Lockport traveled to Clarence on Friday night with high hopes of pulling off the upset over the eighth-ranked large school and making its first appearance in the semifinal round of sectionals since 2006. While the Lions demonstrated their dangerous potential and showed why many picked them as a sleeper in Class AA, it was the Red Devils who finished off each half of the game like they were on a mission. On the Lions ride back to Niagara County, they were likely saying Funk & Schmit...Funk & Schmit. And no, they wouldn't have been swearing with a lisp - they'd have been referring to the two Clarence players that were key in advancing their team to Buffalo State.
Ryan Funk and Tanner Schmit combined for 52 of Clarence's 65 points, as the Class AA fourth-seeded Red Devils defeated fifth-seeded Lockport, 65-54, advancing to the semifinal round of the sectionals. Clarence, which improved to 16-4 on the season, will face top seeded Jamestown at 6 pm on Thursday night at Buffalo State College. The Red Devils last appearance in the semifinals was in 2010, when Ryan's brother, Tyler Funk (Canisius walk on), drillied his first career 3-pointer from the corner to force OT and eventually advance Clarence to the AA title game, where it ultimately fell to Jamestown.
Funk & Schmit accounted for all 31 of Clarence's first half points, with Schmit netting 17 of them. The first eleven minutes of the game were tightly contested with 12 lead changes and three ties. Clarence led by a point, 15-14, after one quarter, and trailed by two with five minutes remainng in the first half, before making the game's first run. A 12-3 finish to the half gave the Red Devils a 31-24 lead at the break.
Bryan Jost and Elliott Case each scored early in the second half, and combined with a pair of 3-pointers from Funk, pushed Clarence to its largest lead of the game, 41-29, halfway through the third quarter. It was a that point in the game when Lockport showed its character and mounted a serious postseason rally. The Lions outscored Clarence, 10-0, over the remainder of the third quarter on a pair of baskets each from Daniel Bronson and Ryan Lawrence, and trailed by just two, 41-39, entering the final stanza.
A 3-pointer from Bronson brought Lockport all the way back to begin the fourth, and was just the beginning of one of the greatest stretches of high school hoops I've been priviledged enough to witness this season. I felt it would be best explained by listing every detail, so here it is with the time remaining in the game after each score:
6:13 - Funk responded with a trey to make it 44-42
5:36 - Charlie Sobierski hits a '3' for Lockport, 45-44
5:16 - Javon Jenkins tips in a rebound for the Lions to increase their lead, 47-44
5:01 - Funk ties things back up for Clarence with a contested long-range bust, 47-47
4:16 - Bronson scores for Lockport putting the Lions back in front, 49-47, and the tension builds
3:40 - Jost strokes it from downtown on the wing, prompting PA announcer, DJ Dominic to say "And just like that, Clarence has the lead again" -- 50-49
3:17 - Bronson connects from beyond the arc for Lockport again, 52-50
3:07 - A 3-pointer from who else? Funk! Clarence takes the lead for good, 53-52
After Funk's last 3-pointer, all I could do was grin from ear-to-ear and shake my head. It was a truly amazing exchange I had just witnessed and the place was errupting in fandom. To me this is what high school basketball was all about - big moments and an incredible atmosphere that create pure enjoyment and lasting memories.
Following Funks go-ahead '3', Jost got a steal and found Bobby Florio inside for a basket and a three-point lead. Schmit tallied the game's final field goal a minute later, before the Red Devils secured the win by going eight of eight at the line, four each from Jost and Funk. Clarence outscored Lockport, 15-2 over the final 3:07 after trailing before that.
Funk scored 13 of his game-high 33 in the fourth quarter, and connected on seven 3-pointers in the game. Schmit ended the evening with 19 points, along with several blocks and rebounds. Jost added nine points for Clarence.
Phil Crenshaw led Lockport with 14 points, all of which came in the first half. Bronson scored all 12 of his points in the second half for the Lions.
-centercourt
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