Funk leads Red Devils past North

 

If the opening night of ECIC I league play gives us any true indication of what's in store this season, then we're in for a treat.  Clarence and Williamsville North gave us a look into mid-season league competitiveness on Tuesday night, as the two schools battled in an exciting affair that featured two of WNY's top players, two of WNY's top programs, and a two-point victory that was secured in the final seconds.

 

With ice water flowing through his veins, Ryan Funk calmly swished three straight free throws with 3.1 seconds on the clock to lift his Red Devils to a 70-68 victory over the host Spartans.  Funk finished the game with a team-high 27 points in the Clarence victory.

 

Funk's late-game heroics were set up by a thrilling fourth quarter that saw the lead change 15 different times, and included three ties.  With the back-and-forth stanza knotted at 65 apiece, Elliot Case stroked a jumper from a couple feet inside the three-point arc, putting Clarence up by two at the 1:28 mark of the fourth quarter.  Sterling Taplin got to the foul line on the ensuing possession and connected on one of two, pulling the Spartans within a point, 68-67.  

 

The Red Devils were looking to extend their lead, when Funk was called for a travel in the lane with Spartan defenders smothering him. The Clarence bench was assessed a technical foul for its protest of the call, sending Taplin back to the line, who hit both shots from the stripe with 53 seconds left in the game to put North in front, 68-67.  Unable to build on that lead with a possession following the 'T', Clarence got the ball back and called a timeout to set something up for the win.  The Red Devils called Funk's number, who came off screens and fought through the clutching of Spartan defenders and got the ball at the top of the key, well behind the 3-point line.  As Funk elevated for a deep, desperation '3', he was sent to the floor and awarded the foul call, where he would sink all three attempts with 3.1 seconds left in the game.

 

The win improves Clarence to 3-0 on the season, and all three wins have come against formidable opponents.   Prior to last night, the Red Devils claimed the championship at Amherst's Bob Hettler Tip Off Classic Tournament with wins over Amherst and North Tonawanda, who just won by 17 at Niagara Falls.  For Williamsville North, who had next to no team preparation time because of its football program's success, it's a second gut-wrenching loss to open a season filled with high hopes.

 

Emaure Williams finished with 13 points for Clarence, while Case scored 12 points, and Evan Harof added 10 points.

 

Sterling Taplin scored a game-high 32 points for the Spartans, while Maceo Jack and George Attea each contributed 12 points.

 

** Game Notes **

- North outscored the Red Devils, 28-16, in the third quarter after trailing by nine at halftime

- Taplin scored 15 of his 32 points in the third quarter

- Williams scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half

- Maceo Jack attempted to dunk over a defender on the fast break but was fouled 

- Clarence never trailed in the first half & led by as many as 10 points

- 12 of the game's final 14 points came at the charity stripe over the final 2:52

- Elliot Case had become a major factor for the Red Devils & gets after it on defense

- So often overlooked is the phenomenal passing of Taplin, and he makes it look easy & effortless

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

 

 

Comments

[The bottom line]

Superstar players cannot go 1-4 from the line in the final minute when they could put the game away. Sterling is very good but the hype is much greater than the actual product. Many kids could put up numbers giving the ability to coach the team like he does with his lack of a true coach at North. They have a realistic look at 3rd best in their league and a 5 or 6 seed. Funk is at least his equal and gets nearly no press at all.

[StateChamps2003]

Reading what CC wrote about the game, it sounds like Taplin went 3/4 from the line and not 1/4 from the line in the final minute. Even if he made the 4th one, they still would have lost.

[Neil Lewis]

Hey guys keep a close eye on johnathon Lewis season from east high . He's a great talent as well !

[centercourt]

Taplin was 2 of 4 in the final minute from the line and 3 of 6 in the final 90 seconds.

1/2 - 2/2 (on the technical) - 0/2

[From the North]

Were have I heard he gets no press from? Look at the top of the article his name is is right there what do you mean no press.

[Centercourt Is God]

Can someone fill me in on a T being called in final minute of a great good hoops game? Did bench deserve it? Did coach? Sounds crazy bonkers bananas to me?

[Universal Knowledge]

The technical was called on coach Bananasack for yelling at the ref. Was surprised at the call myself. Good point about the timing of the call because I thought Clarence was done when it happened. Coach had every right to be yelling. Refs let lots go, lots of no calls in player control situations. Then Funk is wearing WNorth players at the end and they call him for a travel that happened cause he was getting fouled. Should have kept with the no calls.

[Centercourt Is God]

THANK you for that answer, Mr. Universal. hopefully we don't have #refereeproblems like this for what should be a bananas(ack) seazon. Keep the whistles away unless something needs to be blown (and not the game itself yes-yes-yes?)

[The bottom line]

I mean his dad doesn't pump him up to the media like has happened with Taplin for 5 years now. Funk is his equal but doesn't have a father who is crazy and consumed with living through his son.

[centercourt]

I took a comment down because it was getting a little too personal. If you don't like a coach and want to call him a bum, I guess that's your prerogative, coaches have some pretty thick skin.

But I don't think a player should be named and have to read negative comments about his father. I'm all for spirited banter - this is a blog - but there is a line I need to protect. Thanks.

[From the North]

cc What game will you be covering tonight?

[centercourt]

Weather dependent, but my hope is to be at Canisius at 4:30 pm & work my way back north.

If the forecast gets me worried, I'll stay local and take in the same one you'll be at.

[centercourt]

Just received word that the Jamestown Tournament has made the following changes:

One game tonight at 7:30 pm between JHS & Greece Athena.

Tomorrow:
Greece Athena vs. Fredonia 6 pm
Jamestown vs. Bennett 7:30 pm

Fredonia was supposed to play Atheena tonight with JHS/Bennett following, but all after school activities were cancelled at Fredonia.

[#refereeproblems older brother]

I Wasn't there but I would have to guess that the "T" was warranted as was another one he DID NOT get in another game when he used profanity on more than one occasion to the refs loud enough for many to hear(never ok, no matter what you think of officials and the calls that have been made.) Here's what I will say about crunch time technical fouls: It's only wrong if a player or coach deserved one earlier in the game and the official did not give them one. If the official put up with unsporting behavior earlier in the game and did nothing about it, its his own fault and he should bite the bullet and put up with the behavior late in a close game. However, if it is the first time the behavior warranted a technical, then by all means, that's on the coach/player and NOT the ref. Some of the comments lead me to believe that many on here think that under a minute is 'free reign' to go after officials because a T shouldn't decide the game. No one wants that to happen, including officials, but the game should be officiated the same no matter what the score or time on the clock says and with consistency which is often not the case also.

[Refs other brother]

Would have to agree with Universal. Ref missed a big call at the other end on Taplin. Clarence stayed composed and finished North off nicely. Coach did not seem to earn the "T".