BK @ AQ was one for the ages

Once in a great while, you see a game that is so spectacular, it becomes permanently burned into your memory.  You know, games like Falls/Fairport in '06, Depew/Lafayette in '07, and McKinley/South in '09.  I can now add last night's Section V thriller between Aquinas and Bishop Kearney to that list.

 

Everything about the game last night was memorable.  I arrived at Aquinas just after 6 pm and followed a convoy of cars making their way into the parking lot.  Signs on each side of the driveway leading in read SOLD OUT.  As I entered the packed foyer, there was an immediate buzz that comes with a bigtime game.  Beyond the staff taking tickets or checking you off the media list, there was a large stand selling Aquinas apparel next to a guy selling tickets to the rematch at Blue Cross Arena on February 1st.

 

Once I got myself into the gymnasium, I introduced myself to Aquinas AD Anthony Bianchi.  After explaining who I was and why I had made the trip, he was kind enough to set me up in a padded chair at the best seat in the house...court side and centercourt! 

 

Once seated, I was able to look around and take it all in.  The place was just jam-packed with plenty of support for both teams.  Each side had a large student section and each baseline was filled with a loud and proud two-row cheerleading section. 

 

1st Quarter

Bishop Kearney jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the game's first minute by hitting its first three shots.  Aquinas got on the scoreboard at the 5:47 mark and answered back with six straight.  After trading buckets, BK built a 15-8 lead before AQ netted the last basket of the quarter.  BK standout, 6-7 Thomas Bryant, was kept off the scoresheet in the first eight minutes, but was active on the boards and blocked three shots.  Canisius commit, 6-7 Phil Valenti, scored six of AQ's eight points.

BK led 15-10 at the end of the first quarter

 

2nd Quarter

Bryant opened the scoring in the second to put BK up 17-10.  AQ scored the next five points and kept BK from scoring again until just 2:30 remained in the half.  After a field goal by Valenti cut the BK lead to 21-19, Kings guard Redell Freeman scored the final four points of the half.  After being involved in a double-technical foul call, Bryant headed to the locker room with three fouls and just two points.  AQ senior guard Christian White had trouble getting his shot to fall and was held scoreless in the half. 

BK led 25-19 at halftime

 

3rd Quarter

BK opened the quarter on a 7-1 run and around the four minute mark, Antwoine Anderson scored to give the Kings their largest lead of the game at 36-23.  With just 1:34 left in the quarter, AQ scored its first field goal of the stanza, a 3-pointer from White, which was also his first points of the evening.  It served as a spark for the Lil Irish, who then got a stop, and came right back with another long-range bomb from Kyron Allen.  AQ had closed out the quarter on a 9-0 run and were right back in the game.  Bryant went to the bench with 4:16 left in the quarter after picking up his fourth personal, with just four points.  Teammate Alvin English was also called for his fourth foul with 42 seconds left in the frame.

BK led 36-32 at the end of the third quarter

 

4th Quarter

A jumper by Freeman, followed by a steal and dunk from Anderson pushed the BK lead back to eight points, 40-32.  The action really began to heat up when White drilled his second 3-pointer at the 5:25 mark.  English answered it with a traditional three-point play, prompting White to can another from downtown, making it 46-42.  After BK notched the next three points, a strong inside move from Valenti with three minutes to play turned out to be a sign of things to come.  BK moved back in front 51-44, before Valenti willed his team's comeback.  Valenti scored the next three field goals in the game and grabbed a crucial offensive rebound following a missed free throw.  He had brought the Lil Irish all the way back and tied the game at 51-51.  However, Bryant got free under the basket and flushed one with 18 seconds to go.  Trailing by two in the game's final seconds, AQ looked to Valenti once again, who responded with an overtime-forcing basket with seven ticks left in regulation. Valenti had scored all ten of his fourth quarter points in the last three minutes.

The game was tied, 53-53, at the end of regulation

 

1st OT

Valenti sank a free throw to start OT and it was the first time AQ had led the entire game.  English was on the bench having fouled out in regulation and Bryant continued to play carefully with four fouls.  But in the first two minutes, BK converted a pair of three-point plays and by the 1:35 mark, had built a 63-57 lead.  With just 25 seconds left, White hit a free throw and then watched his second miss and rebound into the hands of Valenti.  AQ connected on two more charity tosses from Allen, cutting the score to 63-60.  After BK's Anderson missed both of his attempts from the line, White took the ball straight to the hole to make it 63-62 with seven seconds on the clock.  Bryant then converted a pair of free throws that should have sealed the game for the Kings.  Instead, White drew an unneccessary foul in the backcourt and made it 65-64 BK with four seconds left.  After Bryant hit one of two from the line with three seconds left, AQ inbounded needing a miracle to survive...or another backcourt foul.  This time, with just :00.6 (point six seconds), White got a call from the refs at the same spot trying to get in over halfcourt.  He went to the line and sank them both.

The game was tied 66-66 after the first overtime

 

2nd OT

White scored to open the second OT and you could just tell that AQ had taken the lead for good.  With 2:04 left, Valenti and Bryant were hit with a double-foul, which disqualified Bryant.  Anderson scored five points in the session and twice pulled BK to within a point, but it wasn't to be.  The surest sign that AQ was meant to take this one was Jarron Jones sending a free throw in high off the glass, and then swishing his second.  BK was unable to get off a desperation '3' late and Valenti scored off a steal to seal the win.

Final Score after double overtime:  Aquinas 76, Bishop Kearney 71

 

Valenti finished with a game-high 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.  White added 18 points after not scoring until late in the third quarter.

 

Anderson led BK with 19 points.   Bryant scored 15 points and blocked six shots, and Stanley Foster  chipped in 14 points.

 

** Some game notes

- BK was without 6-10 junior standout Chinonso Obokoh

- Bob Huggins was in attendance, scouting BK freshman Thomas Bryant

- It was a lot of fun watching AQ's Jahmahl Pardner and BK's Antwoine Anderson, a pair a gifted athletes, guard each other throughout the game.

- Future Notre Dame defensive lineman Jarron Jones set a pick on Anderson in the first quarter that dropped him to the floor.  Anderson may have been better off running into the wall.

- Thomas Bryant and Phil Valenti had a pre-tip stare down like you would see prior to a UFC fight. 

-  AQ runningback Billy Lombardi has a little brother who looks like the toughest twelve year old I've ever seen.

- BK starts a freshman (Bryant) and a sophomore (Foster) and has a JV team that could probably win a state championship in Class D.

- I highly recommend the rematch!

 

 

-centercourt

Comments

[KKBundy]

CC, great report on the Kearney vs. Aquinas game. After seeing 14 year old freshman Thomas Bryant's jaw dropping performance vs. St. Joe's and reading a recap from you and The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle from last nights game, it is definately worth the short trip to Rochester to see the rematch. It's not too often you see multiple D1 commits and prospects playing against each other and that alone is worth the trip. Other than Valenti to Canisius and White to Monmouth, to your knowledge have there been any others who have already commited from the 2 schools?
Obokoh, I would assume is being heavily looked at, and hearing that Bob Huggins was there to see Thomas Durant, er... Bryant, is very cool.
Would you care to guess at the attendance # for the reamtch at Blue Cross Arena on February 1st? Is it possible there could be a nearly full house?

[McShea is God]

Yes great report. I should have blow off my son's Scout meeting and went w u!!! Feb 1st 4 sure let's do it.

BTW CC Seneca game NOT on Buff news schedule 4 today u sure they play? I would say Hutch at Riverside then maybe Depew at Stan - I mean at EA but let me know.

And Panthers when Reggie gets to the NBA he will likely c double and triple teams on a nightly basis so he may as well get used 2 it now.

PS - IMPRESSED CC and Huggins r boys! Tell him 2 get that graduation rate up! Ha! His Senior Kevin Jones may just b Big East player of the year btw

[Patrick Moran]

If anyone wants to see Kearney but doesn't want to take the ride to Rochester, they're at Timon on Friday January 27th. That should be a fun little atmosphere.

Since I'm in the area, I'm going to check out Sterling Taplin and see how he and his team looks tonight, playing at Orchard Park.

[Lucky13]

I-Prep - Seneca @ Medaille @ 6 p.m. It's under the Yale II games and was mentioned in the chat last night.

[jackherlan]

I think I'll skip our game on the 27th and go to Timon.

[Lucky13]

Jack, didn't Oliveri play Tues.?

[jackherlan]

Yes.

[Patrick Moran]

Good one Jack,

Been "T'd" up this year? I'm defintely going to hit JV early when I some Joe's games..and bring my camera

[centercourt]

At ther end of the 1st quarter:

Milton 20
Falls 14

Milton drilled a '3' right before the buzzer to end the 1st. Major talent discrepancy, but Falls is playing well.

[centercourt]

Live blog of BK Classic games available here:

http://www.goerieblogs.com/sports/varsity/

[centercourt]

Shaquille Johnson just threw down a Vince Carter type jam on a break. It was sick!

[centercourt]

Halftime:

Milton 41
Falls 28

NFHS finished the half on an 8-0 run.

Jermaine Crumpton has been excellent and has a game-high 13 points, along with six rebounds at the half.

[centercourt]

End of the 3rd Quarter:

Milton 60
Falls 40

Crumpton 18 points & nine rebounds
* Both game-highs

[Division 1]

Wow, imagine Jermaine Crumpton more than holding his own against top shelf D1 talent. So many naysayers about the kid competing and being a contributor at the next level. Hmmmm..... maybe some talking heads on here should realize that they may not understand the game like they think they do. Outstanding midrange jump shooter, i wonder how many college teams have need of those guys and how often you come upon guys with that skillset nowadays. The kid plays out of position based on the needs of NFHS and is pretty succesful and all of a sudden that is the only position he is capable of playing;;;;;; D1s, like most upper level D2s recruit based on specific needs!!!! Thank GOD his future b'ball success isnt contingent on some of you.

Thanks Jermaine Crumpton for letting outside world know there are hoopers from western new york.

[Dark LMT]

I have watched Crumpton play since he was on the Falls JV team. He is a good player. Division I player not sure though. That will be determined after he gets to Canisius. Just because you get recruited to play division I does not mean you are a player of that level. Look at Will Regan. He has not proved to anyone that he is a player of Division I level. On a side thought, I want to nominate Quintin Campbell for most inproved player in WNY. The improvement he has made from the begining of last year to this year has been remarkable.

[Sam]

Who is Quintin Cambell?

[centercourt]

He's a 6-6 junior at Ken West. One of the best bigs in WNY.

[Division1]

Crumpton being a junior could not have signed an LOI yet. Anything with Canisius right now would only be a verbal. Obviously, his signing that LOI would be based on current Canisius staff being in place. A new staff would have to determine if they see him fitting into there system and if they want to honor the offer. I have liked Q. Campbell since the summer going into his sophomore year. Good kid, very humble. Best ball years are in front of him

[Sam]

Who are the other bigs besides him and Reggie that you think are in the best conversation?

[centercourt]

The only other big in WNY that's at the same level as Agbeko, Crumpton, & Campbell is Sam Eckstrom from Olean.

There's a second tier that would have guys like Rahaan Brown (East), Mike Leonard (Riverside), and Jaden Cotton (Depew), but I think the four guys mentioned above have a little separation.

[Division1]

CC, you are right on. Eckstrom from Olean is only other big in WNY that I would include in that first tier with Campbell, Crumpton and Agbeko. Tyree Tyson should go in that second tier as well.

[hoopster]

Cathedral Prep downs Niagara Falls 65-60 in the consolation game of the Burger King Classic in Erie, PA.

[Lucky13]

Hoopster, Just want you and everyone else to know that I did not make that comment attributed to me in the chat criticizing Keith or any other comment. I informed Keith it wasn't me. Somebody messin' with my moniker. I left some thoughts on the Can./St.Marys game on the 'Rivalry game...Lakemen' post. Dont know if you sawthem cause they got swept off the 'recent comments' column pretty quick.

[hoopster]

Keep posting Lucky. Enjoy reading your commentary! Haven't had a chance to participate in the chats. Just struck me at the moment I posted yesterday given the marathon live-blogging that pretty dumb to criticize McShea whose coverage is nothing short of excellent. The only critique I have is the timing of his vacation. Rather than during the hoops season it should be taken in the middle of the fall! :) Long live hoops!!!!