(Park shows everybody who number 1 is)
Just imagine that headline two years ago when Park played in the IAC. Following the 2013 season, head coach Michael Battaglia, who was finishing his third season as the head coach of the Pioneers, committed to making Park a winning program. Check that, a championship program. It began with the arrival of some of the area's top talents, to go along with some key pieces that were already in place. Then Battaglia took his team out of the IAC and got them into the Monsignor Martin Association, WNY's catholic league, known for fielding some of the best teams and players in the City of Buffalo. Finally, there was the addition of a couple more key pieces prior to the start of this season, and it was on.
After winning the first ever Class B Manhattan Cup, the Pioneers went on to claim a CHSAA state championship. It was an amazing feat to be certain, particularly for a team that made such rapid strides in two seasons. But there was more to accomplish, more expected of this long, tall, and extremely talented group. Park arrived at the NYS Class B Federation Tournament of Champions to find the defending champs, Westhill, waiting there with all the key pieces from the season prior. After a Westhill fade away 3-pointer from the reigning Class B state Player of the Year sent the Class B semifinal to overtime, Park put itself in a position to win the game again in the extra session, and then swatted away a similar last second 3-point attempt to advance to the title game.
Then they made history.
The Pioneers started fast, claiming a double-digit lead in the opening quarter, and looked the part of the best Class B team in NYS, until they were officially just that. Park defeated Maspeth (Queens, NY) 70-51, winning the school's first ever Federation Championship.
Jordan Nwora was awarded Class B Tournament MVP, while seniors Derek Cheatom and Randy Golda were each selected to the All-Tournament team.
With the Pioneers leading 5-4 at the midway part of the opening quarter, Nwora converted a traditional three-point play that spurred an 11-0 run. Cheatom also finished an 'And 1' during the scoring surge, along with a trey from Hunter Anderson and a bucket from Kyle Harris that made it 16-4 just six minutes in.
After leading 35-22 at halftime, Park blew the game wide open in the third quarter with a 15-0 run that pushed its advantage to 50-26, leaving the eventual outcome in little doubt.
This year's group has certainly set the bar high - as high as it goes. The Pioneers graduate just two players from this championship squad, but both immensely important to this team's success. Whether or not the school from Harlem Road in Amherst will continue to achieve such spectacular outcomes remains to be seen, the accomplishments of this year's group put them in extremely select company and should be celebrated.
-centercourt
How does Battaglia get these kids to his suburban campus?
What happened to Joe Jones? Saw that his playing time diminished significantly throughout the year. What's the book on him?
Posted by: Recruiting? | Monday, March 30, 2015 at 02:30 PM
It's called a bus from your original school district! You should try calling your school district transportation center to see if your kid could get a bus to Park!
Posted by: Come Join Us!! | Monday, March 30, 2015 at 05:48 PM
Park is a private school with one of the top college acceptance rates in the state. Any student cany apply to attend and must meet the academic standards as well as the necessary finances to succeed. Of the 2 2015 seniors, one is going to college on an athletic scholarship and one is going an an academic scholarship,
Posted by: Pioneer | Saturday, June 27, 2015 at 02:42 PM
Rumor out there that Battaglia is out, any info?
Posted by: Guest | Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 12:00 PM