(Tyron Lott of Health Sciences is defended by O'Hara's Justin Hemphill at the Pastor-Cooper Showcase)
Health Sciences 78, Cardinal O'Hara 59
The Falcons improved to 4-1 on the season behind a balanced scoring effort. Kameron Briggs had a team-high 19 points, Davonte Gaines scored 18 points, and Tyron Lott finished with 16 points. Wize Threat added nine points on three triples in the win. O'Hara was playing its season opener and looked great in the opening quarter, competing hard with Health Sciences and trading leads. Buckets from sophomores Torree Cheatham and Justin Hemphill late in the second quarter had O'Hara within six, 29-23 at halftime.
But the tides quickly turned at the start of the second half, as the Falcons talent and early season experience became noticable. Health Scienes ripped off 11 staright points in just over two minutes to quickly go up 40-27. A second 11-0 run would follow shortly after, all part of a third quarter dominated by the Falcons, 32-9. Despite the lead reaching 30 points in the fourth quarter, the Hawks never laid down amd made up some ground by game's end.
"We have a very talented team and sometimes they think they can turn the switch on & off," Falcons coach Ty Parker said. "I tell them we've got to play consistent - we're going to get everyone's best game. They believed the concept and trusted the process and they played the way we play basketball in the second half."
Jerry Cooper Game MVP - Davonte Gaines (Health Sciences)
Point Totals
Health Sciences: Kameron Briggs 19, Davonte Gaines 18, Tyron Lott 16, Wize Threat 9, Tayvion Nelson 4, JaQuan Renfro 4, Tahj Dickson 4, Tysheen Lott 2, Shakir Cook 2
Cardinal O'Hara: Justin Hemphill 22, Rene Velazquez 14, Torree Cheatham 10, Jermaine Haynes 7, Nasir Benton 4, Brandon Broadnax 2
************
Depew 48, Grand Island 46 OT
A defensive slugfest between two teams that left everything on the court at Daemen needed an extra four minutes to decide an outcome. In the final minute of regulation, Austin Pilley's pair free throws knotted the game at 41-41 for Depew. Grand Island saw a 3-pointer rattled in and out at the buzzer which set up the extra session.
Tyler Biersbach scored first in overtime, followed by a 3-pointer from Chad Biersbach, to give the Wildcats a 46-41 lead. Devin Brandon answered for the Vikings with a trey of his own, followed by another bucket, to get the score back to 46-46. But Tyler Biersbach broke the tie for the final time in OT and then Depew relied on its defense to hang on and survive the Vikigs' last possession.
"We need to hang our hat on the defensive end and I was thrilled with how we played defensively tonight," Depew coach Larry Jones said.
Chad Biersbach scored 16 of his game-high 18 points in the second half for Depew. The junior standout stepping up after intermission, along with getting Grand Island's key post player fouled out early were major factors in the Wildcats' win.
"In the fourth quarter, Chad (Biersbach) took over a little bit offensively," said Jones. "It's nice to have an athlete that's not afraid of that moment and understands the game well enough. He got himself in some passing lanes and got some easy buckets for us - we were really struggling on offense in the half court."
Cam Sionko led Grand Island with 14 points, Brandon finished with 12 points, and Garrett Robinson added eight.
Following the game, John Mietus of Depew was awarded the David Cooper Memorial Scholarship. Mietus is pictured here with Pastor-Showcase Director, Paul Santora, who sponsors the scholarship annually in memory of his brother in-law.
Jerry Cooper Game MVP - (Chad Biersbach (Depew)
Point Totals
Depew: Chad Biersbach 18, Tyler Biersbach 9, Jordan Ciesielski 5, Austin Pilley 5, Sean Miller 5, Eric Jarrett 3, Jeremy Clark 2, Jacob Mlodozeniec 1
Grand Island: Cam Sionko 14, Devin Brandon 12, Garrett Robinson 8, Derek Callen 5, Mario Wright 4, Roman Cacciatore 3
************
West Seneca East 63, South Park 53
South Park had its way at the start, going up 16-6 after one quarter and leading by as many as 12 points in the first half. West Seneca East looked tentative offensively and missed some easy looks, which allowed the Sparks to convert easy transition buckets. Late in the half, Dominick Farszmil heated up and scored six points during an 8-0 run by the Trojans that cut the South Park lead to 29-22 at the break.
"I thought we really played scared in the first half," Trojans coach Dan Lutman said. "We were timid and sloppy with the ball. We said at halftime, we're only down seven and played about as bad as we can play."
A completely different team took the floor for West Seneca East in the second half and by the 3:30 mark of the third quarter, they had tied the game at 33-33. Sophomore Zamari Mitchell heated up in the third, stroking a pair from downtown as part of a 12-point stanza. Farszmil added another nine points in the third. The Trojans used a 17-2 run to take a five point lead before the fourth quarter.
The energy West Seneca East played with in the second half seemed to break the spirit of South Park and the Trojans poured it on more in the fourth quarter. Mitchell hit another from long range, followed by a triple from Chris Stineman. Farszmil put in work in the paint all second half, who flipped the script and had their own 12-point lead late.
"We did an outstanding job getting out in transition in the second half and were a lot more aggressive and confident," Lutman said.
Jerry Cooper Game MVP - Dominick Farszmil (West Seneca East)
Point Totals
West Seneca East: Dominick Farszmil 24, Zamari Mitchell 17, Chris Stineman 8, Anthony Roncone 6, Ryan Jasinski 4, Nick Birke 4
South Park: Ray Mushat 25, Shakur Harris 10, David Stroud 10, Jakari Woods 6, Elijah Lewis 2
-centercourt
Comments