Canisius 60, Park 58 - OT
For the sixth time in the last eight seasons, the Crusaders are Manhattan Cup Champions. For head coach Kyle Husband, who has guided the team to each of those championships, the victory was the 250th of his career.
Stafford Trueheart, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, also added four blocks. Two of those swats were ultimately what kept the Pioneers from snatching victory away from the defending champions.
At the end of regulation and with the game tied, Park had the ball with a chance to score the game winner. Trueheart swooped in to deny the shot from reaching the rim. Again at the end of overtime, the same scenario played out, as Trueheart once again made the defensive play, only this time it was protecting a one-point lead that gave his team another championship.
"We'd almost rather have it that way," Husband said. "Let's dig in let's guard, I wouldn't want it any other way."
Justin Jones led Canisius with a team-high 18 points, along with six assists and six rebounds, and deservedly earned Manhattan Cup MVP honors for his efforts.
"Whenever we need a big performance, Justin comes through and he did it again today," Husband said.
Senior Will Atkinson's impact on the game was as big as any players was. In the closing minutes with his team trailing by five, Atkinson calmly buried back-to-back 3-pointers from the same spot on the court, and with the same result...nothing but net!
"There wasn't a question that they were going in and he nailed both of them," said Husband.
As he relished on the moment after going back-to-back in the grueling Manhattan Cup playoffs, Trueheart explained why Canisius is Canisius.
"Mentally tough," Trueheart said. "That's why I love this team, no one gave up."
The Crusaders will travel to Long Island this weekend for the CHSAA Class A state semifinal against St. Anthony's.
Point Totals
Canisius: Justin Jones 18, Stafford Trueheart 15, Will Atkinson 12, Colby Moultrie 7, Madut Ayiy 3, Jayce Johnson 3, Charles Hart 2
Park: Hunter Anderson 20, Joe Jones 14, Jordan Nwora 13, Kyle Harris 7, Noah Hutchins 4
*********************************************************
Nichols 59, Niagara Catholic 44
For the fourth time since 2007, the Vikings finished the year as champions of the Manhattan Cup Playoffs. This season was the first time Nichols has won the Manhattan Cup in Class B. Adding amazement to the accomplishment was the fact that the Vikings entered the tournament as the fifth of five seeds and needed to win the play-in round just to keep their season going.
Just as it did in 2014, Nichols defeated the top seed in the semifinal round to register another monumental upset and build the type of momentum and belief in a program that only comes from winning. By the time the Vikings reached the championship game against the Patriots, they looked like a completely different team, took the early lead, and never looked back in their quest to finish.
"It's a testament to their character as young men to have stayed through some of the tough losses we had to endure this year," Nichols coach John Reinholz said. "The only person I have allegiance to is the hard working kid," Reinholz said.
Marcellus Cooper finished with a game-high 21 points for the Vikings, including a pair of booming dunks to ignite the crowd, with one coming off a perfectly thrown lob from Will Johnson. Cooper, who is bursting with talent, was assertive throughout the game and played to win. Following the game, he talked about his team not dwelling on losses and continuing to believe.
"Whatever game we lost, we didn't keep our heads down," said Cooper. "We came back and practiced as hard as we could...we knew by the end of the season we'd make a run and get this."
Johnson earned MVP honors for the Vikings, scoring 16 points and facilitating the offense, offering maturity and wise decision making to a young squad, while coming through with timely shots. Johnson was humbled by the honor and quick to point out where he thought the award was going.
"I was surprised, I thought it would be Marcellus to be honest," said Johnson. "We're going to split it."
Nichols next game will be for the CHSAA state championship in Class B in two weeks, with the site and opponent yet to be determined.
Point Totals
Nichols: Marcellus Cooper 21, Will Johnson 16, Ted Roach 12, Max Hall 4, Myles Hervey 2, Emanuel Williams 2, TJ Banaszak 2
Niagara Catholic: Jaceary Menes 20, Imean Davis 8, Zach Socha 6, Elijah Griggs 4, Nick Krupp 3, J Phillips 3
-centercourt
Nice job Nichols. Love the heart that team shows. Not real big, not real deep but quick and well skilled. They have turned it on here in the playoffs. League record was deceiving. Keep it going.
Posted by: Hoop guy | Thursday, March 03, 2016 at 11:24 AM