The View From Centercourt

Random Smatterings II

On Tuesday night at Canisius for its game against Bishop Kearney, as Keith McShea made his way to the media table where I was sitting, he walked past the Blue Crew and drew quite the "KEITH" ovation from the student section.  Earlier, when I walked by them, I heard centercourt. I looked up to see them pointing out where the St. Joe's kids were sitting across the way.

 

There are eight remaining unbeaten teams in WNY.  Three large schools: Jamestown, Williamsville North, and Sweet Home.  Five small schools: Olean, Silver Creek, Newfane, Holland, and Clymer.  We will be down to seven by December 26th, as Williamsville North hosts Holland in the first round of its tournament.

 

The song All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey, always make me think of Depew, because I watched them warmup to the song at its Holiday Tournament in 2010.  Actually, most Christmas music holds some HS basketball association for me because I'm always listening to it while driving to games in December.

 

 Over the last three seasons, the Section VI sectionals program cover has featured Lew-Port/Wilson (2010), Lockport/Grand Island (2011), and Lockport/Ken West (2012).  While the 2010 Lakemen made it to Buff State, the player from the cover photo never saw the floor in the semifinals.  The other schools never even advanced to the semis.  You have to go back to the cover of the 2009 program (Falls/Jamestown with TJ Crittenden & Marcus McAffee) to find players who competed on the court at Buff State.

 

In a 73-25 win over DaVinci, Emerson's Lenny Dowell was credited with the following stat line: 32 points, 21 boards, and 14 assists.  If you include the assists, he would have accounted for at least 60 points (they led 55-22 through three quarters).  Thursday at Olmsted, Dowell finished with two points and no field goals.

 

Speaking of Lenny Dowell, the Eagles' senior is joined in the starting lineup by his brothers, junior Marki and freshman Jason.

 

Once in awhile I get myself freaked out by scrolling too quickly, too far down while checking scores on the Buffalo News scoreboard page, and wind up looking at the girls scores without realizing it.  It happened most recently on Monday night, when I saw Lancaster 43, Will North 31 and said out loud, "What"? 

 

Cassadaga Valley's Randy Dalaba scored 24 points to go with 21 rebounds in a 64-50 win over Cattaraugus/Little Valley.

 

I'd like to see Olean get a playoff bye until the Class B1 title game, just to see who would emerge as the champ in the competitive B1 class without them in it.

 

The Canisius Crusaders Blue Crew participated in the final minute of pregame warmups with the team at Tuesday's win over Kearney.

 

Based on early season results, Bishop Kearney would be considered no better than the fourth best team if we ranked them in WNY, behind Falls, Olean, and Canisius.  If I were ranking them, I'd put three more teams - Jamestown, St. Joe's, & McKinley ahead of them as well.

 

Barker junior Jake Haight set the new individual game season-high scoring mark for this season in WNY with 40 points in a win over Elba.

 

Olean routed Southwestern, 70-36, without the services of Sam Eckstrom.

 

One of my favorite parts of following high school basketball is seeing a player for the first time who I've read or heard about for a longtime.  That was recently the case for such players as Frewsburg's Alex Elderkin, Portville's Zach Blask, Emerson's Lenny Dowell, Clarence's Bryan Jost, and Olmsted's Jalen Schumaker.

 

Olmsted plays the best version of the National Anthem ever recorded - Whitney Houston's rendition from Super Bowl XXV.

 

-centercourt

 

Holiday Tournament Schedule

Depew Tournament

Dec. 27th

St. Mary's vs. City Honors - 6 pm

Depew vs. Lancaster - 7:30 pm

Dec. 29th

Consolation game - 3:30 pm

Championship game - 5 pm

 

Williamsville Jolly Boys Tournament

Dec. 27th

Amherst vs. Newfane - 6 pm

Williamsville South vs. St. Francis - 7:30 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:30 pm

 

Clarence Tournament

Dec. 27th

Fredonia vs. Bennett - 5 pm

Clarence vs. Iroquois - 6:30 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 5 pm

Championship game - 6:30 pm

 

Five Guys Williamsville North Tournament

Dec. 26th

Williamsville East vs. Park - 6 pm

Williamsville North vs. Holland - 7:30 pm

Dec. 27th

Consolation game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:30 pm

 

East Aurora Invitational

Dec. 27th

CSAT vs. Hutch-Tech - 5:30 pm

East Aurora vs. Pioneer - 7 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 5:30 pm

Championship game - 7 pm

 

Maryvale Tournament

Dec. 27th

Cleveland Hill vs. Hamburg - 5:30 pm

Maryvale vs. Akron - 7 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 4:30 pm

Championship game - 6 pm

 

Pendleton Lions Tournament at Starpoint

Dec. 27th

Niagara Catholic vs. Lockport - 5 pm

Starpoint vs. Medina - 6:30 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 5 pm

Championship game - 6:30 pm

 

St. Joe's Tournament

Dec. 27th

Riverside vs. Cheektowaga - 6 pm

St. Joe's vs. I-Prep - 7:30 pm

Dec. 28th 

Consolation game - 5:30 pm

Championship game - 7:15 pm

 

Southwestern Classic

Dec. 29th

Salamanca vs. Sherman - 6 pm

Southwestern vs. Chautauqua Lake - 7:30 pm

Dec. 30th

Consolation game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:30 pm

 

Cassadaga Valley Tournament

Dec. 27th

Clymer vs. Oracle Charter - 6 pm

Cassadaga Valley vs. Westfield - 7:30 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:30 pm

 

IAABO Tournament @ St. Bonaventure

Dec. 27th

BRACKET ONE

Randolph vs. Archbishop Walsh - 2:30 pm

Portville vs. Allegany-Limestone - 4:15 pm

BRACKET TWO

Nichols vs. Warren PA - 6 pm

Olean vs. Bradford PA - 7:45 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 2:30 pm

Consolation game - 4:15 pm

Championship game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:45 pm

 

Emerling Ford Tournament @ Springville

Dec. 27th

South Park vs. Gowanda - 4:30 pm

Springville vs. West Valley - 6 pm

Dec. 29th 

Consolation game - 1:30 pm

Championship game - 6 pm

 

West Seneca Tournament at West Seneca East

Dec. 27th

Tonawanda vs. Buffalo Science - 4:30 pm

West Seneca West vs. West Seneca East - 6 pm

Dec. 28th 

Consolation game - 4:30 pm

Championship game - 6 pm

 

Ken-Ton Tournament at Kenmore East

Dec. 27th

Kenmore West vs. Sweet Home - 5 pm

Kenmore East vs. Cardinal O'Hara - 6:30pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 5 pm

Championship game - 6:30 pm 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

-centercourt

 

 

 

Olmsted on the rise, Black Knights already there

Three seasons ago, Olmsted began competing in the Yale Cup and Section VI.  In their first season, the Owls won just three games under then coach, Michael Webster.  Last season, Rich Skrabucha took over as the Owls' head man.  Sweeping changes after just one season were immediate.  Academics, attitude, character, work ethic, and commitment to the team became the expectation.  That meant losing some players along the way and a lot of growing pains.  Olmsted won just four games last year.

 

New approach, same results, right?  Hardly.

 

Six games into this season, Olmsted is now 3-3.  One of its loses was in overtime to City Honors and another was in the most unique and difficult gym in WNY to play at, Lafayette.  Last night was my first opportunity to see the Owls play.   I'm confident that I'll be seeing a lot more of them in the future.   

 

The Owls hosted Emerson on Thursday night and showed right from the opening tip, which team wanted to win more.  Olmsted closed the first quarter on a 10-2 run to go up 16-6, and then extended its halftime advantage to 29-14.  After weathering Emerson's third quarter storm, the Owls closed things out in the fourth and came away with a 50-43 victory.  Jalen Schumaker poured in a game-high 18 points and Malcolm Hendrick added 15 points.  Emerson's leading scorer, Lenny Dowell, was held without a field goal and finished with just two points.

 

***

 

Silver Creek entered this season as the favorites in CCAA II and knew the top league contender would be Portville.  The Black Knights needed a dramatic 3-pointer to force overtime and eventually earn a four-point win against the Panthers in the Class C2 semifinals last year.  Sure enough, as the first meeting between the two schools rolled around, both came into the contest unbeaten.  But as all those in attendance quickly found out last night, the gap between Silver Creek and its competition has only widened.

 

Silver Creek (8-0) built a 14-point lead after one quarter and were already up by 23 points at the half, en route to an 84-57 win.  In typical Black Knights fashion, they got there by pressuring on defense, scoring in transition with the ball rarely touching the floor, and knocking down 3-pointers.  Kaine Kettle (game-high 23 points) and Steve Marcey (16 points) each rained down four long-distance bombs, including the highest arching rainbow '3' I've seen all year from Kettle and a brilliant catch-and-shoot in the corner from Marcey.  Both drew "Ahhs" from the home crowd.

 

Zed Williams was his usual self as well, leading the way defensively and forcing countless turnovers.  Williams, who I feel is WNY's  ultimate stat stuffer for his combination of rebounds, assists, steals, & blocks, finished with 22 points.  His evening included converting the highlight play of the game: 6-7 sophomore Bill Brooks sent a full court outlet pass to Marcey, who delivered a fancy behind-the-back pass in stride to Williams for the finish.  Showtime.  Chill Showtime.

 

Zach Blask led Portville with 20 points, while Josh Watson scored 16 points.

 

-centercourt

 

 

Canisius wins big over Bishop Kearney

Bishop Kearney may have the attention of the high school basketball world in the state of New York for the roster they field.  It includes seven of the top eight players returning from last season's Class A state semifinalist.  One of those players is Syracuse bound after this season.  Another is a top national recruit for the Class of 2015.  One is 6-9 and the other is 6-7.  Then in the offseason, the Kings added another player to the mix who stands an imposing 6-10.  The Kings were basically crowned before the season even began.  

 

Now that the season is underway, the Kings have already had their crowns knocked off, twice in three games.  

 

With the game tied at 20 early in the second quarter, Matt MacDonald delivered a second straight backdoor pass to Adam Weir, who finished the play at the rim for a second straight time, and gave Canisius a lead it would not relinquish.  The Crusaders got 28 points from Weir, 16 points from MacDonald, and a solid contribution from their own big man, 6-8 Jamel Mosley, in scoring a 69-50 victory over Bishop Kearney.  The win is the third straight for Canisius since a season-opening loss to top WNY small school Olean, while the Kings slip to 1-2.

 

Canisius blew the game wide open during a four-minute stretch in the third quarter, with a 20-4 run that included four 3-pointers: two from MacDonald and back-to-back bombs from Weir, to go up 50-30.  They also scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter, erasing any thought the Kings had of mounting a comeback.

 

Some game notes:

- Syracuse bound 6-9 Chinonso Obokoh did not make the trip to Canisius and is out indefinitely with a foot injury.

- The win for Canisius marked the third straight time the Kings have made the trip to WNY and headed back east with a loss.  Last year, in another game Obokoh missed, Timon/St. Jude defeated the BK on its court, 61-50, and Falls topped the Kings 52-47 to open this season for both teams.

- The Crusaders defended extremely well all game, while Bishop Kearney seemed to treat defense as an afterthought, except for a brief stretch late in the third quarter in an attempt to answer a Canisius run.

- Ryan Raccuia, who seems to hit a '3' in every game, connected on one in response to a trey from Godspower Ogide, who had airballed an attempt on the possesion prior.

- Mosley finished with eight points and was the best big man in the game, including a nice pump fake and finish in the post.

- Kings' forward Alvin English made the mistake of clappping at Aaron White while guarding him, a gesture that indicates a challenge.  White broke him down with some quick, sick  dribbling and shifting, and created several feet of space.  He didn't even use the space to drive - he simply resumed running the offense.  No one should ever clap at White...that's just asking for it!

- It was good to see the Blue Crew, the Crusader student section, out in full force for a nonleague game on a Tuesday.  They kept me entertained all evening with some very clever and humerous razzing.  

- Kings' guard Antwoine Anderson made some spectacular buckets on his way to scoring 20 points, and earned the respect of the Blue Crew along the way.

- Bryant was held to just 10 points.

- Notable Canisius alumni and college football players John Urschel (Penn State) and James Gaines (Miami) were in attendance and received an ovation from the home crowd.

 

-centercourt

 

Jack Silvernail Tournament

Tonight, the Jack Silvernail Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament tips-off at Akron High School.  The annual tournament has raised thousands of dollars in honor of the Tigers' former coach who lost his battle with cancer.  The same four teams return to the field again this year, a lineup which is sure to produce four competitive games.  Last season, St. Mary's won the championship round with a 57-42 win against Hutch-Tech.

 

Tuesday, December 18th @ Akron HS

St. Mary's vs. Alden - 6 pm

Akron vs. Hutch-Tech - 7:30 pm

 

Wednesday, December 19th @ Akron HS

Consolation Game - 6 pm

Championship Game - 7:30 pm

 

-centercourt

2013 Poll Ballots - Week 2

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) - League play in the NFL began last week, and so did the 40+ point wins for NFHS.  Good thing they aren't allowed to go independent - who wants more good games?

2. Canisius (MMA) - Bounced back nicely from the opening loss to Olean by winning the Tom Keenan Memorial Tournament, defeating Fordam Prep and Nazereth.  They get a chance to move up on this ballot tomorrow night, depending on their showing against Bishop Kearney of Section V.

3. Jamestown (AA) - Picked up a nice win against St. Joe's last week.  The Red Raiders have enough balance that Tommy Campion will get a lot of good looks this season, bad news for all oponents.

4. St. Joe's (MMA) - Survived the waves of McKinley pressure on Friday night and came away with an exciting victory in front of a packed gym at Mack High, thanks to the last second heroics of Mark Cerza.

5. McKinley (A1) - Fall behind the Marauders after falling to them at home. Still heavy favorites in both Class A and the Yale Cup.  League play begins tomorrow for the Macks, as they visit South Park to play the Sparks who are off to a 5-0 start. 

6. Williamsville North (AA) - Topped Riverside at home, then went into Clarence and scored a 23-point victory over the Red Devils.  After a 3-0 start, I can't help but start looking ahead to that first game against Jamestown - a roadie in early January.

7. Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - The Tigers have begun the year 2-4, but only two of those games were played against WNY teams - a loss to McKinley and a win over the number eight team right behind them.

8. Kenmore West (AA) - Between the OT loss to St. Joe's and what they showed against the Tigers, it's tough to make a case for another team at this spot. 

9. Clarence (AA) - As the season wears on, we'll find out if there is really that much separation between this team and the ones at the top of ECIC I.

10 Amherst (A2) - The Tigers are 3-1, with the loss being a close one to Clarence.  Face Maryvale and East Aurora in league play this week, before entering a competitive tournament at Willaimsville South over the break.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - The Huskies played one of the greatest halves of high school basketball that I've ever witnessed in their win over Canisius.  As if they didn't already have enough expectations coming into the season, a win over the defending Manhattan Cup champs will have people talking Federation Championship.

2. Middle College (C1) - If you've read anything I've written recently on Silver Creek, then you know I must think a lot of the Kats to have them a spot ahead of the Black Knights. Despite a vastly depleted lineup on Wednesday, they still finished off CSAT.

3. Silver Creek (C2) - If I say too much more about this team, people will start calling this The View From Silver Creek.  Big game on Thurday night when unbeaten Portville visits.

4. Lackawanna (B1) - The Steelers are already 5-0, including a victory against Frontier.  They face a great nonleague test this Thursday at Batavia.

5. Nichols (MMA) - They competed with Sweet Home, but a player ejection, coupled with a pair of players in street clothes, was too much for the Vikings down the stretch.

6. Newfane (B1) - I'm still not even sure this is the best team in the N-O, but until league play sorts all that out, the Panthers deserve this spot ahead of their contemporaries.

7. St. Mary's (MMA) - A win against City Honors over the break would earn them a tournament championship matchup against a cross-town rival...either Depew or Lancaster.

8. Depew (B1) - The Wildcats will need a win when they host East Aurora tomorrow night, to hold on to this spot.  Host rival Lancaster in tournament over the break and are hoping for a second round date with St. Mary's.

9. Cleveland Hill (B2) - Only loss was to Nichols.  After earning a pair of wins over AA schools Lancaster and North Tonawanda, the Golden Eagles soared out to a 34-13 halftime advantage in a win over Alden.

10. Maryvale (B1) - Was impressed with the Flyers when I watched them defeat Lancaster.  Another team who's only loss is to Nichols, they just earned a convincing win against East Aurora, which was enough to get my vote.

 

-centercourt

Chill Showtime in Silver Creek

Thursday was a light night for HS basketball in WNY, so I made my way out to Silver Creek to get another look at the Black Knights, who opened in the number two spot of the first Buffalo News small school poll.  Silver Creek defeated visiting Frewsburg, 88-49, in its first league game in CCAA II, and improved to a 4-0 start for a second straight season.  Once again, this group did not disappoint, treating me to a fine-tuned display of transition basketball and 3-point shooting.  

 

Silver Creek took the opening tip, thanks to 6-7 sophomore Bill Brooks, and then immediately looked inside to him for the game's opening bucket.  Before Frewsburg could even attempt its second field goal at the 5:13 mark, the Black Knights were in front 11-0, thanks to 3-pointers from junior Kaine Kettle, sophomore Brennan White, and senior Stephen Marcey.  A minute later, a traditional three-point play from Marcey pushed the Silver Creek lead to 16-2.  With 1:33 remaining in the opening quarter, the Black Knights held a 25-6 advantage and had gotten scoring from all five starters, with four of them registering at least five points.

 

Less than three minutes into the second frame, Silver Creek was on top, 43-19, after three more 3-pointers from Kettle, Marcey, and Zed Williams (who also added a three-point play to the scoring spurt).  After enduring a 10-1 run from Frewsburg with a pair of starters on the bench, the only substitutions of the half for the Black Knights, Silver Creek scored the final six points of the half to hold a 50-29 lead at the break.

 

The Silver Creek starters played sparingly in the third quarter after the score moved to 60-31 two minutes into the second half.  Before the six minute mark of the fourth quarter with the score 77-40, the starting five was done for the evening.  

 

One thing that strikes me about this team is its demeanor.  They play a highly entertaining brand of ball with such flare, but they do it in a very even-keeled way.  A lot of what they do seems so effortless, so calm, so chill.  I actually wrote in my notebook "Chill Showtime", because while watching a 13-0 run in the second quarter last night, that's the best way I could think to describe what I was watching.  Maybe some of that mentality comes from head coach Rob Genco, who is very dialed in to his team, but is also very laid back in the way he delivers his words to the team.  The most emotion showed from the Silver Creek bench came late in the game when a reserve canned a deep two, after attempting to step back for three.  

 

Four starters finished in double figures for the Black Knights.  Kettle had a game-high 30 points, Marcey scored 16, Brooks added 15 points, and Williams chipped in 10.  Williams, a fourth team All-Centercourt selection last season, played under 20 minutes and barely asserted himself in the game, seeming very content to defer to his teammates.

 

Alex Elderkin led Frewsburg with 20 points, with 13 coming in the fourth quarter.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

Random Smatterings I

McKinley used a 34-2 third quarter to extend its lead to 85-15, during a 105-22 nonleague demolition of Dunkirk.  Karma is a Mack!

 

Midway through the fourth quarter of Newfane's 78-43 win against Grand Island, the Panthers' student section, known as the Blue Zone, chanted "We're not Wilson".  The Lakemen had lost to Grand Island four days earlier, 54-17.

 

With Section V's Bishop Kearney the favorite to represent Rochester in Class AA, Niagara Falls coach Sal Constantino scheduled two regular season nonleague games with the Kings.  When people would ask me why, I said maybe Sal subscribed to the theory "it's tough to beat a team three times in a season", so he was trying to give Falls an edge at the Far West Regionals.  Then they won in the first meeting.

 

I've only seen Constantino wear a tie twice and it's been good luck both times.  Once was a three-point win against Aquinas in the 2010 Classic and the other was this year's 2012 Classic win against Kearney.  In each game, the dress shirt became completely untucked by early in the third quarter.

 

While tyring to convince the ref that his player's pass had been tipped before it went out of bounds, Batavia coach Buddy Brasky said "Come on, he's not that bad that he'd just throw the ball out the door".

 

While watching the Crusaders dig themselves a huge hole in the first half of their loss to Olean, I thought, "They're playing with no Hart".  It was an illustration to me of just how important Matt Hart was to that team last year.  Canisius will be fine, but they'll have to find a way to compensate for his leadership.   Speaking of Hart, he scored a _{career-high 27 points} in leading Hamilton College to a win earlier this month.  He leads his team in scoring, minutes played, and steals.

 

Bishop Timon/St. Jude's win against Kenmore West on Monday was the schools first victory over a ranked WNY large school since the 2010 season.  

 

Next season, Jamestown versus Olean in a nonleague game. Please.

 

New St. Mary's AD Joe Rera didn't miss a beat in carrying on the AdPro ECIC/MMA Challenge.  Another outstanding three-day, 10-game event.

 

During Jamestown's win over Williamsville South, I asked Keith McShea about the Red Raiders' Quinn Lee Yaw.  I wanted to know if Lee was part of the first or last name.  McShea replied, "Yaw don't know his name?"

 

Jared Keppel of North Collins scored 32 points  & grabbed 12 rebounds in a win against Gowanda on Wednesday.

 

My first poll ballot of the season for the large schools was identical to how the actual poll turned out.  Clearly a smart group of pollsters has been assembled for this season.

 

When Depew and Niagara Catholic played at the Cataract City Classic, both teams wore away jerseys.

 

East has stumbled out of the gates as usual, beginning 1-2, including a 10-point loss to Maple Grove.  It likely doesn't get better when they host Riverside this Friday.  Look for the Panthers to win Class B2 and face Olean in the overall Class B final.

 

At the Cataract City Classic, the game announcer would say something like, "at the end of the 3rd quarter, it's Willaimsville North 39, Batavia 23...you do the math".

 

Middle College junior Bri'an Brown set the early season scoring bar at 38 points, which he scored in a nonleague victory over CSAT Wednesday night.

 

Coaches:  Please teach your players some subbing etiquette.  Don't tap the media table and then stand in front of it so no one can see.  Go to the middle, where the scoreboard operator is, and SIT (just like they do in college & NBA).  He will sound the buzzer at the next whistle and then wait for the officials to wave you in.  That's how it works.  Amazing how many kids have no idea what the rationale is behind checking in at the scorer's table is.

 

-centercourt    

@centercourt42

Huskies stake their claim as WNY's Alpha Males

The best high school basketball doubleheader that WNY will see this December, took place last night on Day Two of the AdPro ECIC/Monsignor Martin Challenge at St. Mary's High School in Lancaster.  It ended up being a huge night for the Southern Tier, as its top two schools, Olean and Jamestown, registered big wins over the duo of top catholic schools in Buffalo, Canisius and St. Joe's.

 

Below is a sequential recap of the Olean's win versus Canisius, followed by a brief summary of Jamestown's victory over St. Joe's.

 

 

End of 1st Quarter:  Olean 22, Canisius 5

Olean's Sam Eckstrom and Canisius' Adam Weir traded baskets immediately, and it looked like an intense, wild affair was about to unfold.  Instead, the Huskies jumped into a 16-1 run and held the Crusaders without another field goal until freshman reserve, Howard Washington, scored with 1:28 remaining in the quarter.  The immediate impressions after the first eight minutes were that Eckstrom had greatly improved upon his already superior post moves and that the Huskies' ball movement in transition showed a chemistry that only comes with years of playing together.  Also, Wil Bathurst showed off his all-around game by swatting away shots, securing rebounds, and moving seamlessly in transition for the Huskies. Eckstrom scored nine points in the quarter.

 

End of 2nd Quarter:  Olean 47, Canisius 21

Pat Scholla and Nick Scmidt each sank 3-pointers within the the first 30 seconds of the quarter and the momentum stayed on Olean's side.  The Huskies outscored Canisius 14-5 in the first three minutes of the quarter to extend to its largest lead of the game, 36-10.  After Eckstrom answered a trey from Weir with a traditional three-point play, Canisius finally slowed Olean and scored five straight (all free throws), while keeping the Huskies off the scoreboard for nearly three minutes.  With a 39-18 score, Olean closed out the half with an 8-3 run and ran off to the locker room before an astounded crowd.  The Huskies were a perfect 9/9 from the charity stripe in the first half.  Five different players scored for them in the second quarter.  The Crusaders got nine points on three 3's from Weir in the quarter.

 

End of the 3rd:  Olean 60, Canisius 47

Less than three minutes into the half, it was obvious Canisius was going to get itself back into the game.  Playing with a sense of urgency, the Crusaders outscored the Huskies 13-2 during a three-minute run that included three-point plays from Weir and Aaron White.  After having its lead trimmed to 15 points at 49-34, Olean got a '3' from Schmidt and went back-and-forth with Canisius for the remainder of the quarter.  Weir was a monster in the third, scoring 16 of his game-high 34 points.

 

Final Score:  Olean 76, Canisius 73

Beginning at the 5:10 mark and trailing 68-56, White scored six straight to spark an 11-0 Crusader run that saw Canisius pull within a point, 68-67, after a trey from Matt MacDonald.  Baskets from Bathurst and Eckstrom extended the Huskies' lead back to five with one minute left on the clock. A score from Weir with 49 seconds left was answered by a free throw each from Bathurst and Evan Ryan of Olean, making it 74-69.  

Washington hit from downtown with 19 seconds remaining to make it 74-72.  Olean then missed a pair of charity tosses with 12 seconds left, and Canisius had possesion and a chance to tie.  Instead, Weir shot a 3-pointer with six seconds still on the clock.  The attempt missed and was rebounded by Scmidt, who was fouled with 4.9 seconds left.  Scmidt, who shoots the technicals for the Huskies, uncharacteristically missed both. Weir secured the second miss and attempted to race up the court.  In a momentary lapse in judgement, Scmidt reached to poke the ball away from Weir, and was whistled for a foul.  Now, with 2.1 seconds on the clock and a 74-72 score, Weir would shoot two free throws.  Schmidt placed both hands on top of his head and looked like me was going to be ill.  Weir swished the first. The second rimmed out into Scmidt's hands, who was fouled and sank both shots with 0.8 seconds.  Ball game.

 

Bathurst finished with 25 points, Eckstrom scored 21 points, and Scmidt added 16 points.  Point guard Luke Hennessy spent most of the third quarter on the bench in foul trouble and fouled out midway through the fourth quarter.  All four players are juniors.

 

Jamestown 64, St. Joe's 54

The Red Raiders trailed 38-35 late in the third quarter, but closed on an 11-0 run that included eight points from Tommy Campion in the last two minutes, to put them in front 46-38.  The Marauders got back within two points in the fourth quarter, but Campion was again masterful, scoring 10 more points in under three minutes to lead an 11-2 run to put the game away.  Campion finished with a game-high 31 points, with 21 coming in the second half.

 

-centercourt

Sweet Home & Timon collect wins

Sweet Home 63, Nichols 52

Sweet Home fell behind to the upstart Vikings, 13-4 midway through first quarter, but a 15-0 run gave the Panthers control as the team's headed to intermission.  In the third quarter, the Panthers led by as many as eight points, but saw that lead evaporate behind a strong quarter from sophomore Cam Lewis, who scored eight of his game-high 15 points in the third to help pull Nichols even after three, 43-43.  Sweet Home found itself trailing again in the final stanza, 49-45, when a 3-pointer from Mike Torrillo spurred a 9-0 run to put the Panthers on top for good.  

 

Khalid Barnes led Sweet Home with 13 points.  The Panthers are now 2-0 and begin ECIC II play this Friday when they visit Iroquois.

 

Timon/St. Jude 65, Kenmore West 59

Tigers head coach Joe Mihalic registered the first win of his young coaching career and Timon collected its first win against a ranked WNY large school since the 2010 season.  Timon was the first MMA school to win in the four Challenge games played thus far.

 

The Blue Devils raced out to a 16-6 advantage after the first eight minutes and continued to lead the entire second quarter.  However, as time expired in the first half, the Tigers' Bryant Fulton connected on a three-quarter court heave to give his team some momentum and pull them within three points at the break, 26-23.  Early in the third quarter, Timon took its first lead of the game and outscored the Blue Devils, 22-14 in the frame.  

 

Fulton led the Tigers with 15 points, while Manny Welch scored 14 points.  Shay Cuadra finished with 15 points for Kenmore West and Quinton Campbell added 13 points.

 

-centercourt

2013 Poll Ballots - Week 1

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) - The Wolverines deserve this spot, this week, for slugging out an overtime victory against Section V Class AA favorite Bishop Kearney.  

2. Canisius (MMA) - A season, with expectations as high as they've ever been, starts for the Crusaders tomorrow against Olean at St. Mary's.  

3. Jamestown (AA) - In the second half against Williamsville South, the Red Raiders looked like I thought they would this season - much improved thanks to the growth of some key underclassmen. 

4. McKinley (A1) - Business as usual in the opener against Timon.  The Macks relentless style wears teams down, while the talented, fresh legs just keep coming. Host St. Joe's this Friday night.

5. St. Joe's (MMA) - Followed up a wild double overtime victory against Kenmore West with a pair of routs in the Lockport Rotary Tournament against Williamsville East and I-Prep.  Next up, a date with Jamestown tomorrow night at St. Mary's - part of an incredible double-header, as Canisius/Olean follows!

6. Williamsville North (AA) - Sterling Taplin was easily the best player on the floor as the Spartans rolled to victory against Batavia, but it was their team execution that was most impressive.  If they continue to play that well together, a Falls/Jamestown AA finale is no sure thing.

7. Kenmore West (AA) - After taking the Marauders to the brink of defeat last week, the Blue Devils can prove they deserve this spot tonight with a win over a talented Timon squad that has begun 0-3.

8. Clarence (AA) - A balanced team with a strong backcourt led by Bryan Jost and Bobby Florio that opened the year with an attention-grabbing Amherst Tournament championship.

9. Amherst (A2) - After falling to the Red Devils in their tournament, the Tigers were lucky to escape with a win over Depew.  But they do deserve credit for responding in overtime with their backs against the wall and this team should only get better as the year wears on.

10. Riverside (A2) - Difficult to gauge where they really are because they haven't played at full strength yet. Justice Feggans is now cleared to play, the biggest difference maker in that lineup.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - They still only start one senior.  Raced out to a 47-8 halftime lead against Bradford (PA) in their season opener.  

2. Middle College (C1) - Seeking a third trip to Glens Falls in four seasons, they won't face a Class C school until sectionals.  

3. Silver Creek (C2) - If you think this is too high for this team, you're wrong and probably haven't seen them play yet.  They are better than last year's team, the one that saw a win against Middle College and a trip to Glens Falls get away when a shot in the lane missed at the buzzer.

4. Depew (B1) - Every year, new players get plugged in and the system continues to work.  The Wildcats saw their stock rise in a loss to Amherst.

5. East Aurora (B1) - They lost Stan Wier, but return enough from the team that finished with wins against Riverside, Amherst, and McKinley, to be a force again this year after dropping down to Class B.

6. Lackawanna (B1) - Season opening victories against St. Francis and Frontier is as impressive a start as any small school had.

7. Nichols (MMA) - Well look who's off to a 4-0 start despite a pair of early injuries. The Vikings are gaining confidence and optimism, something that will continue if they are able to better Sweet Home tonight at St. Mary's.

8. Newfane (B1) - Who's going to win the N-O?  CSAT? Akron?  Too early to say for sure, but while CSAT fell to Niagara Catholic already, the Panthers started off their season by beating the Manhattan Cup finalists.

9. St. Mary's (MMA) - Loss to Newfane puts them here, after garnering a pair of wins over Yale Cup I schools, East & Riverside.  Wednesday night, they host Williamsville South in the ECIC/MMA Challenge finale. 

10. Cleveland Hill (B2) - Giving them this final spot because they led Nichols for over three quarters before falling at the end, despite Jared Watkins not playing, and then defeated Lancaster two nights later.  Alden was closely considered, but the Golden Eagles got the nod for being defending ECIC IV co-champs.

 

-centercourt

2012 Cataract City Classic - Day Two

Brunswick 57, Niagara Falls 45

After making big plays down the stretch one night earlier in it's win over Bishop Kearney, Niagara Falls ran out of gas after a close three quarters, and fell to the visiting Blue Devils of Ohio.  The Wolverines were outscored 20-6 in the final quarter, after being tied at half and trailing by two after three quarters.  Jermaine Crumpton led Falls with 13 points, while JJ Wilkes added 10 points.

 

Jamestown 68, Williamsville South 46

The Red Raiders took the first half to shake off the rust, then used a 25-8 third quarter to blow what was a three-point game at half, wide open.  The lone senior on the Jamestown roster, Tommy Campion, led the way with 19 points.  Sophomores Zack Panebianco and Brandon Kellam each netted 12 points during the second half surge, finishing with 14 & 13 points respectively.

 

Depew 49, Niagara Catholic 40

The Wildcats maintained their composure in a scrappy game and pulled away from the pesky Patriots in the fourth quarter, aided by solid free throw shooting.  Derrick Sekuterski led Depew with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

 

Geneva 53, Bishop Timon/St. Jude 50

The Tigers dug themselves an early hole and could never quite get back out.  Timon trailed 22-6 after the first quarter, before surging back with a 20-8 second frame.  The rest of the game was very back-and-forth, but the Tigers were unable to steal a lead.  Donte Williams scored 22 points to lead Timon.

 

Newfane 61, St. Mary's 56 - OT

The Panthers came out of a timeout trailing by three points with nine seconds remaining and executed a play perfectly to force the extra session.  Connor Sears took the ball on the wing, penetrated briefly, and then kicked to the top of the key to Reid Weber, who buried a 3-pointer as the buzzer rang.  Once in overtime, Newfane quickly gained a five-point lead and then connected from the line to secure the win.  Connor Sears scored 24 points, ripped 11 boards, and collected eight steals for the Panthers.  Paul Rath netted 18 points and Tyler English scored 17 for St. Mary's.

 

Grand Island 54, Wilson 17

Jordan Jelks led the Vikings with 22 points and Jadon Wegrzyn chipped in 12 points, as Grand Island limited the Lakemen to just four points in the first half.

 

-centercourt

Falls slays Goliath

Last season, Bishop Kearney was led by a pair of future Division I towers in 6-10 junior Chinonso Obokoh and 6-8 freshman Thomas Bryant.  After losing in the NYSPHAA Class A semifinals and only graduating one starter, the Kings moved up to the state's largest classification, Class AA.  They also added another 6-10 D-I prospect, 6-10 transfer Gods Power Ogide, prompting a hype machine that included them in a preseason fab 5 Max Preps article.

 

On Friday night, the Kings embarked on the first game of a grueling regular season schedule.  Despite all the preseason buzz, the Kings quickly found out that teams would be gunning for them, including the one that's for now considered the favorite to keep them making it out of the Far West Region.

 

Junior Vinzell Watkins drained both ends of a one-and-one free throw situation with just 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, where defending Section VI Class AA champ Niagara Falls would go on to defeat Bishop Kearney, 52-47.  Canisius College signee, senior Jermaine Crumpton, scored a game-high 18 points to lead the way for the Wolverines.  Ramir Burton added 16 points (13 in the 4th & OT), while Watkins scored 13 points.

 

Obokoh scored 12 points, Ogide netted eight points and Bryant finished with seven points in the loss.

 

While I think the Kings did little to exploit their distinct size advantage, I feel it's better explained as what Falls did to earn the win:

- Blistering man-to-man defense all evening that contested every shot

- A willingness to hit the floor for every loose ball

- Ramir Burton picked up a pair of early charges, limiting how agressively he could defend

- Because of the size discrepancy, Falls was forced to shoot from the perimeter, and knocked down  shot after shot

- They did an outstanding job of limiting the Kings' second chance opportunities

- NFHS brought the energy for 36 minutes and dictated the tempo because of it

 

Not exactly breaking news, but Crumpton is really good and provided a little bit of everything in leading Falls to the win.  I highly doubt anyone in attendance last night would argue that he has earned his signing with the Canisius Golden Griffs.

 

Last night was what it's all about.  It was a game that'll be permantly burned into my memory for the combination of atmosphere, talent, and intensity that filled the Wolv-Arena.  Year after year, some of the best nights of basketball each season unfold in the headliner games of the Cataract City Classic.

 

-centercourt

 

Follow @centercourt42

It's official!  I've decided to stop living in the pre-shot clock era...sort of.

 

Due to the repeated advisement of those in the know, I will now be tweeting.  The handle to follow, as it says in the title of this post, is @centercourt42. 

 

I literally received my first ever twitter tutorial last night while watching the Pastor-Cooper Showcase games at Daemen College.  We'll see how it goes - like my first ever tweet admits, I still don't even own a cell phone, so it'll be all laptop-based tweets.  But hey, I collected three followers (including Keith McShea, or God as another of my followers calls him) before I even tweeted once.

 

***

 

A BIG night at Niagara Falls High School tonight, as the team with the tallest prep front court in NYS, the Bishop Kearney Kings, visit to do battle with the host Wolverines in the night cap of the Cataract City Classic.  The event begins tonight at 5 pm, with Sweet Home facing Niagara Wheatfield, followed by Williamsville North taking on Batavia.  Six more games on tap for tomorrow, including a visit from Jamestown (vs. Williamsville South) and a Falls finale against Brunswick, Ohio.  Click here for a complete 2012 Cataract Classic schedule.

 

-centercourt

Dunkirk impresses; Silver Creek wows

On Monday night, Silver Creek opened its season with a 90-70 nonleague victory over Dunkirk.  Steve Marcey led the Black Knights with a game-high 31 points, that included seven 3-pointers.  Zed Williams added 28 points for Silver Creek and was a dominant on both ends of the court, in every phase of the game.  Williams spent the evening creating turnovers by deflecting passes and collecting steals, dished several assists in transition, and tipped countless rebounds to himself, before launching a quick outlet pass to spur the Black Knights' fast break.

 

The game was tied at 14 apiece with under three minutes left in the first quarter, when Silver Creek rattled off an 18-0 run in just over two minutes, led by junior Kaine Kettle's 10 points that included a pair of treys.  They led 32-16 after one quarter and Dunkirk never got any closer than 14 points the rest of the way.  Between the tenacious full-court press, deadly long-range shooting, and defensive rebounds quickly finding their way into the hands a player leaking out on the break, the Black Knights could have easily lit the scoreboard up for 120 points.  They play an entertaining brand of basketball that comes from talented players working together and starts on the defensive end.  The other teams in CCAA II and Class C2 face a tall order in subplanting them as champs.

 

Silver Creek, which won the Class C2 championship last March, before falling to eventual state runner-up Middle College by a point in the overall Class C section final, returns three starters from a year ago: Kettle, along with Marcey and Williams, both seniors.  Joining the starting lineup this season are a pair of sophomores, Brennan White and 6-7 Bill Brooks.  Brooks was a major presence in the lane all evening blocking and altering shots, while White displayed a high level of comfort for a sophomore as he moved the ball well in transition and even delivered a behind-the-back pass to set up a 3-pointer from Kettle.

 

 In the loss, junior Manny Maisonet scored 14 points for Dunkirk, while Marquel Ruiz added 13 points.  Despite the 20-point loss, the Marauders flashed a ton of potential and should be highly competitive with every team in their league not named Olean.  They are a team that can put up a lot of points quickly and play in front of a great home crowd.

 

During the previous two seasons, Dunkirk basketball won 34 of its 36 regular season games, and only one of those wins was by single-digits.  While the Marauders were undoubtedly very talented, the lack of competition they faced may have contributed to their undoing in the postseason.  In 2011, unbeaten Dunkirk lost its first real test in the Class B1 semifinals to Lackawanna and last season, fell in the quarterfinals to Depew.

 

This year, with a less talented team, Dunkirk head coach Jerome Moss has amped up the nonleague schedule to include a pair of games with defending Class C2 champion Silver Creek, a trip to Class AA semifinalist Frontier, and a grueling roadie to endure 32-minutes of hell at defending Class A1 champ McKinley.  

 

I have now seen Dunkirk five times since February 2011, and its clear that Moss has this program in the right direction.  The Marauders play a fast, intense style of basketball, and create scoring opportunities through pressure defense and quick ball movement.  Now that they've added some top competition to the mix, Dunkirk basketball in the WNY hoops scene should continue to ascend.  

 

-centercourt

Preview: 2012-2013 Season

The Pastor-Cooper Showcase tips tonight, so it's official...high school hoops season is here!

 

Below in this year's version of the Pre-View From Centercourt, you will find:

 

- What's New

- Coaching Changes

- Classification Changes

- Top Nonleague Games

- Returning 2012 All-Centercourt Players

- Player Watch List for 2012-2013

- A League-by-League look at top returning players & newcomers

- Predictions 

- Preseason Top 10 

 

What's New

- Middle Early College dropped the OTC, so in place of OTC/MEC, I'm going old school and calling them Middle College again

- Sweet Home moved from ECIC I to ECIC II

- Lake Shore moved from ECIC II to ECIC III

- Ellicottville moved down to CCAA IV, while Panama bumped up to CCAA III

- Sectional seeding points will be updated more regularly this year - details when they're available 

- There is now a Yale Cup I, II, & III, and Middle College will play up in League I with the big boys, despite its BEDS numbers

- Depew head coach Larry Jones has replaced former Lew-Port head coach Jim Walker as the Section VI Boy's Basketball Chairman

- The Canisius/St. Joe's rivalry games will both be played at the Canisius College Koessler Center this season

- In Section V, Bishop Kearney (who added another tower to its roster) moved up to Class AA and Batavia moved down to Class B1

- Williamsville South and Allegany-Limestone will finally play each other this year...twice

- Two new charter schools will compete in Section VI - Global Concepts & Health Sciences 

- Dunkirk has seriously stepped up its nonleague schedule: Home & home with Silver Creek (C2 champ),  at McKinley (A1 champ), and at Frontier (AA semifinalist).  

 

New Coaches

Gabe Michael, Williamsville South

Ben Scaffidi, Starpoint

Paul Rath, St. Mary's

John Reinholz, Nichols

David Nieves, Hutch-Tech

Matt Bradshaw, Lew-Port

Darren Kresge, Tapestry Charter

Dave Carson, Barker

Joe Mihalics, Bishop Timon/St. Jude

Brian Ferris, St. Francis

Ron Krysztof, Grand Island

Tim Anderson, Falconer

 

Classification Changes

North Tonawanda moves down from Class AA to Class A1

 West Seneca East moves down from Class A1 to Class A2

Starpoint moves down from Class A1 to Class A2

Lake Shore moves down from Class A1 to Class A2

Bennett moves down from Class A2 to Class B1

East Aurora moves down from Class A2 to Class B1

Maryvale moves down from Class A2 to Class B1

Albion moves down from Class A2 to Class B1

Lafayette moves down from Class A2 to Class B1

East moves down from Class B1 to Class B2

Medina moves down from Class B1 to Class B2

Buffalo Arts moves down from Class B1 to Class B2

Allegany-Limestone moves down from Class B2 to Class C1

DaVinci moves up from Class C2 to Class C1

Randolph moves up from Class C2 to Class C1

Olmsted moves up from Class D to Class C2

 

Top Nonleague Games 

12/5 - Williamsville East vs. Middle College @ Daemen College

12/6 - East vs. St. Mary's @ Daemen College

12/6 - Timon vs. McKinley @ Daemen College

12/7 - Bishop Kearney @ Niagara Falls

12/8 - Jamestown vs. Williamsville South @ NFHS

12/8 - Brunswick (OH) @ Niagara Falls

12/8 - East @ Olean (projected in round two of tournament)

12/11 - Jamestown vs. St. Joe's @ St. Mary's

12/11 - Canisius vs. Olean @ St. Mary's

12/12 - Williamsville South @ St. Mary's

12/12 - CSAT @ Middle College

12/14 - St. Joe's @ McKinley

12/18 - Bishop Kearney @ Canisius

12/20 - Middle College @ St. Joe's

12/22 - Timon @ Jamestown (projected in round two of tournament)

1/17 - Bishop Kearney @ St. Joe's

1/18 - Timon @ Bishop Kearney

1/19 - St. Joe's @ Aquinas

1/19 - Canisius vs. McKinley @ City Honors

1/19 - East vs. East Aurora @ City Honors

2/2 - Niagara Falls @ Bishop Kearney

2/4 - Oracle Charter @ Olmsted

2/6 - Timon @ Bishop Kearney

2/7 - Canisius @ Cathedral Prep

2/9 - Nichols @ Aquinas

2/12 - St. Joe's @ Frontier

2/12 - Aquinas @ Timon

2/13 - Olmsted @ Tapestry Charter

2/14 - Sweet Home @ St. Joe's

2/14 - Williamsville North @ Williamsville East

2/14 - Dunkirk @ Silver Creek

2/18 - Cleveland Hill @ St. Mary's

 

 

The Players

Nine of the top 25 players from the 2012 All-Centercourt teams return to the WNY high school hoops scene, along with another 13 players that received Honorable Mentions following last season.  In addition, many others are primed to have breakout seasons, while the influx of talented underclassmen continues to surface at multiple schools throughout WNY.

 

Returning 2012 1st Teamers

Adam Weir - Sr., Canisius:  18 ppg, 7 reb.  Helped lead the Crusaders to a second straight Manhattan Cup championship, where he earned MVP honors, while leading team in postseason scoring.  His familiarity with success on the Koessler Center floor should serve him well when he continues his hoops career with Canisius College after high school.

Sterling Taplin - Jr., Williamsville North:  19.1 ppg, 5.7  reb, 3.6 asst, 2.7 stl.  Sank five 3-pointers and scored 13 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter of the AA semifinal in an effort that fell just short of an upset bid against eventual champion Niagara Falls.  Enters his junior season having already eclipsed 1,000 career points.

 

 Returning 2012 Second Teamer

Jermaine Crumpton - Sr., Niagara Falls:  17 ppg, 7 reb, 3 asst, 2 blk.   Helped to lead the Wolverines back to prominence as they recaptured the Class AA title, defeating Jamestown .  Played very well against top competition, including game-highs in points and rebounds when Falls faced Milton, a team that finished in the top ten nationally in 2012.  Crumpton will also continue playing hoops for Canisius College following graduation.

 

Returning 2012 Third Teamers

Tommy Campion - Sr., Jamestown:  18.6 ppg, 4.3 asst, 2.1 stls. The lone returning starter from the Class AA NYS runners-up in 2011, Campion's leadership and abilities on the court returned the Red Raiders to Class AA Section VI championship game.  He shared ECIC I Player of the Year honors with Taplin thanks to his contributions in all phases of the game for Jamestown.

Sam Eckstrom - Jr., Olean:  14.8 ppg, 9.2 reb, 2.0 blk.  Helped lead a Huskies squad loaded with expectations to the brink of a state title in just his sophomore campaign.  His footwork and positioning in the post, along with a soft touch around the rim, make him the most fundamentally sound junior big man WNY has seen since Will Regan.

Wil Bathurst - Jr., Olean:  11.8 ppg, 7.6 reb, 2.2 asst.  Complemented Eckstrom's talents wonderfully to give the Huskies a potent 1-2 punch.  Combines raw athleticism with a silky-smooth style that allows him to shoot from anywhere, get to the basket (and above) with ease, and snag every rebound within his radius that Eckstrom didn't already secure.

 

Returning 2012 Fourth Teamer

Zed Williams - Sr., Silver Creek

 

Returning 2012 Fifth Teamers

JJ Wilkes - Sr.,  Niagara Falls

Darnell Carson - Sr., CSAT

 

Returning 2012 Honorable Mentions

Johnathan Belton - Sr. (Amherst), Justice Feggans - Sr. (Riveride), Aaron White - Sr. (Canisius), Matt MacDonald - Sr. (Canisius), Quinton Campbell - Sr. (Kenmore West), Reyszon Jordan - Sr. (McKinley),  Marcus Morris - Sr. (McKinley), Lovell Smith - Sr. (McKinley), Jordan Glover - Sr. (St. Joe's), Chaquiel Nettles - Sr. (Williamsville South), Clayton Hess - Sr. (Tonawanda), Nick Scmidt - Jr. (Olean), Brendan Cox - Jr. (East Aurora)

 

Other names to watch for this season 

Jake Haight - Jr. (Barker), Steve Marcey - Sr. (Silver Creek), Jack Mulcahey - Sr. (Niagara Wheatfield), Kyle Radack - Sr. (Southwestern), Dylan Meyer - Jr. (Fredonia), Zach Blask - Sr. (Portville), John Coe - Sr. (Westfield), Louis Oliveri - Sr. (St. Joe's), Tyree Tyson - Jr. (East), Johnathan Lewis - Jr. (East), Fulton Bryant - Sr. (Timon), Bri'an Brown - Jr. (Middle College), Keir Anderson - Jr. (Middle College), Paul Rath - Sr. (St. Mary's), Brandon Kellam - So. (Jamestown), Kole Gilchrist - Sr. (Sweet Home), Jordan Parker - Sr. (Cleveland Hill), Ramir Burton - Sr. (Niagara Falls), Connor Sears - Sr. (Newfane), Lonnie Taylor - Sr. (Medina), Connor Ladd - Sr. (Akron)

 

League-by-league

 

MONSIGNOR MARTIN

Canisius

Key Returnees: Adam Weir - 12, Aaron White - 12, Matt MacDonald - 12, Jamel Mosley - 12, Jake Cercone - 12, Ryan Raccuia - 12

Key Newcomers: Ryan Richards - 11, Josh Huffman - 10, Patrick MacDonald - 11, Howard Washington - 9 (Transfer from City Honors)

 

St. Joe's 

Key Returnees:  Jordan Glover - 12, Jalen Morris - 12, Mark Cerza - 12, Louis Oliveri - 12, Dan Maher - 12, Dylan Hall - 12

Key Newcomers: Justin Hollins - 11, Tremaine Shelton - 11 (Transfer from Buffalo Arts), Tyler Hill - 11

 

Bishop Timon/St. Jude

Key Returnees:  Bryant Fulton - 12, Donte Williams - 11, Manny Welch - 12, 

Key Newcomers:  Derick Simpson - 10, Kyler Hairston (Transfer from Park School), Brandon Donohue, Sean Murphy

 

St. Francis

Key Returnees: Cory Cullen - 12, Brennan Macey - 12, David Kennedy - 11, Wenny Xie - 12

Key Newcomers: Treyvon Holness - 11 (Transfer from Montreal), Maurice Burse - 11 (Transfer from Lackawanna),  Devantie Campbell - 11 (Transfer from Montreal), Austin Taylor - 11, Chris Shriver - 11

 

Nichols

Key Returnees: Liam Ryan - 12, Christopher Miner - 10, Cam Lewis - 10, Adam Noonan - 12

Key Newcomer:  Tom Nuttle - 11, Jack Vance - 11

 

St. Mary's

Key Returnees:  Paul Rath - 12, Latrell Tyson - 12, Quinn Gill - 12

Key Newcomers:  Tyler English - 11, Corey Kiebzak - 11, Matt Wrobel - 11, Dione Strong - 11, Jake Concannon - 10

 

 Niagara Catholic

Key Returnee:  Jonathan Jackson - 11

 

 Cardinal O'Hara

Archbishop Walsh

 

YALE CUP I

McKinley

Key Returnees:  Marcus Morris - 12, Lovell Smith - 12, Reyjzon Jordan - 12, Deonte Bell - 12, Samuel Smith - 12, DaeQuan Warren - 12, Stephen Johnson - 12

 

East

Key Returnees:  Tyree Tyson - 11, Johnathan Lewis - 11, Damone Brown - 10, Dajuan Quarles - 12

Key Newcomer:  Percy Bryant - 10 (Transfer from St. Mary's)

 

Riverside

Key Returnees:  Justice Feggans - 12, Shawn Johnson - 12, Willie Smith - 11, Jarmel Caldwell - 11

Key Newcomers: Jevon Rosier - 11, Jovell Littlejohn - 10

 

Middle College

Key Returnees:  Bri'an Brown - 11, Keir Anderson - 12, Kevin Briggs (formerly Reese) - 11, TJ Scott - 11, Brandon Jefferson - 11, Donavin McLean - 12, Aterah Dickinson - 12

Key Newcomers:  Isaiah Jenkins - 10, Joseph Staton - 9, Khoron Ferguson - 9, Devon Singleton - 11, X-Ray Xavier Drayton - 11, Elijah Mingo - 11

 

Hutch-Tech

Key Returnees:  Tim Whitehead - 12, Roman West - 11, Jovohn Owens - 12, Amanuel Radford - 11

 

South Park 

Key Returnees:  Zachary Kaczor - 11, Tyrell Mitchell - 12, Darius White - 12

 

Bennett

 Key Returnees:  Aurelio Ayala - 12

 

YALE CUP II

I-Prep

Key Returnees:  Justice Radford - 12, Damon Boykin - 11, DaQuan Evans - 10

 

City Honors

Key Returnees: Marqell Massey - 11, James Miller - 11, Yusef Burgos - 11, Matt Cieslik - 10, Jordahn Summers - 10

 

Burgard

Key Returnees:  Daquan Walker - 12

 

MST Seneca

 Key Returnees:  JaVaughn McNab - 12, RayShawn Jones - 12

Key Newcomers:  Adrian Blackmon - 11, Ben Bolden - 11

 

YALE CUP III

Olmsted

Key returnees: Jalen Schumaker - 12, Malcolm Hendrick - 10, Ballah Burch - 11

 

Buffalo Arts

Key Returnees:  Derek Simpson - 10

 

Lafayette

Key Returnees:  Jon Colon - 12

 

Emerson

Key Returnee:  Lenny Dowell

 

 DaVinci

 

 ECIC I

 Jamestown

Key Returnees: Tommy Campion - 12, Quinn Lee Yaw - 11, Brandon Kellam - 10, Zack Panebianco - 10

 

Williamsville North

Key Returnees:  Sterling Taplin - 11, David Berkun - 12, George Attea - 10, Aman Washington - 12

 

 Clarence

Key Returnees: Bobby Florio - 12, Ryan Funk - 11, Bryan Jost - 11, Elliott Case - 11

Key Newcomers: Tanner Schmidt - 10 (Transfer from Nichols), Matt Sadowy - 10, Emaure Williams - 11

 

 Lancaster

Key Returnees:  Sean Murray - 12, Jacob Plonka - 12, Joe Jankowski - 11, Steve Musso - 12, Mac Garby - 12, Colin Stotz - 12

Key Newcomers: Tyler Lis - 10, Griffin O'Brien - 10, Eric Zimpfer - 11

 

West Seneca West

Key Returnees:  Nick Clancy - 11

 

Orchard Park

Frontier

 

ECIC II

Williamsville East

Key Returnees:  Michael Spina - 12, Cort Williams - 10, Nicholas Clough - 10, Zachary Bischel - 12

 

Williamsville South

Key Returnees:  Damian Powers - 12, Pat Stasiak - 12, Chaquiel Nettles - 12, Trent Ferguson - 12, Jack Fitzpatrick - 12, Sam Castronova - 10

 

Iroquois

Key Returnees:  Nate Wilkinson - 12, Matthew Zimmerman - 12

 

Sweet Home

Key Returnees: Kole Gilchrist - 12, Khalid Barnes - 12

 

Hamburg

Key Returnees:  Kyle Violanti - 12, Andrew Sardinia - 12, Griffin Ryan - 11, Jeremiah Bill - 11, Tony Guzzetta - 12, Matt Odre - 12

Key Newcomers:  Tim Kane - 11, Kyle Munro - 10, Joe DeGrood - 10

 

West Seneca East

Key Returnees:  Alex Pacer - 12, Austin Spindler - 12, Corey Fermo - 12, Matt Kumro - 10

Key Newcomers:  Nick Parucki - 1o, Ed Radka - 9, Dan Picciano - 9

 

Starpoint

Key Returnees:  Andrew Rankie - 12, Julian Mott - 11, Ian Emerick - 10

 

ECIC III

Amherst

Key Returnees:  Johnathan Belton - 12, Dion Lewis - 12, Alex Turecki - 12, Dorian Billups - 10

 

East Aurora

Key Returnees:  Brendan Cox - 11, Ian Allen - 12, James Ritchie - 12, Grant Haffenden - 11

Key Newcomers:  Mike Coatsworth - 10, Kevin Tierney - 11

 

Cheektowaga

Key Returnees:  Zak Ciezki - 10, Derek Clyburn - 12, Dileon Pearsall - 12

 

Depew

Key Returnees: Derek Sekuterski - 11, Jake Lamb - 11, Nate Hyman - 12

 

Maryvale

Key Returnees:  Tyler Smith - 12, Demetri McCallie - 12, Max Aikin - 12, Tyler Graham - 12

Key Newcomers:  William Lamar - 8 

 

Pioneer

Key Returnees:  Terik Lewis - 12, Connor Johnson - 12, Dylan Souder - 12, Ryan Miller - 12

Key Newcomer:  Bryce Little - 10

 

Lake Shore

Key Returnees:  Clark Brueckl - 12, Ryan Joslyn - 12, Wade Bergum - 11

Key Newcomers:  Matt Vona - 11, Colin Hart - 11

 

Springville

 

ECIC IV

Cleveland Hill

Key Returnees: Jared Watkins - 11, Jordan Parker - 12, Rayshawn Smalls - 12, Richard Sotero - 12, Andrej Krajewski - 12

Key Newcomers: Aaron Phillips - 11, Jermaine Hairston - 10

 

Lackawanna

Key Returnees: Shaquille Brooks - 12, Cam Smith - 11, Norman Sweat - 12, Deron Adams - 12

Key Newcomer: Ahmad Abdo - 12

 

Tonawanda

Key Returnees:  Clayton Hess - 12, Ben Stitch - 11

Key Newcomer:  Tristan Bolling - 10

 

Holland

Key Returnees:  Clay Lewis - 10, Curtis Blendinger - 12

 

JFK

Key Returnees:  Nick Anderson - 12

 

Alden

Key Returnees:  Corey Barczykowski - 12

 

Eden 

Key Returnees:  Brad Palmerton - 11

 

Niagara Frontier League

Niagara Falls

Key Returnees: Jermaine Crumpton - 12, JJ Wilkes - 12, Ramir Burton - 12, Stefon Caffee - 12, Tikere Ralands - 12, Vinzell Watkins - 11

Key Newcomer: Jamar Waters - 10 (Transfer from Nichols)

 

Kenmore West

Key Returnees:  Quinton Campbell - 12, Alex Price - 11, Joel Northup - 12, Shay Cuadra - 12, Adam From - 11

Key Newcomers:  Terell Ford - 9, Tyler Grandits - 11

 

Grand Island

Key Returnees: Nick Soos - 12, Ryan Ross - 11, Jordan Jelks - 12, Corey Adamshick - 12

 

North Tonawanda

Key Returnees:  

 

Niagara Wheatfield

Key Returnees:  Jack Mulcahey - 12, Anthony Cappucilli - 12, Chris Galvano - 12

 

Lockport

Kenmore East

Lew-Port

 

Niagara-Orleans

Akron

Key Returnees:  Connor Ladd - 12, Austin Mietz - 12, Noah Diebel - 11, Gowah Abrams - 12, Steve Poodry - 12

Key Newcomers:  Sturgis Sundown - 12, Austen Lauricella - 11

 

Newfane

Key Returnees:  Connor Sears - 12, Bryan Geise - 12, Reid Weber - 12, Alex Intihar - 12, Jake O'Keefe - 12, Brian "Rat" Ratajczak - 12

Key Newcomers:  Jimmer Branca - 12, Ryan Doyle - 12, Sean Costello - 11, Josh Kneeland - 11

 

CSAT

Key Returnees: Darnell Carson - 12, Dylanta Carson - 10

Key Newcomers:  Alex Santos - 11, Quinton Lamar - 9, Bryan Locke - 10

 

Medina

Key Returnees:  Lonnie Taylor - 12, Dan "Mungie" Brown - 12, Jason Hellwig - 10

 

Barker

Key Returnees:  Jake Haight - 11, Mitchell Luckman - 11, Bryce Moeller - 11, Chris Sweeney - 10, Brett Cole - 12, Hayden Gooding - 11

Key Newcomer:  Jared Worthington - 11

 

Roy-Hart

Key Returnees: Brad Bobbitt - 12, Blake Copella - 12, Ryan Farewell - 12, Marc Roman - 11, Alex Stoddard - 11

Key Newcomers:  Andy Xapsos - 9, Austin Heschke - 11, DeRon Woods - 11, Sam White - 10

 

Wilson

Key Returnee:  Matt Baker

 

Albion

 

CCAA I

Olean

Key Returnees: Sam Eckstrom - 11, Wil Bathurst - 11, Nick Schmidt  - 11, Luke Hennessey - 11, Max Portlow - 12, Pat Scholla - 12, Evan Ryan - 12

Key Newcomers: Dante Tarr - 11, Chris Gayton - 11

 

Fredonia

Key Returnees: Dylan Meyer - 11, Nick Johnston - 11, John Piper - 10

 

Southwestern

Key Returnees:  Kyle Radack - 12, Alek Peck - 12, Peter Trathen - 12, Nick Baglia - 12, Jacob Pilling - 12, Kyle Moran - 11, Andrew Greenlee - 12

Top Newcomers: Riley Ribicki - 11, Nathan Schrope - 11

 

Falconer

Key Returnees:  Brandon DePietro - 11, Nick Conti - 11

 

Dunkirk

Key Returnees:  Marquel Ruiz - 12, Jacob Lockett - 12, Drew Messina - 12

Key Newcomer:  Emanuel (Manny) Masonet - 11

 

Allegany-Limestone

Key Returnees:  Dom Saglimben - 11, Ryan Vossler - 11, Caswell Stanton - 12

Key Newcomers:  Dom Conroy - 10, Trevin Barber - 12

 

Gowanda

 Key Returnees:  Chase Williams - 11, Brennan Geiger - 11, Zach Stevens - 11

Key Newcomer: Jordan Young - 10

 

 CCAA II

Silver Creek 

Key Returnees:  Zed Williams - 12, Kaine Kettle - 11, Steve Marcey - 12

Key Newcomers:  Bill Brooks - 10, Brennan White - 10

 

Portville

Key Returnees:  Zach Blask - 12, Josh Watson - 12

 

Randolph

Key Returnees:  Bryce Morrison - 10

 

Salamanca

Key Returnees:  Tanner John - 12

Key Newcomer: Damion Taylor - 11

 

Frewsburg

Key Returnees:  Alex Elderkin - 12

 

Cassadaga Valley

Key Returnees:  Randy Dabala - 12

 Cattaraugus Little Valley

 

CCAA III

Maple Grove

 Key Returnees:  Jeff Tampe - 12, Will Soffel - 12, Aaron Germain - 12, Austin Goerke - 12, Oliver Simpson - 12

 

Westfield

Key Returnees:  John Coe - 12

 

Panama

Key Returnees:  Alec Blose - 12, Dan Odell - 11, Brandon Lewis - 12

 

Chautauqua Lake

Key Returnees:  Ian Clute - 11, Cody Thomas - 12, Jeremiah Russin - 12, Jordan Briggs - 12

 

Pine Valley

Key Returnees:  Lucas Trombley - 12

 

Forestville

Key Returnees:  Jacob Nosbisch - 11

 

Franklinville

 

CCAA IV

Sherman

Key Returnees:  Ryan Robson - 11, Andrew Graham - 11, Devin Moorhead - 11

 

Clymer

Key Returnees:  Dan Lictus - 12, Connor Payne - 12, Mitch Einink - 11, Jacob Wiggers - 11, Caleb Clark - 12

 

Brocton

Key Returnees:  Dan Ferguson - 12, Jordan Patterson - 12, Macalum Buchanan - 11

 

West Valley

Key Returnees:  Mike Grigsby - 12, Colton Myers - 12

 

Ellicottville

Key Returnees:  Cameron Wilson - 11, Storm Wilson - 12, Alex Steinbroner - 12

 

North Collins

Ripley

 

 Charter Schools

Oracle 

Key Returnees:  Gerald Bibbs - 12, Julius Allen - 12, Jamarr Cunningham - 12, Eric Waters - 12

Key Newcomers:  Nelson Modi - 11, Jayson Jones-Johnson - 11, Antone Gullege - 11

Tapestry

Key Returnees:  Tom Lucas - 12, Tong Mawein - 12, Jon Spears - 11

Key Newcomers:  Gary Foster - 9, JaQuoine Fogan - 9 

WNY Maritime

Buffalo Science

Health Sciences

Global Concepts

 

Predictions

Manhattan Cup: Canisius

Class AA: Jamestown

Class A1: McKinley

Class A2: Amherst

Class B1: Olean

Class B2: East

Class C1: Middle College

Class C2: Silver Creek

Class D: Clymer

 

- McKinley, Olean, & Middle College will all advance to Glens Falls

- Olean will win the Class B State Championship

- Canisius will win the CHSAA Class A State Championship

- Section V "super power" Bishop Kearney will lose one of its games played against a WNY team this year (Falls, Canisius, St. Joe's, Timon)...or maybe Jamestown)

 

Preseason Top 10 - Large Schools

1. Canisius

2. Jamestown

3. Niagara Falls

4. McKinley

5. St. Joe's

6. Bishop Timon/St. Jude

7. Williamsville North

8. Clarence

9. Amherst

10. Riverside

 

Preseason Top 10 Small Schools

1. Olean

2. East

3. Middle College

4. Silver Creek

5. East Aurora

6. Depew

7. Nichols

8. St. Mary's

9. Cleveland Hill

10. CSAT

 

  -centercourt