Everything was going so well for Newfane. They closed the first quarter on a 17-2 run and led, 22-11, after eight minutes. They increased that lead to 43-26 at halftime. CSAT standout Darnell Carson was frustrated from being suffocated by Panther defenders. Newfane standout Connor Sears already had 18 points at the break. The Panthers even opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run. And then it all changed.
CSAT used a 33-7 run between the third and fourth quarters to erase a 22-point deficit and stun the host Panthers, 75-71, in Niagara-Orleans league action. The Eagles are 2-0 in league after knocking off the defending champs and number five ranked small school.
Carson scored a game-high 35 points and carried his team in the comeback, including a particularly incredible stretch. Over a 3:44 span, Carson scored 17 of his 25 second half points. The Eagles switched to a zone in the second half, and it really gave Newfane fits. Carson thrived defensively at the top of the zone, which created offensive opportunities in transition. Once he started feeling confident, the 3's were falling, the free throws were going down, and the rest of his team began to feed off the energy. CSAT played the second half with an even greater sense of urgency than the intensity displayed by the Panthers in the first half, while creating such a deficit for the Eagles.
With 5:oo left in the third quarter, the score was Newfane 50, CSAT 28
With 5:13 left in the fourth quarter, the score was CSAT 61, Newfane 57
At that point, Newfane gained some inspiration during a timeout, and came back with a pair of 3-pointers just 25 seconds apart, to regain the lead. It brought the team and the crowd back to life and spurred a frenzied finish that saw six lead changes and three ties. But Carson would not allow the Eagles to lose in this one, and he scored what would be the game-winning basket with 21 seconds left in the game.
Alex Santos scored 12 points in the win for CSAT.
Sears led Newfane with 25 points, including three 3-pointers, while Alex Intihar added 12 points.
-centercourt
How good is that Pitt Mendon team playing at Canisius today? Anybody know? Should the game be competitive?
Posted by: special guest | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 11:23 AM
McQuaid beat Mendon by 17. McQuaid lost in the first round of the Tom Keenan Memorial Tournament that Canisius won.
Mendon beat Pitt Sutherland by six. East Aurora beat Pitt Sutherland by 13.
Canisius should roll.
Posted by: centercourt | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 11:43 AM
it was a good game that was not adjusted to properly....only in my opinion because im just pointing out some thing......i think maybe teams wont have to take newfane so serious.it is my belief that once the buzzer ends the game....the coach goes over what he sees went wrong and its time to get ready for the next game....you must always be thinking of your next game as your last because it take a sound mind and body to play this sort of what i would call a physical game of chess...good luck to all the fine young kids that choose sports over hanging around doing nothing.....and although the frustration came out during CSAT game....the foot seem to let off of the neck.i heard it was a great game and congrats to both teams for putting on what i heard was a good game that one team gave to the other....we will see with all theses teams how the season carries out....good luck all.
Posted by: lovethegame | Wednesday, January 09, 2013 at 06:08 PM