The View From Centercourt

The 2013 Pastor-Cooper Showcase

 

The Pastor-Cooper Showcase forges ahead for another season, honoring the memory of Al Pastor, Rose Pastor, Jerry Cooper, and David Cooper. The annual event is held at Daemen College and is free to all spectators, thanks to the generous contributions of its sponsors - most notably Santora's Pizza Pub & Grill and Ad Pro Sports. 

 

This season's format includes one day with three girls varsity contests, followed by two straight days of boys varsity games, with four games played each day.  The last day of the Showcase is loaded, with my vote for the event's marquee matchup being the East/Timon tilt.

 

Here is the schedule for the two days of boys varsity games:

 

Wednesday, December 4th 

JFK vs. Cardinal O'Hara - 4:15 pm

Emerson vs. Holland - 5:45 pm

Williamsville East vs. Oracle Charter - 7:15 pm

Cheektowaga vs. Depew - 8:45 pm

 

Thursday, December 5th

Hutch-Tech vs. Tapestry Charter - 4:15 pm

East vs. Timon/Jude - 5:45 pm

St. Mary's vs. Middle College - 7:15 pm

McKinley vs. Kenmore West - 8:45 pm

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

Ad Pro Sports Public/Private Challenge

 

The artist formerly known as the ECIC/MMA challenge has a new name and a new location, but its still a three-day, ten-game event played prior to the holiday break.  This season, the location has moved to Canisius High School after several years at St. Mary's in Lancaster, and has been more accurately named a public/private challenge.

 

As always, the event features some intriguing early season nonleague matchups between some of WNY's top programs, and the event's finale is a doozy: a rematch from last season's challenge between Canisius and Olean.  The two programs finished atop their respective polls (Canisius in the large schools and Olean in the small schools) following the 2013 campaign, and both are likely to open this year right where they left off - on top.

 

In last season's game, Olean built an astounding 47-21 halftime lead, then hung on for dear life as the Crusaders came storming back before ultimately falling, 76-73.  Here's a link to a complete game recap from last season's classic.

 

Thursday, December 19th

Park vs. Iroquois - 4 pm

Niagara Catholic vs. I-Prep - 5:30 pm

Nichols vs. Depew - 7 pm

 

Friday, December 20th

Cardinal O'Hara vs. Alden - 4 pm

Archbishop Walsh vs. Lancaster - 5:30 pm

St. Mary's vs. Clarence - 7 pm

 

Saturday, December 21st

St. Francis vs. Cheektowaga - 11 am

Timon vs. Sweet Home - 12:30 pm

St. Joe's vs. McKinley - 2 pm

Canisius vs. Olean - 3:30 pm

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

 

 

Cataract City Classic 2013 Schedule

Friday, December 6th

 

Niagara Wheatfield vs. Wilson - 5 pm  

 

Depew vs. Liverpool (Sec. III) - 6:30 pm

 

NFHS vs. Sir Edmund McNabb (Canada) - 8 pm

 

 

Saturday, December 7th

 

East Aurora vs. Geneva (Sec V) - 12 pm

 

Williamsville South vs. Batavia (Sec V) - 1:30 pm

 

Sweet Home vs. Liverpool (Sec V) - 3 pm

 

Grand Island vs. Niagara Catholic - 4:30 pm

 

Bishop Timon/St. Jude vs. Williamsville North - 6 pm

 

Niagara Falls vs. Bishop Kearney (Sec V) - 7:30 pm

 

 

-centercourt

 

@centercourt42