McKinley is good...again, go figure.
After taking in the Canisius opener on Friday afternoon, I found myself minutes from McKinley, who happened to be hosting Dunkirk at 6:30 pm in a nonleague game. Perfect I thought, a game at Mack High is always an experience and I'll get a chance to see Dunkirk, who I've heard good things about. Well, the game was about as lopsided a game as I'll find myself at, but I still came away with a few thoughts.
First, as I alluded to in the open, McKinley is good, again. I find that throughout my travels, I hear lots of opinions from different people. In the early going this year, people seem to be sleeping on the Macks. I'll tell them that they're still going to be good and I get these looks. People, stop looking at me like that - I know what I'm talking about on this one.
Let's take a look at what recent history tells us about the Macks:
- 16 straight trips to Buff State in the postseason
- Longest winning streak in Yale Cup history
- Five Section VI championships in the last eight years
- Class A NYSPHAA Championship in 2013
You know who doesn't ever sleep on the Macks? The coaches of the teams that play them. Do you think Starling Bryant (East) or Randy Rich (Middle College) ever underestimate the Macks? I doubt it. Recently, I was talking with Williamsville South coach, Gabe Michael, and asked what he thought about me predicting Amherst would reach Glens Falls. "We'll worry about Amherst if we get past McKinley again", Michael said.
I don't mean to suggest that people are acting like McKinley is going to be bad, but rather it seems like they are compared against the school's greatest success - the 2013 state title. Rarely is a season is state championship or bust campaign, and it's hardly a fair annual expectation. The Macks have reached a point with their basketball program where the players take the court with pride - they want to represent Mack High, and they know there's a reputation to uphold. That reputation might be most simply stated with the cliche, 'we will outwork you'.
With a starting lineup of all seniors, this year's version of McKinley doesn't miss a beat coming out of the opening tip. Keyon Johnson, who missed considerable time last season with an injury, is an electric player who flies around the court and gives the team a legitimate perimeter threat. Shaquan Jones is an excellent defender, can shoot it, and goes strong to the hole. Kesean Fisher is explosive and has a knack for getting to the rim. Bruce Booker is a heady player who can shoot it, but is also the last guy you want to bang with for a loose ball. Rayquan Goree is a capable scorer who offers the typical toughness and constant energy that makes that team go. And already turning heads early on is the McKinley sixth man, Avius Outlaw.
Hopefully Dunkirk will takeaway something from its run with the Macks. They were down 16-0 before the game was four minutes old, but never quit. Maybe they will reflect on how McKinley became such a tenacious group and get to work on that, because it didn't happen by accident. The Marauders have plenty to work with, but it starts with establishing an identity.
McKinley has its identity, and whether they're winning state titles, Yale Cups, or just more games than they lose, you never question the effort you see out of that squad. And yes, they still run the 'turn the ball over, just to steal it back and score' play, to perfection.
-centercourt
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