Canisius 66, Williamsville South 50
The Crusaders outscored the Billies, 37-16, in the second and third quarters, to remain undefeated at 4-0 on the season. Stafford Trueheart led the way with a game-high 24 points, while Madut Ayiy scored 13 points. Canisius fell behind in the early going, as South came out with more energy and found open perimeter shots at the start. However, midway through the second frame, the Crusaders grabbed the lead for good and then poured it on to start the second half by scoring 16 unanswered points during one stretch.
"We played with a heck of a lot more intensity than we did in the first quarter," Canisius coach Kyle Husband said of his team's response after a slow start.
The size the Billies gave up to Canisius also became glaringly obvious as the game wore on, with South unable to find scoring in the paint.
"Our length can really create a lot of problems for other teams, especially for teams that don't have nearly as much size as we do - like South," Husband said.
South coach Gabe Michael echoed the same sentiments.
"They did a nice job and contested everything" Michael said. "It's tough for us to play against big guys, because we don't have any."
Michael also expected a better offensive showing, and more success against the pressure brought by Canisius.
"We were bad offensively for most of the game," he said. "I thought we let their press get to us, which I never thought would happen."
Point Totals
Canisius: Stafford Trueheart 24, Madut Ayiy 13, Will Atkinson 11, Jayce Johnson 5, Charles Hart 3, Jerimiah Wagstaff 3, Andrew Schake 2
Williamsville South: Greg Dolan 18, Myles Hall 18, Jordan Buell 8, Graham Dolan 6
*************
Starpoint 65, Timon 62
The Spartans never trailed in the first half, as Brock Kroening was on fire, scoring 18 of his game-high 27 points in the half. Davion Warren scored with 3:40 remaining in the third quarter to give Timon its first lead, which seemed to provide a spark for the team. The Tigers had built a seven-point lead with just three minutes to play, before a bucket from Kroening ignited a 12-2 finish for the Spartans, including the go-ahead basket - a trey that became a four-point play by Adam Lasal with 1:04 left.
Point Totals
Starpoint: Brock Kroening 27, Christian Nodine 16, Adam Lasal 12, Garrett Longwell 6, Ben Walters 4
Timon: Quinton Lamar 17, Joe Harrison 11, William Lamar 9, Davion Warren 9, Tyler Ringwood 9, Juston Johnson 5, Hunter Lancaster 2
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Jamestown 67, St. Mary's 56
The Lancers scored eight straight points in the middle of the third quarter to take a 39-35 lead over Jamestown. But the Red Raiders answered with a 22-4 burst over the next six minutes that included four 3-pointers from Tyler Hind, the team's starting 8th grade point guard. The run pushed the Jamestown lead to 57-43, and St. Mary's never recovered. James Rojas scored a 2015 ADPRO Challenge high 30 points in the victory.
Point Totals
Jamestown: James Rojas 30, Zacc Kinsey 14, Tyler Hind 12, Noah Johnson 6, Luke Kindberg 5
St. Mary's: Tak Molson 20, Kayson Hill 12, Cam Dunning 10, Joseph Stoj 5, Eric Brown 4, Matt Ciezki 3, Christian Szablewski 2
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Walsh 62, Maryvale 54
After trailing the entire second quarter, Walsh drilled consecutive 3-pointers (Noah Watson & Christian Churakos) to take the lead at the start of the second half, and they never gave it up the rest of the way. The game featured an entertaining battle of underclassmen point guards, Tavien Kemp of Walsh (game-high 26 points) and Ray Blackwell (team-high 19 points). The win kept an unbeaten season intact for the Eagles.
Point Totals
Walsh: Tavien Kemp 26, Adam Moore 12, Christian Churakos 9, Latrell Butler-Kemp 8, Noah Watson 7
Maryvale: Ray Blackwell 19, Ted York-Brown 15, Floyd Remley 8, Brian Sullivan 4, Marcus Ford 3, Drew Crombie 3, Dylan Casey 2
*********************
Fredonia 49, Cardinal O'Hara 48
Trailing by four points late in the game, Jarod Burmaster canned a long-range bomb to get Fredonia within a point. Patrick Moore's two free throws with 28 seconds left gave the Hillbillies a one-point lead, but the Hawks still had plenty of time to take the potential game-winner. O'Hara got a good look at the basket , from a good spot on the floor, but the shot rimmed out with just five seconds left and Fredonia rebounded, drew a foul, and secured the win.
Point Totals
Fredonia: Patrick Moore 20, Jarod Burmaster 8, Jovany Ruiz 8, Eric Swoyer 6, Michael Pucci 4, Lucas Voss 3
O'Hara: Stephen Boyd 12, Nasir Benton 9, Charles Debose 8, Justin Hemphill 8, Rene Velazquez 6, Deamontae Riley 5
-centercourt
Where the private schools try to excel with recruiting players Jamestown excels through exemplary coaching of the players they have which is so important. The Monsignor Martin League has abandoned the principles of its constitution when it comes to athletics. Coach Drake does an outstanding job every year in developing the kids who already attend JHS.
Posted by: Tom Cowan | Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 11:21 AM
The eighth grader is recruited from another school. How can you say that. Paige was recruited, the kid from rochester a few years back and many others. Drake has always recruited and always will. Kids live in his house when they come to Jamestown. How can the AD at Jamestown allow that..... :) Sorry, but the truth.
Posted by: JT fan | Monday, December 21, 2015 at 08:19 AM
Good job "JT fan". Anyone with any local basketball knowledge knows that Drake has always recruited. Very well known fact in the Southern Tier. Kids have absolutely lived with him too! Always wondered how he gets away with it, smh
Posted by: Bball truths | Monday, December 21, 2015 at 09:21 AM
8th grader is from Randolph , dad was a coach there. Now big surprise , dad is on staf at Jamestownn . Drake is starting young nowadays lol.
Posted by: wnyfan1980s | Monday, December 21, 2015 at 11:24 AM
Obviously Mr. Cowan knew that Tyler Hind attended Randolph schools before transferring to Jamestown this year... obviously he's trying to get a rise out of people, SMH.
Tyler's father played with coach Drake in college and his mom is a teacher in the Jamestown Schools. They felt the best move for his education and athletics was to transfer too Jamestown. No different then any kid in Buffalo going to Canisius, St. Joes, Park, or a kid transferring within Williamsville, etc. Parents and kids will continue to transfer over time to help them with their academics or athletics, there is no stopping that.
Jaysean Paige and Brandon Kellam were not recruited to Jamestown, they both had family here and unfortunately came from broken homes and Coach Drake allowed them to stay at his house while they dealt with these issues and both ultimately transferred out of the area to move with family. Call it what it is, but don't call it recruiting.
Posted by: WNYHOOPS | Monday, December 21, 2015 at 05:38 PM
jT fan, The AD at jamestown is Drake
Posted by: sal | Monday, December 21, 2015 at 06:08 PM
WNYHOOPS. Your turning your head on the truth. All of WNY knows how Jamestown basketball works. When coach feels they will be weaker he looks for players. Just like the big kid from southwestern who ended up not coming to JT this season. Having players live in your house is an instant red flag. Also being the ,AD should also be a bigger reason to follow the rules. Truth hurts. I am calling it what it is.
Posted by: JT fan | Monday, December 21, 2015 at 08:31 PM
Your obviously a very bitter and jealous person, but will leave that where it is for right now.
This isn't college basketball, to think a public high school coach in the Southern-Tier can go "recruit talent" is an asinine statement. To get a parent to commit to move into your district or pay tuition is not quite as easy as handing a kid some scholarship to come to your school for free, so please quit making out Coach Drake to be the Calipari of WNY Basketball.
I will let Jamestown's record of excellence and its number of all WNY players who were born and raised at Chadakoin Park, the Jamestown Y, and driveways across the city speak for itself...
Posted by: WNYHOOPS | Monday, December 21, 2015 at 08:59 PM
WNY. Maybe some others from WNY should chime in here. The fans in Jamestown are fooled. You will see. Jealous is a poor description. You need to look beyond your hometown. Merry Christmas. I hope you get a seven footer from Syracuse from Santa. Lol.
Posted by: JT fan | Monday, December 21, 2015 at 10:00 PM