceeded to hang another 26 points on Falconer in the fourth quarter.

 

East Aurora senior Stan Wier is playing for his fourth head coach in four years.  East Aurora girls head coach Gary Schutrum is the only coach Wier spent two seasons with.

 

Clinging to a 6-4 lead in the first quarter, Oracle Charter used a 44-0 run to take a 50-4 halftime advantage on Leonardo DaVinci.

 

Rich Skrabucha has been promoted from the head JV coach to the head coach of the varsity team at Olmsted.  A well-deserved promotion in my opinion.

 

Tonawanda raced out to a 24-0 lead after one quarter in its win over Starpoint.

 

Westfield head coach Bob North won his 300th game when his Wolverines defeated Falconer.

 

During the Cataract City Classic, the NCCC Thunderwolves mascot, Tripp, was prowling the sidelines.  A very interesting recruiting technique by head coach Bill Beilein.

 

When Olean's Wil Bathurst dunked in transition during its game against East, the Husky faithful chanted "he's a sophomore".  Given the makeup of its team, that's a phrase that could be sung after just about every Olean basket this year.

 

Late in the second quarter of Newfane's win over Niagara Catholic, all five of the Panthers on the court were left-handed shooters (Seefeldt, Intihar, Weber, Geise, & Doyle).

 

Besides Niagara Falls, is there a team in Section VI that anyone could confidently say would beat Olean?

 

After a Marauder fouled out late in St. Joe's win over McKinley, the players took advantage of the 30 seconds they had to gather in front of the bench and listen to their coach.  Macks coach Zaire Dorsey said to his team, "This isn't a timeout, go guard them", and the McKinley players proceeded to join the Joe's huddle.

 

During the fourth quarter of the Olean/St. Mary's game, a Lancer cheerleader performed a series of backflips that ended when she crashed into the St. Mary's bench.  Fortunately, she seemed to be just fine as she laughed about it and waved to the crowd.

 

I have a scheduling request for next year.  Given the number of talented players that will return for each team, how about a nonleague matchup between Canisius and Olean.

 

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Poll Ballots - Week One

As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools.  The polls are based on games played through Sunday of each week.  Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.

 

Large Schools

1. Niagara Falls (AA) - After watching Falls and Canisius twice each, including seeing both lose in the same day, I was no closer to knowing who was better than in September.  I really think the two teams are in toss-up territory...if they played ten times, I think it's a 5-5 split.  Ultimately, I went back to last year, when Falls won by 19 at Canisius and also considered that the Wolverines were the team that beat Jamestown and Aquinas last year, before falling by three to state finalist Jamestown in the rematch.  Both Falls and Canisius graduated two key seniors, and in my mind, Canisius lost more from last season, while Falls gained more this season.

Time will tell - although they won't play each other this year, they will have some common opponents to look at...Timon, Ken West, and Bishop Kearney.  Other possiblilties include Cathedral Prep and Aquinas (Canisius plays each, while Falls is likely to wind up seeing both depending on its results in the Burger King Classic and sectionals).

2. Canisius (MMA) - See Above.

3. Bishop Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - No shame in the loss at Niagara Falls.  Scheduling those type of games this year (they also host Bishop Kearney in January and travel to Aquinas in February) will only help them.

4. St. Joe's (MMA) - Only loss is to Dallas Jesuit and already boast wins over McKinley, Lockport, and Williamsville East.

5. Jamestown (AA) - They lost enough from last season that I don't think they'll be back in the state title game.  But the two-time defending AA champs bring back enough to be a top ten team once again.  Besides, when's the last time these guys weren't a top program?

6. McKinley (A1) - In a season with no clear cut favorites in Class A or the Yale Cup, I'll give the Macks the early nod over the other teams in each. 

7. Williamsville North (AA) - The Spartans get tucked in behind the team that ended their season last year.

8. Kenmore West (AA) - On paper, the Blue Devils look like a team that could wind up higher on this ballot, but with no games played yet and a quarterfinal exit last year, they start out here.

9. Riverside (A2) - They have talent, but lack depth. 

10. Hutch-Tech (A1) - Only result so far is a 12-point win over Cheektowaga, which was a better resume than any other team vying for this last spot.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - In the Huskies 80-51 win over East, 72 of their points came from underclassmen.  Most people by now are at least familiar with the names Sam Eckstrom and Nick Schmidt.  But wait until you see Max Portlow, who reminds me of Blair Helton, or Wil Bathurst, who didn't even play varsity last year and came off the bench to drop 20 on East. 

2. St. Mary's (MMA) - A 5-0 start against teams from WNY, and the closest of those games was a 14-point win against Amherst.

** Programming Note - I can't wait until 6:30 tonight!!! (Olean @ St. Mary's)

3. Depew (B1) - I liked what I saw from these Wildcats in their season opening loss to Class AA Will North enough to put them here.

4. OTC/MEC (C1) - They got rattled big time in the opening eight minutes against Canisius.  But to their credit, they played them even the rest of the way and that included outscoring the Crusaders by five in the second quarter. 

5. Tonawanda (B1) - The defending ECIC IV champs have opened 3-0. 

6. East (B1) - The defending overall Class A champs have opened 0-3.  A little perspective is all that's neccasary.

7. Lackawanna (B1) - The Steelers looked every bit as good as last season's B1 champs in their pounding of CG Finney.

8. Maple Grove (C2) - Batavia head coach Buddy Brasky couldn't say enough good things about the Red Dragons, who played his team closer than Olean did. 

9. Silver Creek (C2) - In what looks like a loaded CCAA II, I picked these Black Knights for this spot after a 3-0 start.  Remember the name Zeddy Williams.

10. Panama (D) - There might be other teams who deserve this spot, but I thought the Class D favorites deserved the early nod after beating last year's overall Class B champ, Cassadaga Valley.

 

** Ranking the small schools was especially difficult this early.  I didn't rank any N-O teams, City Honors hasn't played yet, I-Prep is 0-2 but faced two quality opponents, don't know what to make of MST Seneca beating West Seneca West & Pioneer, Salamanca & Westfield could be better than Silver Creek, and I won't see Archbishop Walsh until they play Lackawanna tonight.  This poll could look entirely different in a month after more results roll in.

 

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ECIC vs. MMA Challenge begins tonight

The annual ECIC vs. MMA Challenge at St. Mary's High School in Lancaster begins this evening.  This high school hoops bender of ten games in three nights sponsored by AdPro Sports, always provides a number of games with poll implications and opportunities to see a variety of teams and players.

 

If you've only read about high-scoring Holland senior Jordan Farrant, get there early on Monday and see him for yourself.  Looking for the marquee small school matchup of the season?  Don't miss the Olean/St. Mary's tilt on Tuesday. 

 

Here's a complete list of the games this week:

 

Monday, December 12, 2011

Cardinal O'Hara 45, Holland 38 

St. Francis 47, Iroquois 44

Bishop Timon/St. Jude 54, Williamsville South 48

 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Archbishop Walsh 59, Lackawanna 47

Olean 74,  St. Mary's 66

Canisius 77, Kenmore West 53

 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Grand Island 58, Christian Central 48

Nichols 59, Cheektowaga 50

Depew 74, Niagara Catholic 49

St. Joe's 63, Sweet Home 54

 

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2011 Cataract City Classic Recap

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.

 ***

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.

 ***

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.

 ***

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.

 ***

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.

 ***

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.

*** 

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.

 ***

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. 

 

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2011-2012 Season Preview

With high school hoops season now in full swing here in WNY, it's time to see what basketball fans have to look forward to in the upcoming season.

 

WHAT'S NEW THIS SEASON?  

- Yale Cup  games are now scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm instead of 5:30 pm

- East and Burgard will both play in Yale Cup I, the large school division, despite being classified as small schools

- Leonardo DaVinci will field a team in the Yale Cup II and Class C1

- Class C now has 21 teams, meaning there is now a C1 & C2

- Friday, March 2, 2012 will feature three sectional championship games at JCC beginning at 5:30 pm for classes D, C2, & C1

- Crossover Tuesday at Buffalo State on March 6, 2012 will feature three games this year beginning at 5:30 pm with the Class C1/C2 game

- The Far West Regionals are back at Buffalo State this season on March 10, 2012 beginning at 12:00 pm

- Sweet Home will play in ECIC I

- Lake Shore will play in ECIC II

- Forestville and Ellicottville will play in CCAA III

- Brocton and North Collins will play in CCAA IV

- 2011 POY Jaysean Paige will play his senior season at a high school in Kentucky

- Chad Kelly is not playing basketball this season

- Stan Wier returns to East Aurora for his senior season

 

CLASSIFICATION CHANGES

McKinley moves down from AA to A1

Lafayette moves down from A1 to A2

Bennett moves down from A1 to A2

Olean moves down from A2 to B1

East moves down from A2 to B1

Burgard moves down from A2 to B1

Springville moves down from A2 to B1

JFK moves down from B1 to B2

Akron moves down from B1 to B2

Roy-Hart moves down from B1 to B2

Cassadaga Valley moves down from B2 to C1

 

NEW HEAD COACHES

Lancaster - John Otto

West Seneca East - Dan Leutman

Barker - Michael O'Sullivan

Clymer - Dan White

Tapestry Charter - Tony Williams

Nichols - Jim MacKinnon

 

 

 THE PLAYERS

Although I don’t publish a preseason All-Centercourt team, there are four players in WNY this season that are Division 1 talents and worth some early discussion.  Stan Wier will be a UB Bull next year, Jermaine Crumpton has already given Canisius a verbal commitment despite being a junior, Reggie Abeko has yet to decide on the many colleges who have shown interest, and Sterling Taplin will undoubtedly be playing major college ball somewhere…after he finishes his last three years of high school.

 

After bringing some serious raw talent to the Monsignor Martin Association last year, Agbeko has developed into a top prospect in WNY for St. Joe’s.  The buzz all summer was about the 6-7 Agbeko’s dominance in AAU and major strides in the fundamental aspects of his game.  He was a force on the boards last year and had really begun to finish well around the basket (finishing as a Fifth Team All-Centercourt selection), before crashing to the floor with an ankle injury at the Koessler Center during the postseason and missing the Marauders final two games.  His size, coupled with his leaping ability, will give teams fits near the basket this year.

 

Wier returns to WNY for his senior season and will be back with his original alma mater, East Aurora.  As a sophomore, Wier was named Second Team All-WNY as he helped lead Nichols to a Class A New York State Federation championship and then spent his junior campaign at a high school in Indiana.  The Blue Devils are glad to have this inside/outside threat back and will rely on his all-around game this season.  Besides his obvious physical attributes, Wier is a tireless worker who gets in the gym early each morning and takes hundreds of shots.

 

Another inside/outside threat is Crumpton.  The NFHS big man showed some flashes of brilliance as a sophomore and by all accounts, has improved tremendously over the summer.  The Wolverines will ask Crumpton to play a much bigger role this year after graduating a pair of big men who kept him out of the starting lineup last season.

 

Possibly the most talented player in this area is still developing, and that’s a scary thought when you consider just how good Taplin was as a freshman at Williamsville North last year.  In the offseason, Taplin (Third Team All-Centercourt in 2011) added 12 pounds of muscle to his frame and worked hard to improve his outside shot, which was already one of the area’s best.  The Spartans will look for Taplin to attack the rim more this year and take another step forward as an underclassman leader of their team.

 

A player who landed a spot on the Fifth Team All-Centercourt after finishing the season with a flurry, is Holland’s Jordan Farrant.  In back-to-back games during sectionals last February, Farrant scored a combined 76 points against Salamanca and OTC/MEC.

 

The following players return this season after earning All-Centercourt Honorable Mention honors a year ago:

 

Martin Bailey (Kenmore West),  Matt Hart (Canisius), Jordan Williams (Timon), Kyle Kobis (Timon), Taijay Williams (Niagara Falls), Khalid Brown (OTC/MEC), Jamaal Carter (City Honors), Aaron Frasier (MST Seneca), Jesse Lalka (Tonawanda), Josh Haight (Barker), Nick Lenart (Panama), Alex Grace (Maple Grove), Justice Feggans (Riverside), JJ Wilkes (Niagara Falls).

 

 

Some other players that I anticipate having great seasons include Sam Eckstrom (Olean), Adam Weir (Canisius), Conner Keenan (Williamsville East), Tommy Campion (Jamestown), Daryl Spencer (Cleveland Hill), Darnell Carson (CSAT), Zeddy Williams (Silver Creek), Kevin Holmes (Dunkirk), and Clayton Hess (Tonawanda).

 

LEAGUE BY LEAGUE

 

MONSIGNOR MARTIN

 

The Crusaders will be the favorites to repeat, thanks to the return of a very talented group that helped lift Canisius past St. Joe’s last year.  Matt Hart, Adam Weir, Aaron White, and Matt McDonald comprise the most dangerous quartet of shooters in WNY and all have plenty of big game experience as well.  Seniors Tim Schifferle and Brendan Tenney give head coach Kyle Husband some needed size inside.

 

Bishop Timon/St. Jude has four starters back from a year ago: Seniors Jordan Williams and Kyle Kobis, and juniors Ryan Dougherty and Fulton Bryant.  Williams and Kobis are two of the very best shooters in all of WNY, and when the Tigers are clicking on all cylinders, they’re capable being the top team in the area.

 

Following three consecutive appearances in the Catholic Class B state championship and a pair of titles, St. Mary’s once again has the horses to return.  Erik Simmons, Jake Denz, Devin Redden, and Nate Meyers are the key returnees for the Lancers and averaged a collective 36 points per game last season.  Also of note, former standout Joe Cellino joins the coaching staff this season.

 

The Marauders will need Agbeko to dominate the middle on both ends of the floor and open things up for the team’s shooters.  Mark Cerza transfers from Cardinal O’Hara and offers both size and finesse, while Jordan Glover, Kyle Briggs, and Jaylen Morris are all quick, aggressive, and athletic.  Junior Dylan Hall should have a major role for St. Joe’s this season also.

 

St. Francis returns six of its top eight players from last season, with each seeing time in the starting lineup.  Tyler Wagner, a three-year starter, will lead the Red Raiders this season from the guard position.  Both Brian Melisz and Cory Cullen started several games last year on varsity as sophomores.   Also returning are Brett Cawthorn, Matthew Morcio, and big Miles Bartholomew, who takes up a lot of space in the paint.  This very experienced and senior laden team looks to be a factor in a very talented and deep league.

 

Nichols brings back the Noonan brothers, Tommy and Adam, along with Eric Luko, Liam Ryan, and Sam Sendziak.  A quartet of tall and talented freshmen join the Vikings, as Jamar Waters, Cam Lewis, Chris Minor, and Tanner Schmit begin the process of returning Nichols to a power program in WNY.

 

Niagara Catholic has a pair of dynamic guards back in Joe Lowery and Jonathan Jackson and Walsh returns Ryan Whelpley.

 

YALE CUP

 

McKinley is led this season by guard Michael Davis, who saw plenty of action on last season’s AA semifinalist team.  Marcus Morris can shoot from anywhere in the gym, but missed most of last year with a knee injury.  Also back for the Macks are Lovell smith and Stephen Johnson, while Reyjzon Jordan will display his athletic talents on the hardwood as well.

 

Despite repeated success, the East Panthers seem to enter each season flying slightly below the radar.  After losing all five starters off the Section VI Class A regional representative, the same is sure to hold true again this year.  I still expect them to challenge for the Yale Cup in the large school division again this year.  Senior Rashaan Brown and sophomore transfer Tyree Tyson give East a pair of twin towers in the paint, while speedy sophomore Jonathan Lewis will run the point.  Seniors Daquann Griggs and Darnell Carr will also be key pieces this year.

 

Hutch-Tech is ready to make a run at the Yale Cup this year.  The Engineers bring back multiple players from the team that threatened Williamsville South in the A1 semis last year, including Marcus Nelson, Denzell Washington, Andrew Strug, and Tim Whitehead.  Sophomore Aymanuel Radford and junior Jovohn Owens will also be major factors.

 

Riverside features the electrifying Feggans and a much improved Lamont Little, along with returnees Mike Leonard and Mark Anderson. 

 

Bennett brings back 6-6 Derrick Quarles, gridiron start Javon Fogan, and Markei Miller.  The Tigers will also look for solid production out of Ed Bishop, Joe Nelson, Paris White, and Tylon Lynch.

 

OTC/MEC has two of its top players back in Khalid Brown and Cordell Torres, along with Davonte Harper and Kevin Reese.

 

MST Seneca has Jaleyn Pearson and Ben Bolden to go along with top area guard Aaron Frasier.

 

I-Prep returns Maurice Cheatom and Davonte Whitsett from last season's Class C state semifinalist squad.

 

ECIC I

 

The Red Raiders will look to defend both league and back-to-back sectional titles.  Leading the way for Jamestown will be junior Tommy Campion, a vital part of the team’s run to last season’s Class AA state title game.  Seniors Adam Cecchini and Kevin Diaz are also back, and both can light it up from the perimeter.  The future is already looking bright, as this ever re-loading team has three sophomores and two freshman

 

Sweet Home will be lead by junior Kole Gilchrist, who made second team ECIC II last season after averaging 13 points per game as a sophomore.  Senior Jayson Moore will run the point for the Panthers and will have Khalid Barnes, the JV’s leading scorer last year, to dish to.

 

Taplin will lead a Spartans squad that is determined to win ECIC I.  He’ll have help from tough defender Nick Konotopsky and three-point threat David Berkun, along with 6-3 forwards Brett Butler and Justin Bangert.  George Attea, a 6-3 freshman, could be one to keep an eye on as he develops at Williamsville North.

 

Clarence will be lead by a pair of guards in sophomore Bryan Jost and senior Stephen Hughes, Orchard Park welcomes Matt McCormick back, and Frontier has Alex Warren and Matt Taylor.

 

ECIC II

 

Conventional wisdom would have Williamsville South falling off the WNY basketball map after losing its entire starting lineup and fielding a team this season with just one senior.  However, optimism runs high for the Billies and their lone senior, Jim Caputi.  Jack Fitzpatrick takes over point guard duty, while Damien Powers will look to assume Joe Licata’s role as the team’s three-point threat.  South will also get contributions from Chaquiel Nettles, Trent Ferguson, Mike Calandra, Sam Castronova, and a player with a familiar last name…Pat Stasiak.

 

The league’s best player may be senior forward Conner Keenan at Williamsville East.  He, along with point guard Michael Kyarunts, will lead the Flames into battle this year.  Joseph Kleinmann and Mike Altman are back for their senior campaigns, while sophomore Jaleel Battle comes over from Riverside, along with a pair of out-of-state transfers.  Zack Bischel and Michael Spina will look to provide a spark coming off the bench.

 

Lake Shore varsity coach Dan Gerken returns four underclassmen and three seniors as the Eagles look to improve upon last season with experience and leadership.  Ryan Spears will captain the team, while senior guards Josh Sanchez and Mark Kennedy’s athleticism will be relied upon on both ends of the floor.

 

The Spartans will feature a very youthful group, with only two seniors on the team.  Starpoint’s offense will be directed by sophomore guard Julian Mott.  The Spartans also bring back Steve Cooper, Andrew Rankie, and sharp shooter Stan Speaker.

 

ECIC III

 

Maryvale has won league championships in each of the last two seasons, and will look to continue its winning ways.  Sean Weisansal, Tyler Smith, and the always energetic Joe Gabor are back for head coach Mark Kensey’s team, and the Flyers also gain Zack Walkowski fro JFK.  Demetri McCallie, Max Aikin, Ed Smith, and Jayln Putman all join the Flyers from the JV last year.

 

The addition of Wier will help to make East Aurora contenders, but they’re far from a one-man show.  Ian Allen has size and the ability to do things all over the court.  Mike Rhoades is a classic glue player who obviously works very hard, while Chris Bourne and Brendan Cox are both heady players.  Eli Melas and Cam Wier are both capable reserves for the Blue Devils.

 

Depew will occupy the paint with a pair of sturdy big men in 6-5 Jaden Cotton and 6-6 sophomore Mike Lamb.  Aaron Ertel can bomb away from the perimeter, while sophomore point guard Derrick Sekuterski can do a little of everything and continues to improve.  Mike Ballistrea and Jon Gemerek also return to the Wildcats.

 

Amherst will challenge for the ECIC III crown this season, due in large part to the returning contributions of Glenn and Johnathan Belton.  The two guards were leaders for the Tigers last year, as Glenn was the second leading scorer and Johnathan led in assists.  The Tigers also bring back 6-7 junior Alex Turecki to clog the middle, along with Steven Reynolds and Owen Lankes.  Juniors Dion Lewis and Jonah Heim are new to the team, but should see plenty of action.

 

Cheektowaga is led by Kyle McDuffie, Marquel Jackson, and Derek Clyburn.  The Warriors will also start Ernie Vann and freshman Zak Ciezki.

 

At Pioneer, senior Mike Brass returns poised to take a giant leap forward with a full year of starting varsity experience under his belt.  Able to play and guard any position 1-4, his court smarts and poise are his best attributes.  An ECIC III honorable mention as a sophmore, junior Terik Lewis is the leading returning scorer and after a stellar summer, appears ready to take the next step forward.  Team newcomers Dylan Souder and Connor Johnson look to make an immediate impact.

 

ECIC IV

 

Tonawanda enters this season with high hopes.  The defending ECIC IV champs bring back the league’s POY in Jesse Lalka, and also return the well-rounded Clayton Hess.  Completing the Warriors starting lineup should be Jake Spencer, Tyler Hughes, and Andy Smith.

 

Cleveland Hill will seek a third straight trip to Buffalo State this year, led by senior Daryl Spencer.  Despite missing four games at the start of last season, Spencer lead the team in shooting and free throw percentage, points scored (13.9 per game), rebounds (12.7 per game), blocked shots, and steals.  Senior point guard Miles Barker will need to lead his team on the floor and forward DeVonte Davis should be a presence in the paint. The team will also look for sophomore Jared Watkins to contribute on both ends of the court with his quickness.   

 

Lackawanna’s lone returning starter from last season’s Class B1 champ is Raytrel Finley.  The Steelers also bring back Norman Sweat, Admir Merhizic, and TJ Giddens.  Head coach Tim Foley’s group will look to run about ten deep this season and rely on athleticism to help counter a lack of experience as they seek a return trip to Buffalo State.

 

 JFK has Christian Boettcher back in its starting lineup again, and also returns Jimmy Quinn, Ken Minorczyk, Nick Sikora, and Ben Zaccagnino.  Nick Anderson and Joey Burkowski move up to varsity and should see plenty of action.

 

Paul Matuszak is the lone returning starter at Alden, who also welcome back shooting threat Phil Bifulco.  Juniors Corey Barczykowski and Jake McNamara, and sophomore Dylan Dussalt move up from the JV for head coach Andy Smith’s Bulldogs.

 

Holland will look to Jordan Farrant to do a lot of everything and he'll likely be up to that task once again this season.

 

NIAGARA FRONTIER LEAGUE

 

Niagara Falls will once again be the heavy favorite to win in both its league and section, with five players returning that saw quality minutes on a team that lost by just three points in the AA sectional championship to state runner-up Jamestown.  Crumpton will be a force inside, while JJ Wilkes, Taijay Williams, and Jamere Ollison all started games for the Wolverines at guard last season.  Junior Ramir Burton will also be a key contributor at Falls this year.

 

Kenmore West would be the top threat to challenge the Wolverines again this year with Martin Bailey, Marcus Lobdell, and 6-6 junior Quintin Campbell.

 

After much time and effort in his inaugural year at the helm, head coach Nate Beutel will challenge his Vikings to take a big step forward this season.  Junior point guard Nick Soos, senior center Dylan Kelly, and senior forward Jon Voyzey return to Grand Island and are expected to make an impact as starters.  Corey Adamshick and Jordan Jelks move up to varsity and will be relied upon, while freshman Quinn Carey is full of potential to have a strong four years at the varsity level.

 

After finishing third in the NFL last year, Niagara Wheatfield will look to Ryan Elnicki and Jack Mulcahy to keep the wins coming.

 

Lockport has the 6-6 Nick DiMartile along with Ezra Nwachaku.  Lew-Port welcomes St. Joe's transfer guard John Dziewit, who pairs with Nick Mansour to lead the Lancers.  Kenmore East will look to PJ Blanch for much of its scoring, and North Tonawanda will do the same with Corey Mis.

 

 

 NIAGARA-ORLEANS LEAGUE

 

CSAT should be the favorites to win its first ever N-O crown, as the Eagles return some real talent.  Junior guard Darnell Carson leads an Eagles team that also brings back shot-blocking Arzell Kaigler and Justin Black.  After a year at OTC/MEC, Desmond Lamar transferred back to CSAT.

 

Wilson lost most of its starting lineup, but still returns enough talent to make another run at a third straight league title and a sixth straight trip to the B2 semifinals.  Tyler Martin is the court leader for the Lakemen, who also bring back 6-4 forwards Dave Littere and Dustin DiLaura, Pat Walch, Pat Diez, and Zack Moxham.

 

Newfane lost a ton to graduation, with Sean Seefeldt being the lone returning starter.  Scott Kneeland is the only other senior returning, so juniors Connor Sears and Bryan Geise will be relied upon heavily for the Panthers.

 

Over at Akron, Connor Ladd, last year's leading scorer and rebounder is back for his junior season.  Junior Austin Mietz gets a fresh start from football after battling back from a knee injury last winter.  Junior Gowah Abrams will be the big man in the middle after finishing the season strong on varsity last year.  The largest question mark is at the point, as the Tiger's graduated three-year varsity player Jaime Salcedo.

 

Roy-Hart will be improved this season, as the Rams return four starters.  Jake Klietz, Ryan Metz, Chris Luce, and Brad Bobbit return to head coach Mark Rydza’s unit, while Conner Baker will play this season after missing last year due to injury.

 

Barker has a very talented pair back this season in senior Josh Haight and sophomore Jake Haight.

 

Medina will continue to improve with behind Lonnie Taylor and Lucas Evans. 

 

CCAA I

 

Olean will very likely reclaim its dominance in the CCAA this year and with the team moving back to Class B, could be in for a lengthy postseason.  The Huskies return four starters, led by the man in the middle, Sam Eckstrom.  Nick Schmidt averaged 13 points per game as a freshman and will be back prowling the perimeter.  Luke Hennessy, Pat Scholla, Max Portlow, and Neil Shoemaker also return, while an impact should be felt from newcomers Wil Bathurst and Evan Ryan.

 

Dunkirk will try to contend with the Huskies, with Kevin Holmes and Mike Donaldson back from last year’s league champs.

 

Fredonia will be led by Dylan Meyer, Southwestern has Jake Swan back, Falconer returns Ryan Nord, and Zach Harrington will be the main threat for Allegany-Limestone.

 

CCAA II

 

Salamanca will try to capture the league crown behind the talented trio of Jevon Battle, Jackson John, and Tanner John.

 

Randolph has both Brady Morrison and John Morgante back, Cassadaga Valley has Dustin Schauman for one more season, Gage Bird leads Frewsburg, Portville has Zach Blask and Zach Miles, and Silver Creek has a very talented and athletic junior in Zeddy Williams.

 

 CCAA III

 

Senior Austin Alonge will lead the way for Westfield after averaging 15 points as a junior.  The Wolverines also return three other starters: Trey North, Jon Coe, and Anthony Leone.  Junior Dylan MacCubbin was the first man off the bench last year, and senior Brent Morrison returns to Westfield after being a key starter at Chautauqua Lake last year.

 

Maple Grove returns senior guard Alex Grace, along with senior forward Skyler Liddell.

 

Ellicottville has both Colin Lapi and Conner Hellwig returning.

 

Franklinville returns Jake Reynolds, while Jason McMahon will be the senior leader for Chautauqua Lake.

 

CCAA IV

 

Panama has the league’s top player in four-year starter Nick Lenart, along with Zach Lubi returning.

 

David Kelley, Andrew Graham, and Marcus Lindstrom are all back for Sherman.

 

Clymer will be tough with Dan Lictus and Adam Walker in its lineup, Dan Ferguson and Jordan Patterson will lead Brocton, and North Collins returns senior Jared Keppel.

 

PREDICTIONS

LEAGUE CHAMPS:

Yale Cup I - McKinley, Yale Cup II - OTC/MEC, ECIC I - Jamestown, ECIC II - Williamsville South, ECIC III - East Aurora,  ECIC IV - Tonawanda,  NFL - Niagara Falls,  N-O - CSAT,  CCAA I - Olean,  CCAA II - Salamanca,  CCAA III - Maple Grove,  CCAA IV - Panama

 

SECTIONAL CHAMPS:

AA - Niagara Falls, A1 - McKinley, A2 - Riverside, B1 - Olean, B2 - CSAT, C1 - OTC/MEC, C2 - Maple Grove, D - Panama

 

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Olean buries East early and often

It took me two hours to get there and about two minutes to get my answer...yes, Olean is going to be that good this year.

 

Olean jumped all over East in the first minute of the game and then continued to assert itself throughout, in an 80-51 rout Thursday night.  The Huskies outshot East, 10-0 from beyond the arc, led by double-digits for more than three quarters, and  showed outstanding ball movement and unselfish play all game.  Nick Schmidt and Wil Bathurst each finished with 20 points, while Max Portlow added 16.

 

Schmidt and Bathurst each drilled a '3' from the same spot in the first 45 seconds of the game, igniting the Huskies 10-0 run out of the gate.  Leading 24-9 early in the second quarter, Bathurst threw down one-handed slam during a 2-on-1 break that drew a roaring ovation from the full house.  Olean built a 19-point lead twice during the quarter and led 41-27 at halftime.

 

The Huskies continued their dominance throughout the second half and built a 36-point lead, before sending in five reserves with just over four minutes to play.  Upon entering the game, senior Jake Perry connected from downtown to put Olean in front 80-44, before a series of Panther free throws over the final minutes gave way to the final score.

 

Daquann Griggs scored 14 points to lead East, while Rashaan Brown finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks.

 

The stage is now set for a battle between what are sure to be the two top-ranked small schools when the polls come out on Tuesday.  Olean will visit St. Mary's on Tuesday night for a scheduled 6:30 pm tip, as part of the MMA/ECIC Challenge.

 

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Falls fills in two games in a BIG way

Niagara Falls had originally scheduled two of its nonleague games in the Primetime Shootout.  However,  sponsorship for the event was retracted and the event was cancelled for this season.  That left the Falls ready to accept anything to get those two games back...even a much lesser opponent.  Well, it sounds like were able to find a pair of games to challenge its program after all - or as NFHS head coach Sal Constantino put it, "we've hit the scheduling lottery".

 

Niagara Falls has accepted a bid to play in the Burger King Classic in Erie, PA beginning Friday, January 13th.  The Wolverines will be in a traditional tournament format and take on Milton (GA) at 7 pm.  A matchup between Jamesville DeWitt (Syracuse, NY) and host school Cathedral Prep (PA) will follow.  

 

Friday, January 13, 2012

Niagara Falls vs. Milton (GA) - 7 pm

Jamesville DeWitt vs. Cathedral Prep (PA) - 8:45 pm

 

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Consolation Game - 7 pm

Championship Game - 8:45 pm

 

The Burger King Classic is listed as the 13th ranked event in the country by Hoops USA. 

Milton (GA) is currently ranked #19 in the country by Max Preps.  Check out some of its players and where they are going to play college ball:

Evan Nolte, 6-8  - Virginia

Charles Mann, 6-6 - Georgia (the team's point guard)

Shaquille Johnson, 6-5 - Auburn

Tevin Glass, 6-8 - (currently ranked #81 by Rivals)

 

Jamesville DeWitt (NY) is the three-time defending Class A state champion, led by 6-10 Syracuse commit Dajuan Coleman and 6-8 Wake Forest commit Tyler Cavanaugh.  Cathedral Prep (PA) is one of the top progams in the state of Pennsylvania.

 

The tournament is a first class event, providing six hotel rooms for three nights, three meals per day, and a stipend.  Games are played at Gannon University and tickets can be purchased presale through Cathedral Prep AD Bill Flanagan. 

 

"This is a great chance for our kids to experience what big time basketball feels like" Constantino said.

 

********************************************************************************************

 

Medina is in need of one nonleague game for both varsity and junior varsity.

Anyone interested should contact Medina JV head coach Eric Hellwig by email or phone.

[email protected]  (716) 417-3051

 

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Feggans heats up in Wilson

In the consolation game of the Wilson Tip-Off Tournament, the Lakemen looked more than capable of hanging with Riverside.  After playing the Frontiers even in the first quarter, Wilson trailed 30-29 as the contest reached its intermission.  Fortunately for Riverside, Justice would prevail in the third quarter.

 

Justice Feggans exploded for 18 of his game-high 33 points during a decisive third quarter, to lift Riverside past tournament host Wilson, 71-52.  Feggans's scoring outburst in the third included four 3-pointers, as the Frontiers would outscore the Lakemen 29-14 during that stanza.  Tyler Martin paced Wilson with 21 points.

 

In the championship game, St. Mary's lost a hard-fought battle to a very good Brunswick (Ohio) team, 48-44.  Devin Redden led the Lancers with 13 points, while Erik Simmons and Nicc Johnson each scored 11 points in the loss.

 

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Timon & St. Joe's conclude Pastor-Cooper Showcase with wins

On the third and final night of the Pastor-Cooper Showcase, the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association scored a pair of victories over its Yale Cup opponents, as Bishop Timon/St. Jude and St. Joe's each got off on the right foot in season openers.

 

Jordan Williams led Timon with 15 points, as the Tigers jumped out to an early 12-point lead and then gradually built upon it, in a 55-33 win over last season's Class A champion, East.   After allowing 20 points in the first quarter, the Panthers settled in defensively, but struggled to score consistently throughout.  Sophomore Tyree Tyson was the only player to reach double figures for East, finishing with 12 points.

 

 

The Marauders got 26 points and 22 rebounds from 6-7 senior Reggie Agbeko and withstood a final flurry from McKinley, defeating the Macks, 62-61.  After the game was tied at the half, St. Joe's lead by five as the teams entered the fourth quarter.  The Maruaders lead the entire fourth quarter, by as many as nine points, before a McKinley rally fell just short.  The Macks sank a 3-pointer as time expired to pull within a point. 

 

McKinley was lead by Daequan Warren's 13 points, while sophomore Reyzon Jordan and freshman Devin Morris each scored 12 points.

 

William Stephan, a junior at St. Joe's, received the Showcase's award for sportsmanship, for his academic achievment, work in the community, and being a strong peer role model.

 

** Halftime of the Marauders/Macks duel was highlighted by a chicken wing eating contest, which featured among others, Keith McShea and myself.  Admittedly, my performance was shameful, as I finished the competition in fourth place out of four contestants.   McShea was named co-champ, along with a female sophomore from Grand Island, as each took down nine wings in three minutes. 

 

Originally, McShea was credited with finishing eight wings, but demanded a re-count, at which point nine wing bones were discovered on his plate.  Following the competition, a pair of renowned bloggers, TML1000 and StateChamps2003, commented in McShea's live chat, that he had lost and declared the GI sophomore the winner.  But the truth was, each had finished the same amount of wings and there was a tie. 

 

On a side note, GI sophomore was reportedly seen enjoying pizza & pop with her teammates prior to the contest.  When asked moments before the wing-off, McShea was unable to recall the last time he had eaten. 

 

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