Last night at City Honors, I was asked prior to tip if that was City Honors or Maryvale in the white shirts? I pointed to City Honors and said they're wearing white. Then the person pointed to the crowd and said he was referring to them. I looked up and saw a large contingent of Flyer fans clad in white shirts that read "Why not us". In a year where Class B1 is riddled with parity and appears to be there for the taking, the Flyers chances of winning a sectional title are much more than the wishful thinking of a #10 seed.
Maryvale won all four quarters at City Honors in the Class B1 pre-quarterfinal on Wednesday night, en route to posting a 71-47 win over the Centaurs. The victory advances them to the quarterfinal round on Friday night, where the #2 seed and league rival, Depew, awaits.
"We've got to go to their place, it's going to be a battle - no doubt about it", Maryvale coach Mark Kensy said. "We've been playing each other for a long, long time. We know each other very well and I think we match up pretty evenly".
The two regular season meetings between the Wildcats & Flyers certainly back up that sentiment. Depew took both games in the series, winning by two points in both games. The second time the two played was the first outing for the team's point guard, Ray Blackwell, a freshman call up from the JV team who has given the team a floor general to orchestrate the offense, break the press, and provide energy & enthusiasm.
The Flyers had to knock off a pair of teams from Yale Cup II to set up the rubber match with Depew. In the first round on Tuesday night, they made quick work of Lafayette, beating the Violets, 69-44. Just 24 hours later, another 20-plus-point victory over the Centaurs was in the books. Depew coach Larry Jones was looking on for both, as his Wildcats secured the #2 seed in Class B1 and had a bye until the quarterfinal round.
The two wins that got the Flyers to Friday night went similarly. In both games, Maryvale took control early, enjoyed a comfortable lead at halftime, shot the ball well, and got contributions for many. And in both games, Mike Kelleher, the team's senior leader, was the best player on the floor for his team. Kelleher finished with team-highs in scoring on both nights - 17 points against Lafayette and 18 points against City Honors, on a combination of 3-pointers and polished post moves. Whether on the court or on the bench, Kelleher is a big part of the game, always talking to his teammates.
"Mike's given us leadership all year, it hasn't just been the last two games", Kensy said. "He's tremendous - he works hard and is very vocal".
Junior Andrew Crombie scored a combined 28 points over the two games and showed off a nice touch from the perimeter. Marcus Ford is a good defender for the Flyers and showed the ability to play away from the basket, along with using his size and strength inside. Matt Mason gives Maryvale a big and capable post presence, and Jeremiah Pace, along with sophomore Theodore York-Brown, are solid off the bench for the Flyers.
"We're improving and getting contributions from a lot of different people", Kensy said.
Have they improved enough to overcome Depew when they meet for a third time on Friday is the burning question that we will soon have the answer to. The winner will move on to Buff State and be just two victories from a Section VI championship. Despite coming in as the 10 seed, Flyer fans ask "Why not us?".
-centercourt
This City Honors program has fallen on hard times lately. In a year in which the Class B-1 bracket is as wide open as ever (they lost to the #2 seed by 2 points earlier in the year), they laid a real goose egg last night. Honors hasn't won a sectional championship since 2008 and last time they were at Buff State was the 2011-2012 season (Cieslik's freshman year) when they played an embarrassing 4th quarter against Wilson.
On paper, I thought Maryvale and City Honors were pretty even teams and I would go as far to say Honors had a slight edge with them having the best player on the floor and the game being played in their own gym. But instead, they got smacked around for 4 quarters and embarrassed on their home floor.
This team had too much talent to let slip away a year in which a B-1 championship was a possibility. This team was ultimately a reflection of its coach and it's gym...emotionless, timid (putting it nicely) and showed no pride whatsoever. After Maryvale got out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, the CHS coach called a timeout and I expected everyone in the bleachers to hear the coach's voice while he screamed at his kids to get it together. But no, that did not happen and right then and there the game was over. Honors came out of halftime and their body language said it all. Heads down and shoulders slumped like they got ran over by a truck and THEY apologized to the truck driver for getting in his way.
Cieslik is a hell of a player and probably tries to do too much for a team that could have used more of his leadership skills than his ball skills. He torched Maryvale for 29 points...great...congratulations, you guys lost by 24 points in a playoff game. Coach Kensey would let any player score that much if it meant a 'W' for his team.
I also probably say this every year but, someone, please, tell me why the City Honors gym has no banners for their multiple city, section and state titles??? What the hell is wrong with that school? I'm not just talking about the basketball team either but how about the girls volleyball team. They have MULTIPLE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS since 1990!!!! My god. Is this the physical education department or administrations fault? Do you need funds to have these banners made?? I'll donate money myself for some banners. Wouldn't you want that recognition displayed for everyone to see. How about the basketball teams state championship? There is a sense of pride for a school that is associated with something great like a state championship. Players following those great teams can take pride that they are a part of something bigger. State championships aren't easy to come by these days and with what I saw last night even a team with Cam Lewis, Chris Miner, Howard Washington, Matt Cieslik and Jordahn Summers couldn't win it this year.
Posted by: StateChamps2003 | Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 02:28 PM
Wait - City Honors has a hoops team? I know they play Harvard Cup football. My preview is gong 2 b really good in August.
Posted by: Miguel is God | Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 02:50 PM
City Honors is a school that only takes pride in its academics. Athletics do not matter to them whatsoever so I would have to go with its the administrations fault. There is no reason the gym should not feel like every other high school gym in section 6 with banners of every championship, league championship won by the school. I know its been awhile since you've walked through the halls of City Honors StateChamps2003 but the school spirit is just not there anymore at all and it starts with administration. There is no passion or time for anything else but school work now at CHS and its a terrible thing. All work and no fun is not a good atmosphere.
Posted by: Anonymous | Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 04:23 PM
Also huge credit to Maryvale last night. Hopefully they make it Buff State.
Posted by: Anonymous | Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 04:24 PM
It's great to see Miguel is God posting again!!
Posted by: BBBfan | Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 07:33 PM
Buff State - Am I really going 2 b charged $1.83 again this year 4 a Mountain Dew instead of '2 dollars' or '1.50' like in every other arena in the USA? They better go back 2 the Hot Dogs they had from 2010-2013. The one's they had last year were AWFUL. And there is food they sell at most sporting events. It's called PIZZA. Maybe goggle it? Not too hard 2 make....I can c the meetings now 'should we really sell pizza?'
I plan on eating a lot and want this resolved now.
Posted by: Miguel Is God | Friday, February 27, 2015 at 11:32 AM
Ill bring some dew....no worries.They got the handy dandy trial 12oz shooter size now. Im hoping it will get me posted up at center court with no other than CC himself.May even bring other asst. confections...Lol!! I will be prepared for the long haul as its brutal on my crippled ace getting up those steps!
Posted by: GAME | Friday, February 27, 2015 at 11:41 PM
That's a shame to hear about CHS not caring about athletics assuming that is factual. I've always thought you could learn some valuable lessons on the basketball court that you couldn't in the class room and others that only reinforce classroom lessons. It's about time CHS got its act together if true.
Posted by: hoopster | Sunday, March 01, 2015 at 11:19 PM