Wilson 47, Emerson 44
Kyle Bradley scored a game-high 22 points and Evan Shank added 18 points as the ninth seeded Lakemen defeated the eighth seeded Eagles at Hutch-Tech during the Section VI pre-quarterfinal round on Wednesday night. With the victory, Wilson advances to the quarterfinals on Friday night, where they will face the top seed in Class B2, East High, at Grover Cleveland.
The Eagles led a close contest for nearly the entire first half, but never gained anymore than four points separation from the Lakemen. Then during the final minute of the half, Wilson went on a 6-0 run to first tie, and then gain a lead heading into halftime. Just six seconds before intermission, Evan Shank scored on a layup set up by a steal to give the Lakemen a 25-21 advantage at the break, the largest lead at that point in the game held by either team.
Early in the third quarter, consecutive baskets from Bradley (one being a three-point play) stretched the Lakemen lead to 30-23. However, Emerson's Michael Simpson, who had scored 47 points in a league outing against Buffalo Arts a week earlier, scored nine of his team-high 22 points in the third quarter on three long treys, to bring the Eagles back to within three pooints, 37-34, heading into the final stanza.
A 10-2 run from Emerson over the first six minutes of the fourth quarter had the Eagles in the driver's seat & Lakemen fans on the edge of their seats, with a 44-39 lead, and just two minutes to play. But after a five-minute field goal drought from Wilson, Joe Littere sank a 3-pointer from the left side with 1:46 to play, igniting the young Lakemen squad. On the ensuing possession, Zach Sarratoria came up with a clutch steal on the defensive end for Wilson, which led to the Lakemen moving the ball to the other end in transition and finding an open Shank waiting on the perimeter, where he was money with the long-ball --- putting Wilson back in front, 45-44, with just over a minute remaining.
In the game's final minute, Wilson gained a defensive stop and then scored in its end on a putback from Bradley with 18 ticks left, making it 47-44. As Emerson attempted to get a game-tying '3' to fall in the closing moments, Sarratoria was there again to rip the ball away from one of the Eagle players and seal the sectional victory for Wilson.
Alden 65, Lafayette 52
Dylan Dussault was an interior force to be reckoned with and Brian Stoldt was inspiring on the defensive end, as Alden dominated Lafayette from start to finish in the pre-quarterfinal round on Wednesday night at City Honors. The victory vaults the Bulldogs into the quarterfinals on Friday night, where they will visit Tonawanda, a familiar ECIC IV foe who swept them in a pair of regular season meetings this season.
Before a large contingent of fans who made the trip in support of their Bulldogs, Alden got out to an early 16-7 advantage after one quarter. After trading buckets to start the second stanza, the Bulldogs went on a 14-5 run that pushed their lead to 32-14. Dussault scored 12 of his game-high 35 points in the second quarter and Alden enjoyed a comfortable 38-24 lead at the break. Dussault netted another 11 points in the third quarter, as Alden's lead reached 20 points at one point during that frame. Over the game's final eight minutes, the Bulldogs saw their lead top out at 22 points, before the Violets cut into it with a too-little-too-late push towards game's end.
Dussault was a matchup nightmare for Lafayette, who had no one to match his size or his intensity in the paint. He was equally effective posting up in half court sets and scoring, as he was converting in transition for Alden. Many of Dussaults transition points, along with a 14-point outing from Tyler Glaser, were made possible by Stoldt's lockdown defense on Lafayette standout Lester Diaz. The Bulldogs employed a box & 1 to limit the Violets general, a strategy that worked almost to perfection. With Stoldt attached at the hip to Diaz, the Violets did little to get the ball into his hands, and struggled to find any offense consistency, leading to missed shots that turned into fast break points for Alden.
Jovanny Vargas scored a team-high 19 points for Lafayette, while Adam Figueora added 13 points. Diaz was held to a season-low 12 points in his final game.
-centercourt
I feel bad for Lester Diaz. great kid. Too bad his coach was clueless and couldn't figure out how to get him the ball. It should have been a lot closer. Well played Alden. Another coach that can only win with exceptional talent. When is the last time they were at Buff St?
Posted by: Buffalo | Friday, February 21, 2014 at 11:43 AM
The last time Lafayette was at Buff State was in 2007 when they lost to Depew, 79-78, in one of the greatest games in Buff state week history. It was a Class A2 semifinal. The Violets had John Whitlock & Victor Arroyo - best Lafayette team I ever saw.
Depew was loaded with its best team also. They went about 10 deep, led by Brad Kujawa, Eric Wild, & Greg Osika.
If I remember correctly, Kujawa stuck a trey from the corner to win it at the buzzer for the Wildcats.
Posted by: centercourt | Friday, February 21, 2014 at 01:23 PM
That was an awesome game. Def up there in my top 5 games at Buff State in recent memory. Bennett beating nationally ranked Niagara Falls in 2002 on a last second jump shot by Jeremy Richardson is my vote for best game ever at Buff State.
Posted by: StateChamps2003 | Friday, February 21, 2014 at 05:54 PM
I personally liked SweetHome over Niagara Falls w/Flynn.
it looks like there will be some familiar teams at Buff St. again this year.
AA on Monday? Really?
Posted by: Me | Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 10:47 AM
Isn't it obvious what's going on here? Larry Jones is the section chairman and also the coach of Depew who plays in Class B. Class B has always played on Mondays. Suddenly it isn't fair and we need to have the AA teams play Monday? Very self serving move with no regard to what the fans want...you know, the ones who shell out the cash to support the sectionals.
Posted by: Dave | Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 01:51 PM
Interesting take on the games at Buff State....
Posted by: Guest | Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 06:31 PM
wagon before the horse!!!???
Posted by: Game | Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 01:41 AM
It has nothing to do with larry jones it was approved to rotate who plays what night each year so that not always the same, as tthe games Thursday put you at a disadvantage with only one day to practice and prepare for the championship game on saturday
Posted by: CoachB | Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 08:28 AM
I would think Depew would want to play on Monday this year. Just to get the beatdown from Olean over quickly.
Posted by: NFL | Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 11:00 AM
So are you saying it was the coaches in AA who raised the issue because of the prep time for championship games? Please be clear.
Posted by: Dave | Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 02:53 PM
best finish buff state, clarence kid hitting three at buzzer to send into OT.
Posted by: best | Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 08:09 PM