Canisius removes any doubt as to who's #1 in WNY

 

Polls and debates about which team is better and who could beat who make for some interesting banter throughout the basketball season.  Sometimes it takes until the end of the season to find out the answer.  Some years the debate carries into April because top teams play in different leagues or classes, and never end up facing each other.   But for a second straight in WNY, the top ranked large and small schools, also regarded as the very best representing the area, got together for an early season tilt to settle local bragging rights, assuming the teams can maintain their rankings.  And unlike last season's game that went down to the final minute and left spectators room to continue the conversation, we got a firm answer about which team should be considered the best WNY  has to offer.  

 

Before a near capacity crowd at the Bernard J. Kennedy Field House at Canisius High School on Saturday afternoon, the Crusaders scored a convincing 67-49 victory over Olean.  The win improves Canisius to 5-0 on the season, a record that also includes a win over defending CHSAA state champion Nazereth.  For the Huskies, it's their first setback (4-1) in a season where they play a brutal independent schedule in hopes of seasoning a squad for a state title run.  

 

Early on, the game and atmosphere displayed all the intensity you could hope for in a highly anticipated duel of top teams.  The first quarter saw the lead change six times and included a pair of ties.  Olean's last lead 8-7 on a basket bt Dante Tarr at the 2:51 mark of the opening quarter.  Canisius held a 13-10 advantage following the first stanza.  Midway throught he second quarter with the score favoring the Crusaders, 22-19, Canisius stole the game's momentum when Stafford Trueheart rose up behind the Husky's defense and flushed a beautifully thrown lob from fellow sophomore teammate Howard Washington.  The play got the field house rocking and was followed up by a Michael Keenahan 3-pointer, giving Canisius a 27-19 lead.  

 

The game went to intermission with the Crusaders in front, 29-24, but would soon get blown wide open.  Canisius began to disrupt the offense of Olean, while getting its mojo going in its own end, resulting in a 16-2 run that pushed the score to 45-26.  It would prove to be more than the Huskies could overcome, as they trailed by double figures for the remainder of the game.

 

The biggest difference in the game through my eyes was the defensive pressure and rebounding from Canisius, made possible by the athletes on its roster.  They are more of a matchup nightmare for Olean this season.  The Huskies couldn't score inside and struggled equally from the perimeter, connecting on just two shots from downtown after 20 attempts.  Canisius held a 55-34 advantage cleaning up the glass, and only one of the Husky players (Wil Bathurst) finished with double figures in scoring.  He was just 9 of 23 from the field in reaching a game-high 21 points.  

 

 Trueheart and TJ Wheatley did a great job defending Olean's Sam Eckstrom inside and held him to just two field goals and six points.  Trueheart played like he was the highly touted big man in WNY, and Wheatley, who won't be out-muscled by anyone I've seen, moved Eckstrom away from the basket, altered his shots, and kept him off the glass.  Ryan Richards (my pick for the player of the game) was a force on both ends - defending, rebounding, getting out in transition, and converting both passes and second chance points around the basket.  Josh Huffman came off the bench and frustrated the Huskies with his quickness and intense defense.  Washington and Keenahan both did a great job of staying with Olean's guards, handling the ball, and facilitating the offense.  And I still haven't mentioned LaTerrance Reed, who just makes Canisius go.  Reed has a great motor, is another solid defender, and can flat out score. 

 

Richards big game included a team-high 19 points, along with 10 boards. Reed scored 14 points, Washington had 13 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. Trueheart scored 10 points and ripped down a game-high 16 rebounds.  Keenahan scored seven points and dished eight dimes.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

 

Comments

[StateChamps2003]

Centercourt touched on this in his blog above but I have to reiterate how horrible Eckstrom played. He did not play anywhere near a returning All-WNY player should play. I've never seen him play that bad before but then again, I have not seen him play against guys that are bigger and more athletic than him. He played extremely slow, very lackadaisical and he really only has one post move and just was not up to the task.

I thought Trueheart was an animal all over the court and if he plays like that all year, deserves a spot ahead of Eckstrom on the All-WNY squad. Wheatley was just abusing Eckstrom on the defensive end. Pushing him off the block consistently and just playing more physical.

I thought that Bathurst played his hart out and kept his team in the game throughout the entire first half. Canisius played a 3/4 court man-to-man defense and it definitely wore him down. Canisius has a lot of depth and their guards played better than Olean's guards. If I was Olean I would have put more pressure on the ball just to challenge Washington but they let him dictate the game in the half court set and he did a very nice job of controlling the tempo.

I can't wait for the Olean/East crossover game. If Rasheed comes back for East then I give East the edge after what I saw yesterday.

[neil lewis]

does east move a head of olean since they lost friday ?

[swish]

Olean looked scared before the game yesterday...players and coaches. CHS looked loose and it showed. Also for a team that has played together so long idk but it seems like Olean should have alot more chemistry. Bathurst is real good but not a leader. The only leader I saw was the pg. and the only time Eckerstorm shows any fire in his belly is when coaches took him out late...where was ANY of that fire all game? Sorry Olean but you are NOT winning states!

[Impressed Commenter]

Howard Washington deserves the hype. He's going to be special.

[TML1000]

Beyond Canisius, the large poll is as dicey and full of parity as I can ever remember this week.

Large School poll
1. Canisius
2. Timon(12 pt win v Mary's; close win v North; close losses to AQ/Olean)
3. St Joe's(close wins v Macks/Lock; loss to Park; blown out by AQ/BK)
4. McKinley(close loss to Joe's; blew out KW)
5. Clarence(close wins v Amherst/North; close loss v Mary's)
6. Wil North(close losses v Timon/Clarence; last second win v Jtown)
7. Jtown(blown out by Athena; close loss to North)
8. Ken West(blown out by Macks; close win v Lock; 10 pt win v NT)
9. Amherst(close loss to Clarence)
10. Lockport(close losses to KW/Joe's; close win v NT)

HM - NT, NF, Iroquois, Sweet Home

[brian]

Can someone please post a link for the Rochester Section 5 boys basketball rankings? Thanks...

[Neil Lewis]

What time will rankings be posted

[StateChamps2003]

Brian - You know you can just google it and with a few keystrokes find the link yourself?

[Rusty Schakelford]

The one constant with Canisius over the past few years is that they take the court "knowing" they are going to win. That confidence is clear to see.
Their oponents often look like they hope they have a shot at winning

[Chs fan]

What song did canisius come out to

[StateChamps2003]

Chs fan - Ricky Martin - "Livin' la Vida Loca"