Top games of the week ending 2/15/15

(Trevon Thompson & Silver Creek are eager for Salamanca's visit on Thursday)

 

Here's a list of what I think are the top games to follow this week:

 

Monday, February 9th

Cheektowaga @ I-Prep - 5:30 pm

Randolph @ Salamanca - 7:30 pm

 

Tuesday, February 10th

McKinley @ East - 5:30 pm

Wilson @ Medina - 6:30 pm

Walsh @ St. Mary's - 6:30 pm

St. Joe's @ Nichols - 6:30 pm

Lockport @ Niagara Falls - 6:30 pm

Niagara Wheatfield @ Lew-Port - 6:30 pm

North Tonawanda @ Kenmore West - 6:30 pm

Canisius @ Aquinas - 7 pm

Cleveland Hill @ JFK - 7 pm

West Seneca East @ Williamsville East - 7:30 pm

Maple Grove @ Sherman - 7:30 pm

 

Wednesday, February 11th

Bishop Kearney @ St. Joe's - 7 pm

Fredonia @ St. Mary's - 7:30 pm

 

Thursday, February 12th

Park @ Nichols - 6 pm

Salamanca @ Silver Creek - 7:30 pm

 

Friday, February 13th

Niagara Catholic @ Walsh - 6:30 pm

Kenmore West @ Lockport - 6:30 pm

Niagara Falls @ Lew-Port - 6:30 pm

Canisius @ Timon - 6:30 pm

Williamsville East @ Starpoint - 7:30 pm

Lancaster @ Williamsville North - 7:30 pm

Tapestry @ Health Sciences - 7:30 pm

 

Sunday, February 15th

Timon @ Park - 2 pm

Cardinal O'Hara @ Walsh - 2 pm

St. Francis @ Nichols - 3:30 pm

Niagara Catholic @ St. Joe's - 3:30 pm 

St. Mary's @ Canisius - 4 pm

 

Game of the Week - Salamanca @ Silver Creek on Thursday, February 12th

- Since the start of the season, I've been beating the drum for CCAA I East, saying how competitive the league would be this year.  After Thursday night's big game, we should know who will emerge as the this year's division champs.  As of today, Salamanca & Silver Creek have identical 8-1 records in CCAA I East.

The two teams have plenty in common.  Both are class C1 schools that expect to contend for a sectional title this season, after both reached the sectional semifinals last year (Silver Creek went a game farther, reaching the sectional final).  Each team is led by a young, enthusiastic coach.  The two best big men in the CCAA leagues play for these two:  Bill Brooks of Silver Creek & Jared Fish of Salamanca.  Brooks was a 2014 All-Centercourt 3rd Team selection, while Fish was HM in '14.  And both teams have won this season, despite missing a key starter due to injury.  Fish missed a few weeks with an ankle injury, while the Black Knights were without second leading scorer, Trevon Thompson, for several games.  Both are healthy now and should start on Thursday.

Silver Creek's lone league loss came at Salamanca on January 16th, by 13 points. Both Fish and Thompson missed that game.  Salamanca's league loss came at Randolph on January 13th, a team the Black Knights have already swept.  Prior to arriving at Silver Creek on Thursday, the Warriors will try to avenge the loss at Randolph when they host the Cardinals on Monday night.  Even if Salamanca losses a second time to Randolph, a win at Silver Creek would keep them tied for first place.  But if Silver Creek wins on Thursday, they are alone at the top of CCAA I East.

Neither team is lacking for confidence coming in to this game, and both feel they are the better squad and this is their year.  On Thusday we will find out if the recent success Silver Creek is enjoying is due to them taking the next step, or if Salamanca really does have the Black Knights' number and are a cut above the competitive CCAA I East.  

 

-centercourt

Comments

[FULLCOURT]

A couple of TIDBITS:

HENRY CARR 72 NFHS 57
GREEN TECH 59 KEARNEY 57

GREECE ATHENA 4 Year Starting Point Guard JAY SARKIS broke his arm last week and will likely miss the rest of the season; which is too bad because at Full Strength; ATHENA and SCOTIA would have been a Dream Match-Up in the State Finals.

[centercourt]

Fullcourt -

You always have info of some sort & know what's going on around the WNY scene. Always appreciate the input.

The Scotia team that won the Fed in Class A last season was pretty special - I thought they were better than Westhill, who won the Fed in B. They finished last season undefeated and their current winning streak is up to 43 games - the longest streak in the state. They've won every game by double figures this year, except for one - a six-point victory. I'm looking forward to seeing them at Glens Falls again this year. And Westhill.

[FULLCOURT]

I've seen both SCOTIA and WESTHILL in the last few weeks; WESTHILL is Very Good and SCOTIA is UNREAL; maybe the most unselfish team I have ever seen along with great shooters and a Legit Star in CREMO who can do it all. I would like to see both teams repeat but it is a long road. TROY could push SCOTIA in SECTIONALS while LEADERSHIP could be a Difficult Match-Up for WESTHILL in the State SEMIS providing they both get there. LEADERSHIP may he the most TALENTED team in B with D1 Prospect KEITH MCGEE who is CHAUNCEY LESLIE'S son and 4 year Starter TRIPLE DOUBLE THREAT DEVANTE HAGINS; they also have a couple of ATHLETIC BIGS and a VERY Fast PG. They need to be more consistent to run the table though.

[Miguel is God]

I thought the HS hoops season ended last week? Busy working on my football 2015 preview...

[StateChamps2003]

I'm guessing that I-Prep play their games at Grover Cleveland. Am I correct?

[centercourt]

Correct.

[StateChamps2003]

The Park @ Nichols game tonight was highly entertaining. Mostly because Coach Reinholz input an interesting game plan. Nichols used a Kentucky's version of "Blue/White" teams. Halfway through each quarter he would sub out all five players. The combo of Miner, Schmit and Lewis were only on the court for about 50 seconds together until 4 mins left in the 4th quarter. 11 Nichols players received at least 8 mins or more of playing time. This stratgey ended up working as they pulled out the 'W'.

Notes and observations from the game:

- Nichols' first 12 points of the game were three pointers.

- Park was in the bonus by the end of the 1st quarter.

- Park shot 19/25 from the free throw line in the 1st half and 26/37 for the game. Nichols shot 19/29 from the free throw line for the game.

- Park scored only 6 points in the 3rd quarter which started out with a 14 - 2 run by Nichols.

- Maybe it was an off night for Cheatom but I wasn't that impressed with his game last night. Took a back seat and gave way to Nwora and Harris. I'd take Laterrence Reed any day of the week.

- There were more Park fans in attendance than Nichols fans.

- This was my third time catching a game at Nichols and the scores table operators and announcers have been horrible each time.

[GAME]

thanks for the recap SC sounds like it was a good game....I was invisioning Park to be able to play Nichols much closer or at least as to what the score says. It has always been clear to me that a deep bench can run a 5-7 player team down most the time although I know there are exceptions like some past Olean and Silver Creek teams.And this is like Harvest time for High School hoops with a week or so left teams have to etch their collective spots out as now is crunch time where the big boys stay up late and the kids go to bed!!.Looking forward to some good match-ups many which have taken place already in what some have called the playoff preview and games like I saw on the CC twitter feed with Silver Creek and Salamanca......its gettin hot in here!!!!!....