(Nathyia Jackson challenges a shot at the rim for Middle College)
Coming off a state championship season, rolling out five new starters, and moving up to Class B2, Middle College needed some time to make its mark with a new cast. After beginning the season with a pair of nonleague loses, including one to MST Seneca of Yale Cup II, the Kats got lost in the shuffle of a host of quality small schools in the WNY area this year. But after knocking off the visiting Panthers from East High who have been a highly ranked small school all season, Middle College looks like it always does, really impressive.
The Kats turned a 10-point first half deficit into a 10-point second half lead, as they turned away East with a 67-64 win. Middle College improves to 6-0 in Yale Cup I and now sit in sole possession of first place in league.
"We had a rough start and lost two close games without our point guard," Middle College coach Randy Rich said. "Got him back and won six in a row."
The Kats' point guard, Nader Kompany, played only a couple minutes after suffering another injury on Saturday, but his team banded together, played most of the game without him, and pulled out the big win anyway. Hakeem Dobbins took over the primary ball handling duties and turned in one of the best all-around performances of his career, as the junior finished with 15 points and nine assists.
"Dobbins played great offensively and defensively," said Rich.
Trailing by 10 points late in the second half, Dobbins and Aziyon Clemons each connected on 3-pointers and Shawn Goree scored a pair from inside the paint as part a 10-4 finish to the half for Middle College, who trailed 38-34 at halftime. Derrick Bishop and Dobbins got the second half started with three-point bombs for the Kats, who scored ten straight to seize control of the game with a 44-38 lead at the 6:27 mark of the third quarter.
After holding him to just five points in the first half, Willard Anderson, who is averaging 29 point per game this season for East, began to find his stroke. The junior scored nine of his team-high 19 points after the midway part of the third quarter, including the last bucket of the stanza, to get the Panthers back within a bucket heading into the fourth quarter.
"Willard Anderson is a phenomenal player - can absolutely ball," said Rich. "Our goal was if we're going to get beat, make the other players do it."
East tied the game at 55-55 on a bucket from AJ Stevens (12 points) to start the fourth quarter, but the Panthers' offense would hit the wall after that as the Middle college game plan came together. Dobbins and Clemons stroked again from the perimeter to put the Kats back in front for good. A 12-2 run game them a 67-57 lead late in the game, as the Panthers struggled to find scoring options with Anderson so closely contained.
"We have basketball players here and teach them how to execute," Rich said. "That's a more athletic team than us, a more talented team than us, and we went out and beat them today because we executed our game plan."
Bishop scored a team-high 17 points for Middle College. Goree had 14 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks, while Clemons added 13 points. Nathyia Jackson hauled in 10 rebounds in the win.
The Kats put their unbeaten Yale Cup I record on the line at McKinley, the defending champs the last two seasons, this Thursday. Middle College hasn't beaten the Macks since 2014.
"We're only going to get better," Rich said. "We have all young guys learning."
East High 19 - 19 - 15 - 11 = 64
Middle College 17 - 17 - 21 - 12 = 67
Point Totals
East High: Willard Anderson 19, Waunya Shaw 13, AJ Stevens 12, Justin Allen 11, Jahahd Maryon 5, Shawndale Williams 2, Romello Colbert 2
Middle College: Derrick Bishop 17, Hakeem Dobbins 15, Shawn Goree 14, Aziyon Clemons 13, Nathayia Jackson 4, Allen McDuffie 2, Nader Kompany 2
- centercourt
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