Jamestown, Clarence, Silver Creek, & Middle College all advance

 

 

Class AA semifinal:  Clarence 49, Williamsville North 39

The Red Devils got a game-high 20 points fro Ryan Funk, composed leadership from point guard Bryan Jost, and collaborative team effort defensively, to advance to the Class AA final against Jamestown on Saturday night.  For Clarence, who split a pair of regular season meetings with the Red Raiders, it will be their second trip to the finals in five seasons.

 

The Spartans had the game tied on four different occasions in the opening quarter, including a 12-12 deadlock after eight minutes following a 3-pointer from sophomore Maceo Jack to end the first stanza.  However, North would never hold a lead in the game, and never really threatened Clarence over the final three quarters.  Elliot Case gave the Red Devils the lead for good on their opening possession of the second quarter, the beginning of an 11-0 run that had his team up 23-12.  Sterling Taplin netted the final two buckets of the half for Williamsville North, but they would be the only field goals scored by the Spartans in the game's two second & third quarters combined.  North scored a combined 11 points during that stretch, and a 3-pointer from Case to end the third quarter gave Clarence a 36-24 lead heading into the final stanza.

 

Kyle Stevens came off the bench in the fourth quarter to score seven points for Clarence, including a pair 3-pointers, to help seal the Red Devils' trip to the finals.  His second trey came in response to North trimming its deficit to seven points on a '3' from Jack.  When the later trey from Stevens fell with under two minutes remaining, Clarence was back up by ten points, while the Spartans were mentally defeated.

 

Taplin, who finished with a team-high 18 points, fouled out of his final high school game in the final minute at Buffalo State, the same way former Syracuse star Jonny Flynn's career ended.

 

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Class AA semifinal:  Jamestown 69, Lockport 58

Zack Panebianco scored a game-high 26 points and led a fourth quarter surge that helped to lift Jamestown over a fiesty Lockport opponent.  Jamestown advances to the Class AA final against Clarence on Saturday night.  For the Red Raiders, it will be their fifth consecutive AA final, having won three of the previous four.

 

The game's first half seemed like it was all Lockport, despite the teams being tied at the end of the first quarter and it being a one-point game at the break.  Lockport guard Colin Dougherty put on a first half show for the large AA crowd.  He scored 18 of his 26 points in the half, connecting on a series of long 3-pointers and floaters, and even finishing around the basket.  Add to that a slick handle that shook many defenders, along with some smooth passes, and the place was a chorus of "ooohs & aaahs" everytime he touched the ball.  It was one of those performances that will be talked about and remembered over the coming years.

 

The Lions had built a 30-22 lead with under two minutes remaniing in the half, before Jamestown closed out on a 9-2 run, highlighted by a three-quarter court baseball throw from Quinn Lee Yaw that, despite its line drive trajectory, swished through the net as the buzzer echoed throughout the Buffalo State Sports Arena.

 

To start the third quarter, Lockport quickly re-established control of the contest and built its largest lead of the game, 40-31, after starting off on an 8-0 run.  After a timeout from Jamestown, the Red Raiders got a basket from Quinn Lee Yaw.  Dougherty came right back with another bucket for the Lions, making it 42-33, and prompting another Red Raider timeout in less than a minute.  Following the second mini-conference, Jamestown closed the third quarter with a 14-8 advantage to pull within 50-47 heading off to the final frame.

 

The final eight minutes was all Jamestown, as the Red Raiders took the quarter, 22-8, and held the Lions to just a pair of field goals.  Trailing 54-53 with 5:28 left in the game, Jamestown finished the game with a 16-5 scoring advantage that included key 3-pointers from Panebianco and Matt Hoaglund.

 

Lee Yaw finished with 21 points and was a beast inside for the Red Raiders all evening with a combination on aggression and polished post moves.  Charlie Sobieraski netted 12 points, along with several rebounds in the loss for Lockport.

 

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Class C1 semifinal:  Silver Creek 62, Barker 48

Junior big man Billy Brooks scored 22 points, grabbed 24 rebounds, blocked nine shots, and dished six assists, as the fourth-seeded Black Knights pulled off the upset over top-seeded and previously undefeated Barker.  The win moves Silver Creek into the sectional final round at JCC for a third straight season, where thet'll face a familiar opponent in Middle College.

 

The Black Knights enjoyed a 27-18 advantage at halftime and built their lead to 15 at one point in the second half.  Barker rallied to pull within six points in the final quarter, but Silver Creek senior Kaine Kettle's 3-pointer in response to the Raiders' run sparked a 13-5 surge for Silver Creek to put the game away.

 

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Class C1 semifinal:  Middle College 72, Allegany-Limestone 48

Bri'an Brown did it all for the Kats on Monday night, producing a triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, in leading his team to victory.  The win gets Middle College to a fourth Class C1 final in five seasons, where they've won three of those previous four.  It also sets up a rematch with Silver Creek, who ended the Kats season last March in the overall Class C final.

 

TJ Scott also scored 21 points for Middle College, who outscored Allegany-Limestone in each quarter and led 42-26 at halftime.

 

Dom Saglimben scored 15 points to lead the Gators in the loss.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt 42

 

 

Comments

[guest]

Clarence played a great game. They were better than North in every aspect of the game. Well played and executed.

[Chad Wojda]

Silver Creek vs OTC prediction?

[From the North]

OTC by Forty!

[South]

Not if Barker played them. He meant the team that stomped on overrated Barker.

[Wilber]

Where you at, Centercourt?

[Hoopster]

The guy has been all over WNY. And when he's at home there's something call family time/responsibility. He SHALL return.