(Willie Lightfoot & Roddy Gayle wait to be announced as 8th grade starters for Falls before the 2018 Class AA Final/Photo: Harry Scull)
Monday, January 14th
St. Joe's @ St. Francis - 7 pm
Maritime @ BASCS - 7 pm
West Seneca West @ Lancaster - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, January 15th
City Honors @ Olmsted - 6 pm
Maryvale @ Amherst - 6 pm
Lew-Port @ Lockport - 6:30 pm
Lake Shore @ Williamsville East - 6:30 pm
Springville @ Cheektowaga - 6:30 pm
Sweet Home @ Williamsville North - 7 pm
West Seneca East @ Frontier - 7 pm
Lackawanna @ Williamsville South - 7:30 pm
Olean @ Southwestern - 7:30 pm
Jamestown @ Fredonia - 7:30 pm
Salamanca @ Allegany-Limestone - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, January 16th
Cardinal O'Hara @ St. Francis - 6:30 pm
Tapestry @ Maritime - 6:30 pm
Lancaster @ Clarence - 7:30 pm
Thursday, January 17th
Hutch Tech @ City Honors - 6 pm
Williamsville North @ West Seneca West - 6:30 pm
Lake Shore @ Iroquois - 6:30 pm
Lackawanna @ Springville - 6:30 pm
East @ Northstar Christian - 7 pm
Nichols @ Orchard Park - 7:30 pm
Friday, January 18th
Wilson @ Medina - 6:30 pm
Niagara Falls @ Lew-Port - 7 pm
Jamestown @ Frontier - 7 pm
Randolph @ Salamanca - 7:30 pm
Allegany-Limestone @ Silver Creek - 7:30 pm
West Seneca East @ Amherst - 7:30 pm
MLK Classic at City Honors
City Honors vs. JFK - 4:30 pm
I-Prep vs. Maritime - 6 pm
Saturday, January 19th
Canisius @ St. Joe's - 2:30 pm
MLK Classic at City Honors
McKinley vs. Amherst - 2 pm
East vs. Health Sciences - 3:30 pm
Middle College vs. North Tonawanda - 5:45 pm
Sunday, January 20th
MLK Classic at Bishop Grimes
St. Francis vs. Mekeel Christian - 6:30 pm
* Game of the Week - Niagara Falls @ Lew-Port on Friday, January 18th
Was there ever even a question? The game that Falls' fans have been waiting for since the summer has almost arrived!
For the first time in a very long time, two of WNY's top five large schools hail from Niagara County. While Niagara Falls has won three consecutive Section VI titles in Class AA and always occupies an annual spot near the top of the large school rankings, Lew-Port is one of the smallest large schools in the area and hasn't won a sectional title since 1978. But the most significant transfer in my time covering hoops just might change that.
After averaging over 12 points per game as an eighth grader for Niagara Falls and helping lead the team to the Class AA Regional, Roddy Gayle transferred to Lew-Port over the summer. Now a freshman sensation in WNY high school basketball, Gayle has teamed with some very talented players who were already at Lew-Port. Trent Scott earned All-Centercourt Honorable Mention as a junior last season for the Lancers, eighth grader Jalen Duff has played like a veteran in the back court, and senior Zach Claybourne has been very productive for the team.
Gayle's departure would have left Falls with just one young prodigy in Willie Lightfoot, who also starred as an eighth grader at NFHS -- except for the return home by a third young prodigy from Niagara Falls.
When Niagara Catholic closed it's doors, 2018 Third Team All-Centercourt pick and Manhattan Cup MVP Jalen Bradberry returned to his home school. Bradberry has teamed with Lightfoot, along with seniors Josiah Harris & Moran Montgomery, to make this version of Falls an exciting brand of basketball that features shooting, speed, & pressure. The Wolverines are capable of overwhelming opponents when they start turning teams over, then running & scoring in transition.
The Wolverines and the Lancers are currently tied for first place in the NFL, both undefeated in league play. Lew-Port is also one of just three teams in WNY with an overall record that's unblemished, sitting at 11-0. Both teams are averaging 82 points per game (11 points above the next highest scoring Section VI team), with Falls allowing 53 points per game and the Lancers giving up 57 per outing.
While Gayle, Bradberry, and Lightfoot were supposed to be the next big thing together at Niagara Falls, instead we have something else to look forward to. There's a lot of pride among these three friends and both teams are ready to make a statement. Whatever happens Friday night, it's going to be awesome! It's the 'Game of the Week' - Cataract City-style!
-centercourt
No way to tell what happens at Lewport Friday. Legands Time. They will talk about it for 20 years on the hoops-loving playgrounds of NF. Will it be a free throw by Scott or Lightfoot? A block by Bradberry or Gayle? A 3 by Duff or Harris? Maybe a put back by Claybourne or Montgomery. Or, could it be a layup by Powers or Prather? What will decide the game? Watch and see.
Posted by: Snyb | Sunday, January 13, 2019 at 09:25 PM