Prior to the 2018 season, Gabe Michael, who at the time was the head coach at Williamsville South and my closest friend, had a conversation with me about the best high school basketball events in WNY. As the conversation progressed, Coach Gabe made a declaration…"You should have your own event." Despite my initial resistance, it was Coach Gabe’s confidence in me and his desire to help me along that quickly turned a concept into the reality it is today. "But where would we even have it?" I asked. Coach Gabe knew exactly where he wanted to see it, it would be right here at The Home of the Billies.
The grand concept for the classic was an event unlike others that took place toward the end of the season, rather than most traditional events which take place during the first few weeks of the season in December. There were also some various MLK showcases and small events that occurred in January. We wanted to see the classic being an event that featured our area's prominent teams in playoff-type matchups outside of league play, shortly before the postseason began. It needed to be both an attractive event to want to attend, and of course, a fun one to be at.
For the first season, I wanted to start small as to not bite off more than I could chew. So the inaugural event was just four games that all took place in the same day and the first three games were small school games. The main event would feature the host school and eventual player of the year, CC MVP Greg Dolan, taking on Health Sciences, led by the the standout headed to Tennessee, Davante Gaines a.k.a. The Ticket. The big game was wildly exciting and delivered an overflow crowd. And so the Centercourt Classic was born.
That season would be the final one at Williamsville South for Coach Gabe, who left to take the position at St. Joe's the following season. The event continued on in the seasons to come, touring different venues each year, with one constant. The two coaches from that headline game would always agree to bring their teams to the event. To this day, Ty Parker and Health Sciences have not missed a Classic.
Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Coach Gabe, who had his Marauders participate in each subsequent event and had been suggesting St. Joe's as an ideal location, asked me late in the summer where it would be for the 2024 season. When I told him I was still without a venue for that season, he said to let him know when I was ready to get serious about his newest offer. Less than a week later, he had a sandwich meeting in place for me to hear the pitch from St. Joe’s. Everyone left that meeting excited, perhaps no one more so than Coach Gabe. The event was returning to his home court.
Less than four months after that and days prior to the start of the season, all of WNY was devastated by his sudden passing. St. Joe’s remained committed to putting on a first class high school basketball event for the community. Once again this season, the Classic remains at St. Joe's in the honor of Coach Gabe.
Purchase tickets for the 7th Annual Centercourt Classic
Below you will find:
- Fun Facts
- Records for player points in a game
- Record for most player points all-time
- Records for player rebounds in a game
- Records for most team points in a game
- Records for least points allowed in a game
- Biggest margin of victory
- Top 3 games in Classic history
- Game results with MVPs for every Classic
- All-time Centercourt Classic team W/L records
Fun Facts
- Every Centercourt Classic has featured a team that went on to play for a state championship
- Every Centercourt Classic has featured the eventual CC MVP for WNY's Player of the Year
- A team has gone on to win a state championship following 4 of the 6 Centercourt Classics
- Canisius coach Kyle Husband earned his 400th career victory at the Centercourt Classic
- West Seneca West's Adrian Baugh scored his 1,000th career point at the Centercourt Classic
Record for most points scored in a game by a player:
Jakye Rainey, Nichols - 43 points (2024)
Greg Dolan, Williamsville South - 36 points (2018)
Willard Anderson, East - 36 points (2018)
Max Schneider, Williamsville East - 35 points (2022)
Carson Conley, Randolph - 33 points (2023)
Jaiden Harrison, Timon - 32 points (2023)
Montrice Webster, Health Sciences - 31 points (2024)
Jakye Rainey, Nichols - 30 points (2022)
Most points scored by a player all-time
Jakye Rainey, Nichols - 99 points (2024, 2023, & 2022)
Most rebounds in a game
Quentin Nnagbo, Park - 18 rebounds (2019)
Most points scored by a team
Niagara Falls 94 points vs Nichols (2022)
St. Joe’s 88 points vs Lew-Porter (2020)
Health Sciences 85 points vs Nichols (2024)
Timon 85 points vs Jamestown (2023)
Olean 83 points vs Williamsville East (2022)
Least points allowed in a game
Amherst 38 points vs St Joes (2022)
Frontier 40 points vs Hamburg (2022)
Olean 42 points vs St. Francis (2019)
Canisius 44 points vs Niagara Falls (2024)
Health Sciences 47 points vs Randolph (2019)
Biggest margin of victory
31 points - East 74, St. Mary’s 43 (2018)
Top three games in classic history
3. Williamsville South 82, Health Sciences, 77 (2018)
2. Salamanca 55, Randolph, 54 in OT (2024)
1. Randolph 82, Nichols 78 in OT (2023)
Game Results & MVP Awards
6th Annual Centercourt Classic
at St. Joe's in 2024
St. Joe’s 56, Amherst 48 - Game MVPs: Cole Kaufman (St. Joe's) & Amir Dunn (Amherst)
Timon 81, Victor 57 - Game MVPs: Jaiden Harrison (Timon) & Nick Leonard (Victor)
Canisius 52, Niagara Falls 44 - Game MVPs: Nick Purdie (Canisius) & Ephraim Strong (Niagara Falls)
Salamanca 55 Randolph 54 - OT Game MVPs: Lucus Brown (Salamanca) & Drew Hind (Randolph)
Health sciences, 85, Nichols 57 - Game MVPs: Montrice Webster (Health Sciences) & Jakye Rainey (Nichols)
Jamestown 66, Saint Francis 59 - Game MVPs: Jaydian Johnson (Jamestown) & Jeremiah Neely (St. Francis)
5th Annual Centercourt Classic
at Hamburg in 2023
Canisius 67, Amherst 58 - Game MVPs: Shane Cerone (Canisius) & Jordan Alexander (Amherst)
Timon 85, Jamestown 75 - Game MVPs: Jaiden Harrison (Timon) & Trey Drake (Jamestown)
Randolph 82, Nichols 78 OT - Game MVPs: Carson Conley (Randolph) & Jakye Rainey (Nichols)
Health Sciences 66, St. Joe’s 50 - Game MVPs: Xavier Benton (Health Sciences) & Isaiah Odom (St. Joe's)
Niagara Wheatfield 76, Williamsville East 54 - Game MVPs: Xander Fletcher (Niagara Wheatfield) & Mason Evans (Williamsville East)
Frontier 60, Hamburg 40 - Game MVPs: Nate Errington (Frontier) & Nolan Smith (Hamburg)
Hamburg (Girls) 57, Frontier (Girls) 29 - Game MVPs Clara Strack (Hamburg) & Mya Brown (Frontier)
4th Annual Centercourt Classic
at Hamburg in 2022
Canisius 68, Jamestown 54 - Game MVPs: Declan Ryan (Canisius) & Trey Drake (Jamestown)
Rochester East 68, Health Sciences 55 - Game MVPs: Damani Barley (East) & Kydale Staton (Health Sciences)
Amherst 57, St. Joe’s 38 - Game MVPs: Teddy McDuffie (Amherst) & Justin Glover (St. Joe’s)
Olean 83, Williamsville East 75 - Game MVPs: Kamdyn McLean (Olean) & Max Schneider (Williamsville East)
Niagara Falls 94, Nichols 70 - Game - MVPs: Josiah Oliver (Niagara Falls) & Jakye Rainey (Nichols)
Niagara Wheatfield 59, Iroquois 54 - Game MVPs: Xander Fletcher (Niagara Wheatfield) & Trey Kleitz (Iroquois)
Hamburg 72, Cardinal O’Hara 57 - Game MVPs: Benjamin Bills (Hamburg) & Chris Wright (Cardinal O’Hara)
** 2021
The event was unable to take place in 2021 due to Covid. The regular season was shortened to 7 weeks and restricted fan access in person. Lew-Port was set to host that year and excited to do so, with the likes of Roddy Gayle, Jalen Duff, and Coach Matt Bradshaw.
3rd Annual Centercourt Classic
at Williamsville North in 2020
Health Sciences 53, Canisius 48 - Game MVPs: Jonezy Jones (Health Sciences) & Eric Kegler (Canisius)
St. Joe’s 88, Lewport 64 - Game MVPs: Daesean Ashley (St. Joe’s) & Roddy Gayle (Lew-Port)
Cardinal O’Hara 59, Middle College 53 - Game MVPs: Chris Wright (Cardinal O’Hara) & Devonte Prince (Middle College)
East 66, Nichols 54 - Game MVPs: Danny Carter (East) & Hugh Purks (Nichols)
Williamsville North 52, Jamestown 51 - Game MVPs: Brett Swiech (Williamsville North) & Demari Jones (Jamestown)
Randolph 65, Iroquois 49 - Game MVPs: Tyler Hind (Randolph) & Trey Kleitz (Iroquois)
2nd Annual Centercourt Classic
at Villa Maria College in 2019
Niagara Falls 72, Canisius 59 - Game MVPs: Jalen Bradberry (Niagara Falls) & Dwayne Vass (Canisius)
Park 65, Iroquois 60 - Game MVPs: Quentin Nnagbo (Park) & Keenan Robertson (Iroquois)
Olean 53, Saint Francis 42 - Game MVPs: Matt Droney (Olean) & David Bartholomew (St. Francis)
Lewport 68, St. Joe's 49 - Game MVPs: Roddy Gayle (Lew-Port) & Daesean Ashley (St. Joes)
West Seneca West 58, Timon 57 - Game MVPs: Adrian Baugh (West Seneca West) & Tahron Goudelock (Timon)
Health Sciences 65, Randolph 47 - Game MVPs: Tyron Lott (Health Sciences) & Tyler Hind (Randolph)
The Inaugural Centercourt Classic
at Williamsville South in 2018
Williamsville South 82, Health Sciences 77 - Game MVPs: Greg Dolan (Williamsville South) & Davante Gaines (Health Sciences)
East 74, Saint Mary’s 43 - Game MVPs: Willard Anderson (East) & Eric Brown (St. Mary’s)
Newfane 62, Ellicottville 51 - Game MVPs: Kyle DeVoogel (Newfane) & Elliot Bowen (Ellicottville)
Franklinville 81, Medina 53 - Game MVPs: Sam Erickson (Franklinville) & Jalen Cooper (Medina)
All-time team records at the Centertcourt Classic
Health Sciences 4–2
Canisius 3–2
St. Joe's 2–3
Randolph 2-2
Jamestown 1-3
Nichols 0-4
Niagara Falls 2-1
Timon 2-1
Amherst 1-2
Niagara Wheatfield 2-0
Olean 2–0
Cardinal O’Hara 1-1
Hamburg 1-1
Lew-Port 1-1
Iroquois 0–2
Williamsville East 0-2
St. Francis 0-2
Following teams are 1-0: Franklinville, Newfane, Salamanca, Rochester East, West Seneca West, Williamsville North, Hamburg (girls)
Following teams are 0-1: Ellicottville, Medina, St. Mary’s, Victor, Irondequoit, Middle College, Frontier (girls)
-🏀centercourt🏀
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