The View From Centercourt

Olean looks ready for a state run

Imagine being the Olean Huskies.  After starting four sophomores and falling in the Class B state semifinal game last season, winning it all became the expectation this season.  High hopes for a team that still rolls out four underclassmen in the starting lineup, but even greater when you consider what they get to do to prepare.  Besides the 12 lopsided contests the Huskies are forced to endure (also known as the CCAA I league games), they had three competitive games on the season slate, spaced out from beginning-to middle-to end of the season.  We all know how the first two went - they hung on to claim a thrilling win over Canisius to start and lost to Nichols in a wakeup call without Sam Eckstrom over the holiday break.  The polish-up-for-sectionals game was a long roadie to face Section V's perenial Class AA power, East.  Despite multiple schools around them postponing games due to weather, Olean wasn't missing that game.  You see, Huskies love snow, and they also love winning.

 

Olean found the competitive game they were after, as they defeated Rochester's East High, 70-65, in a back-and-forth affair that headlined the first night of the annual RAP (Rochester Area Players) Invitational.  The win was the second in as many tries this season for the Huskies, against large schools that were defending champions (Canisius 2012 Manhattan Cup & V-East 2012 Class AA 1 champs).

 

In  game that  held 21 lead changes and saw Olean trail most of the third quarter, it was an 8-0 run late in the final stanza that sealed the victory fro the Huskies.  Wil Bathurst scored with 2:03 remaining to give his team a one-point lead, before Nick Schmidt knocked down a 3-pointer on the ensuing possesion to increase the advantage to four points with 1:37 left.  That four-point lead matched the largest for the Huskies at any point in the game (they got out to a 4-0 lead to start), and the Orientals seemed to get frantic because of it.  As East would miss desperation shots, Olean would rebound and hit free throws.  The Huskies were up 62-55 with 58 seconds remaining.

 

Sam Eckstrom picked up a pair of quick fouls in the first 2:29 of the game and sat not just the remainder of the quarter, but the remainder of the half.  The strategy paid off early in the third, when Eckstrom was called for a phantom charge, but was able to remain in the game.  He finished with 13 points, scoring eight of those in the third.

 

Bathurst paced Olean with 20 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and one steal.  Schmidt scored nine points, Pat Scholla and Max Portlow each netted eight points, and Luke Hennessey added seven points.

 

Portlow keyed a 7-0 run to finish the third quarter, in which he scored all seven of the points. Scholla was everywhere defensively and delivered multiple touch passes perfectly.  Hennessey is as pure a point guard as there is, and he's money from the charity stripe.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

Top games of the week ending 2/3/13

Here's a list of what I think are the top games to follow this week:

 

Monday, January 28th

St. Joe's @ Timon/St. Jude - 7 pm

St. Mary's @ Niagara Catholic - 7:30 pm

 

Tuesday, January 29th

South Park @ McKinley - 6 pm

I-Prep @ Olmsted - 6 pm

Newfane @ CSAT - 6:30 pm

Jamestown @ Williamsville North - 7:30 pm

Clarence @ Frontier - 7:30 pm

East Aurora @ Amherst - 7:30 pm

Silver Creek @ Portville - 7:30 pm

Frewsburg @ Salamanca - 7:30 pm

Sherman @ Brocton - 7:30 pm

 

Thursday, January 31st

St. Joe's @ Nichols - 6:30 pm

Roy-Hart @ Akron - 6:30 pm

Cleveland Hill @ Lackawanna - 7 pm

Lake Shore @ East Aurora - 7:30 pm

 

Friday, February 1st

East @ South Park - 6 pm

MST Seneca @ Burgard - 6 pm

Lafayette @ Olmsted - 6 pm

Canisius @ Timon/St. Jude - 7 pm

McKinley @ Middle College - 7 pm

Lockport @ North Tonawanda - 7 pm

Portville @ Frewsburg - 7:30 pm

Olean @ Rochester East - 8:45 pm

 

Saturday, Feb 2nd

RAP Invitational @ Rochester East 

Canisius vs. Fairport - 5:15 pm

Niagara Falls vs. Webster Schroeder - 7 pm

Timon/St. Jude vs. Rochester East - 8:45 pm

 

Sunday, February 3rd

Niagara Falls @ Bishop Kearney - 2:45 pm

 

Game of the Week - Jamestown @ Will North on Tuesday, January 29th

- In a week loaded with marquee matchups, particularly the three-day span of games in Rochester, there are none with greater Section VI postseason implications than the rematch between North and Jamestown.

In the first duel between the two ECIC I favorites, the Spartans went into a packed James F. McElrath Gymnasium and delivered a clear message that they felt the league was theirs for the taking.  Williamsville North controlled most of the game and for its efforts, got to celebrate a 14-point victory on the long ride home. Jamestown had been unbeaten entering that game and also saw a 23-game home winning streak snapped in the loss.

The past couple seasons have produced an exciting game when the teams met in Williamsville.  Two season's ago, the Spartans defeated Jamestown on their home court.  Last year, North looked like they were about to do it again.  Sterling Taplin sank a pair of free throws with just seconds remaining to put his up by a point, before Tommy Campion drove the length of the court and finished a wild layup to give the Red Raiders a one-point win.

Since the teams last met, each has lost to an out-of-town opponent, but neither has lost to a team locally.  Both will enter the contest with a record of 11-2, and despite the Spartans owning a convincing head-to-head victory less than four weeks ago, they trail Jamestown in the Buffalo News large school poll.  The Red Raiders are currently ranked third, while Williamsville North is two spots behind them at number five.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

 

 

Random Smatterings IV

Time in

 

In Middle College's loss to East, the Kats' Keir Anderson was sporting a pair of argyle socks as part of his uniform.

 

During Newfane's loss to Akron, there was a point heading into a timeout situation when an Akron player got frustrated and yelled at a teammate for not coming to the ball.  Newfane's student section, The Blue Zone, then held up a sign for the Akron player that read "You Mad Bro?!?"

 

St. Joe's JV head coach and varsity assistant, Jack Herlan, gets more miles out of one piece of gum than any other coach in this area.

 

Some teams rarely discussed, but worth mentioning this season include North Tonawanda, Lafayette, and Burgard.  North Tonawanda's only losses in the NFL league have come to Niagara Falls and Kenmore West, both top ten large schools from Class AA.  The Jacks are a young team this season, but are quietly putting together a nice season.  Lafayette has just one league loss to date and Burgard has an overall record of 8-3.

 

East big man, Tyree Tyson, has already blocked 64 shots this season.  He probably rejected someone while I was typing this.

 

Speaking of East, the whole "slow start" thing really seems to serve them well.  Here's how they've started and then finished the season the past three seasons:

2012 - Began 0-4, finished season by playing for Class B1 title.

2011 - Began 2-2, finished season by winning overall Class A title.

2010 - Began 1-2, finished season by winning Class A2 title.

** In 2009, East began 3-0.  That was the Dallas Gary/Dominique Jackson season when they were upset by Cheektowaga in the Class A2 quarterfinals.  Good news for the Panthers - they started 0-2 this year.

 

In Barker's 52-40 loss to Roy-Hart, only three Raiders scored in the game (Haight 17, Luckman 13, & Sweeney 10).

 

Darnell Carson of CSAT eclipsed the 1,000 point total for his career in a win over Wilson.  It was just his 51st career game.  Jared Keppel of North Collins also surpassed the 1,000 point total for his career in a loss to Clymer.

 

Since McKinley hasn't been turning out Olympic champions for gymnastic rings, it might want to consider having those rings that hang in the gym raised.  Those rings block at least one 3-pointer a game from the corner in front of the visitors bench.

 

Hinsdale continues to appear in the Buffalo News Scoreboard, even though Section V annexed them last year.  The problem is, their scores never get reported, so we're teased with knowing Hinsdale battled the likes of Scio or Belfast, but never get the results.  Well Bobcat fans, I did some research and can report Hinsdale is 1-10 and set to host Canaseraga tonight. 

 

I don't remember a bigger regular season game in recent years between a pair of MMA Class B schools, than the one tonight between Nichols and St. Mary's.  It should be the biggest game played at Nichols since they defeated Canisius to end the 2010 regular season.  Looking forward to it.

 

If we were going to assemble a basketball Dream Team, using only head varsity coaches in WNY based on their playing ability, which 12 coaches would make the roster?

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

 

Top games of the week ending 1/20/13

Here's a list of what I think are the top games this week:

 

Monday, January 14th

Sherman @ Clymer - 7:30 pm

 

Tuesday, January 15th

MST Seneca @ Olmsted - 6 pm

Akron @ Newfane - 6:30 pm

Hutch-Tech @ Middle College - 7 pm

Sweet Home @ Williamsville South - 7 pm

Lake Shore @ Depew - 7:30 pm

Randolph @ Frewsburg - 7:30 pm

Cassadaga Valley @ Portville - 7:30 pm

 

Wednesday, January 16th

Oracle Charter @ City Honors - 6 pm

Batavia @ Timon/St. Jude - 7 pm

 

Thursday, January 17th

Middle College @ McKinley - 6 pm

Williamsville South @ Iroquois - 6:30 pm

Maryvale @ Lake Shore - 6:30 pm

Canisius @ Aquinas - 7:30 pm

Cheektowaga @ East Aurora - 7:30 pm

Maple Grove @ Westfield - 7:30 pm

Lancaster @ Clarence - 7:30 pm

Bishop Kearney @ St. Joe's - 8 pm

 

Friday, January 18th

CSAT @ Akron - 6:30 pm

Randolph @ Salamanca - 7:30 pm

Nichols @ Frontier - 7:30 pm

 

Saturday, January 19th

Cheektowaga @ Hutch-Tech - 4 pm

 

MLK CLASSIC @ City Honors HS 

Session I

City Honors vs. Lackawanna - 11 am

East vs. East Aurora - 12:45 pm

 Session II

Middle College vs. Sweet Home - 4 pm

McKinley vs. Canisius - 5:45 pm

 

Sunday, January 20th

 Irondequoit Tournament

Jamestown vs. Edison Tech - 4:30 pm

Eastridge @ Irondequoit - 6:30 pm

 

Game of the Week - Canisius vs. McKinley on Saturday, January 19th

- Last season at the MLK Classic, these two squared off in the headliner and  Canisius won, 76-65.  The Crusaders went on to win the Manhattan Cup, while the Macks claimed another Class A1 crown.  Both teams brought back most of their key players from a year ago.

As of right now, Canisius is the second-ranked large school, while McKinley sits at number four.  The Macks own a pair of wins versus top ten schools in Timon and Clarence.  The only top ten large school Canisius has faced at this point is St. Joe's, who they defeated on Saturday.  The Macks lone loss this year came at the hands of the Marauders, when a shot went in at the buzzer.

 

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

 

Random Smatterings III

At the Kenmore West/Niagara Falls game, a fan sitting front row who disagreed with a call by the refs stood up and offered the refs his iPad, saying "Here you go, I got the instant replay right here".  The NFHS Pep Band then chanted, "Instant Replay".

 

McKinley has an 18-game winning streak in the Yale Cup.

 

In Williamsville North's one-point home loss to Clarence, 70 of its 76 points were scored by underclassmen. 

 

Olmsted played its first nine games with nine different starting lineups. They won six of those games.

 

Jamestown had its 23-game home winning streak snapped in the 62-49 loss to North.

 

If Far West Regional reps were to bear out according to how the teams are ranked in the polls currently, we would have the following teams: AA - Falls, A - McKinley, B - Olean, C - Silver Creek.  Of those teams, only McKinley can rely on league play for real competition this season.

 

During Williamsville North's 62-49 win at Jamestown, there was a sign in the JHS student section that read "Taplin Who".  After the buzzer sounded, Taplin took the sign and proudly held it up for the North fans. He then took a picture with the girl from JHS who had held the sign during the game.  Taplin has since changed his Twitter handle to @TaplinWho.

 

Canisius senior Adam Weir is just four points shy of 1,000 for his career, a milestone he is sure to achieve in the big rivalry game against St. Joe's tomorrow at the Canisius College Koessler Center.

 

Jamestown managed just one team assist in its loss to the Spartans.

 

Newfane's first four wins of the season came against teams with new head coaches:  St. Mary's, Grand Island, Barker, & St. Francis.

 

Ben Drake won his 250th career game as the head coach of Jamestown, when the Red Raiders won at Lancaster on Monday.

 

Silver Creek is the lone remaining unbeaten team in WNY at 11-0.  The Black Knights won their first game by less than 21 points last night, defeating Randolph, 86-79.  The Cardinals were the only team besides OTC/MEC to beat Silver Creek last season.

 

In the Class AA semifinals in 2010, Clarence's Tyler Funk hit a dramatic 3-pointer from the left corner to force overtime against Orchard Park in a game they would go on to win.  It was the first 3-pointer of the year for Funk.  His brother Ryan who currently plays for the Red Devils, has been almost automatic from the same left corner beyond the arc in the three Clarence games I've seen this year.

 

Randolph's Bryce Morrison hit nine 3-pointers and scored 39 points in the Cardinals' loss to Silver Creek, the second highest output of the season by a WNY player.

 

Sam Eckstrom is back in Olean's lineup as of last night against Allegany-Limestone.  The junior came off the bench for 13 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. Early speculation on my part is that Huskies' coach Jeff Anastasia is angling to get Eckstrom the Centercourt Sixth-Man of the Year Award at the Prep Talk/BCANY Awards banquet this April.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

Top games of the week ending 1/13/13

Here's a list of what I think are the top games this week:

 

Monday, January 7th

Nichols @ Timon/St. Jude - 7 pm

Portville @ Salamanca - 7:30 pm

Sherman @ Randolph - 7:30 pm

 

Tuesday, January 8th

McKinley @ Hutch-Tech - 6 pm

Middle College @ South Park - 6 pm

Kenmore West @ Niagara Falls - 6:30 pm

Niagara Catholic @ Nichols - 6:30 pm

East Aurora @ Lake Shore - 6:30 pm

Akron @ Roy-Hart - 6:30 pm

Newfane @ Medina - 6:30 pm

Cathedral Prep (PA) @ St. Francis - 6:30 pm

 

Wednesday, January 9th

City Honors @ Olmsted - 6 pm

Lackawanna @ Cleveland Hill - 6:30 pm

Clarence @ McKinley - 7 pm

 

Thursday, January 10th

East @ Hutch-Tech - 6 pm

Aquinas @ Nichols - 6 pm

Silver Creek @ Randolph - 7:30 pm

 

Friday, January 11th

East @ Middle College - 6 pm

MST Seneca @ I-Prep - 6 pm

Amherst @ Cheektowaga - 6:30 pm

Depew @ Maryvale - 7:30 pm

 

Saturday, January  12th

Canisius vs. St. Joe's @ Koessler Center (Canisius College) - 2 pm

 

Game of the Week - Canisius vs. St. Joe's on Saturday, January 12th

- The rivalry between these two has always been huge, but now it will seem even more enormous as the schools will play both regular season meetings at Canisius College's Koessler Center.  Fans who were once forced to stand in the cold hoping someone would leave during the game to open a space, while attempting to peer in through the windows, will now be almost guaranteed a seat for the game.

The two schools last faced each other at the Koessler Center in March 2011, when Canisius won the first of its back-to-back Manhattan Cups by rallying to defeat St. Joe's in dramatic fashion.  The Crusaders and Marauders have split their regular season meetings the past two seasons, where each school was 1-1 at home and on the road.  Both teams will enter the contest ranked in the top five of the Buffalo News large school poll.

 

-centercourt 

@centercourt42

Random Smatterings II

On Tuesday night at Canisius for its game against Bishop Kearney, as Keith McShea made his way to the media table where I was sitting, he walked past the Blue Crew and drew quite the "KEITH" ovation from the student section.  Earlier, when I walked by them, I heard centercourt. I looked up to see them pointing out where the St. Joe's kids were sitting across the way.

 

There are eight remaining unbeaten teams in WNY.  Three large schools: Jamestown, Williamsville North, and Sweet Home.  Five small schools: Olean, Silver Creek, Newfane, Holland, and Clymer.  We will be down to seven by December 26th, as Williamsville North hosts Holland in the first round of its tournament.

 

The song All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey, always make me think of Depew, because I watched them warmup to the song at its Holiday Tournament in 2010.  Actually, most Christmas music holds some HS basketball association for me because I'm always listening to it while driving to games in December.

 

 Over the last three seasons, the Section VI sectionals program cover has featured Lew-Port/Wilson (2010), Lockport/Grand Island (2011), and Lockport/Ken West (2012).  While the 2010 Lakemen made it to Buff State, the player from the cover photo never saw the floor in the semifinals.  The other schools never even advanced to the semis.  You have to go back to the cover of the 2009 program (Falls/Jamestown with TJ Crittenden & Marcus McAffee) to find players who competed on the court at Buff State.

 

In a 73-25 win over DaVinci, Emerson's Lenny Dowell was credited with the following stat line: 32 points, 21 boards, and 14 assists.  If you include the assists, he would have accounted for at least 60 points (they led 55-22 through three quarters).  Thursday at Olmsted, Dowell finished with two points and no field goals.

 

Speaking of Lenny Dowell, the Eagles' senior is joined in the starting lineup by his brothers, junior Marki and freshman Jason.

 

Once in awhile I get myself freaked out by scrolling too quickly, too far down while checking scores on the Buffalo News scoreboard page, and wind up looking at the girls scores without realizing it.  It happened most recently on Monday night, when I saw Lancaster 43, Will North 31 and said out loud, "What"? 

 

Cassadaga Valley's Randy Dalaba scored 24 points to go with 21 rebounds in a 64-50 win over Cattaraugus/Little Valley.

 

I'd like to see Olean get a playoff bye until the Class B1 title game, just to see who would emerge as the champ in the competitive B1 class without them in it.

 

The Canisius Crusaders Blue Crew participated in the final minute of pregame warmups with the team at Tuesday's win over Kearney.

 

Based on early season results, Bishop Kearney would be considered no better than the fourth best team if we ranked them in WNY, behind Falls, Olean, and Canisius.  If I were ranking them, I'd put three more teams - Jamestown, St. Joe's, & McKinley ahead of them as well.

 

Barker junior Jake Haight set the new individual game season-high scoring mark for this season in WNY with 40 points in a win over Elba.

 

Olean routed Southwestern, 70-36, without the services of Sam Eckstrom.

 

One of my favorite parts of following high school basketball is seeing a player for the first time who I've read or heard about for a longtime.  That was recently the case for such players as Frewsburg's Alex Elderkin, Portville's Zach Blask, Emerson's Lenny Dowell, Clarence's Bryan Jost, and Olmsted's Jalen Schumaker.

 

Olmsted plays the best version of the National Anthem ever recorded - Whitney Houston's rendition from Super Bowl XXV.

 

-centercourt

 

Holiday Tournament Schedule

Depew Tournament

Dec. 27th

St. Mary's vs. City Honors - 6 pm

Depew vs. Lancaster - 7:30 pm

Dec. 29th

Consolation game - 3:30 pm

Championship game - 5 pm

 

Williamsville Jolly Boys Tournament

Dec. 27th

Amherst vs. Newfane - 6 pm

Williamsville South vs. St. Francis - 7:30 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:30 pm

 

Clarence Tournament

Dec. 27th

Fredonia vs. Bennett - 5 pm

Clarence vs. Iroquois - 6:30 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 5 pm

Championship game - 6:30 pm

 

Five Guys Williamsville North Tournament

Dec. 26th

Williamsville East vs. Park - 6 pm

Williamsville North vs. Holland - 7:30 pm

Dec. 27th

Consolation game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:30 pm

 

East Aurora Invitational

Dec. 27th

CSAT vs. Hutch-Tech - 5:30 pm

East Aurora vs. Pioneer - 7 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 5:30 pm

Championship game - 7 pm

 

Maryvale Tournament

Dec. 27th

Cleveland Hill vs. Hamburg - 5:30 pm

Maryvale vs. Akron - 7 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 4:30 pm

Championship game - 6 pm

 

Pendleton Lions Tournament at Starpoint

Dec. 27th

Niagara Catholic vs. Lockport - 5 pm

Starpoint vs. Medina - 6:30 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 5 pm

Championship game - 6:30 pm

 

St. Joe's Tournament

Dec. 27th

Riverside vs. Cheektowaga - 6 pm

St. Joe's vs. I-Prep - 7:30 pm

Dec. 28th 

Consolation game - 5:30 pm

Championship game - 7:15 pm

 

Southwestern Classic

Dec. 29th

Salamanca vs. Sherman - 6 pm

Southwestern vs. Chautauqua Lake - 7:30 pm

Dec. 30th

Consolation game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:30 pm

 

Cassadaga Valley Tournament

Dec. 27th

Clymer vs. Oracle Charter - 6 pm

Cassadaga Valley vs. Westfield - 7:30 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:30 pm

 

IAABO Tournament @ St. Bonaventure

Dec. 27th

BRACKET ONE

Randolph vs. Archbishop Walsh - 2:30 pm

Portville vs. Allegany-Limestone - 4:15 pm

BRACKET TWO

Nichols vs. Warren PA - 6 pm

Olean vs. Bradford PA - 7:45 pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 2:30 pm

Consolation game - 4:15 pm

Championship game - 6 pm

Championship game - 7:45 pm

 

Emerling Ford Tournament @ Springville

Dec. 27th

South Park vs. Gowanda - 4:30 pm

Springville vs. West Valley - 6 pm

Dec. 29th 

Consolation game - 1:30 pm

Championship game - 6 pm

 

West Seneca Tournament at West Seneca East

Dec. 27th

Tonawanda vs. Buffalo Science - 4:30 pm

West Seneca West vs. West Seneca East - 6 pm

Dec. 28th 

Consolation game - 4:30 pm

Championship game - 6 pm

 

Ken-Ton Tournament at Kenmore East

Dec. 27th

Kenmore West vs. Sweet Home - 5 pm

Kenmore East vs. Cardinal O'Hara - 6:30pm

Dec. 28th

Consolation game - 5 pm

Championship game - 6:30 pm 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

-centercourt

 

 

 

Canisius wins big over Bishop Kearney

Bishop Kearney may have the attention of the high school basketball world in the state of New York for the roster they field.  It includes seven of the top eight players returning from last season's Class A state semifinalist.  One of those players is Syracuse bound after this season.  Another is a top national recruit for the Class of 2015.  One is 6-9 and the other is 6-7.  Then in the offseason, the Kings added another player to the mix who stands an imposing 6-10.  The Kings were basically crowned before the season even began.  

 

Now that the season is underway, the Kings have already had their crowns knocked off, twice in three games.  

 

With the game tied at 20 early in the second quarter, Matt MacDonald delivered a second straight backdoor pass to Adam Weir, who finished the play at the rim for a second straight time, and gave Canisius a lead it would not relinquish.  The Crusaders got 28 points from Weir, 16 points from MacDonald, and a solid contribution from their own big man, 6-8 Jamel Mosley, in scoring a 69-50 victory over Bishop Kearney.  The win is the third straight for Canisius since a season-opening loss to top WNY small school Olean, while the Kings slip to 1-2.

 

Canisius blew the game wide open during a four-minute stretch in the third quarter, with a 20-4 run that included four 3-pointers: two from MacDonald and back-to-back bombs from Weir, to go up 50-30.  They also scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter, erasing any thought the Kings had of mounting a comeback.

 

Some game notes:

- Syracuse bound 6-9 Chinonso Obokoh did not make the trip to Canisius and is out indefinitely with a foot injury.

- The win for Canisius marked the third straight time the Kings have made the trip to WNY and headed back east with a loss.  Last year, in another game Obokoh missed, Timon/St. Jude defeated the BK on its court, 61-50, and Falls topped the Kings 52-47 to open this season for both teams.

- The Crusaders defended extremely well all game, while Bishop Kearney seemed to treat defense as an afterthought, except for a brief stretch late in the third quarter in an attempt to answer a Canisius run.

- Ryan Raccuia, who seems to hit a '3' in every game, connected on one in response to a trey from Godspower Ogide, who had airballed an attempt on the possesion prior.

- Mosley finished with eight points and was the best big man in the game, including a nice pump fake and finish in the post.

- Kings' forward Alvin English made the mistake of clappping at Aaron White while guarding him, a gesture that indicates a challenge.  White broke him down with some quick, sick  dribbling and shifting, and created several feet of space.  He didn't even use the space to drive - he simply resumed running the offense.  No one should ever clap at White...that's just asking for it!

- It was good to see the Blue Crew, the Crusader student section, out in full force for a nonleague game on a Tuesday.  They kept me entertained all evening with some very clever and humerous razzing.  

- Kings' guard Antwoine Anderson made some spectacular buckets on his way to scoring 20 points, and earned the respect of the Blue Crew along the way.

- Bryant was held to just 10 points.

- Notable Canisius alumni and college football players John Urschel (Penn State) and James Gaines (Miami) were in attendance and received an ovation from the home crowd.

 

-centercourt

 

Random Smatterings I

McKinley used a 34-2 third quarter to extend its lead to 85-15, during a 105-22 nonleague demolition of Dunkirk.  Karma is a Mack!

 

Midway through the fourth quarter of Newfane's 78-43 win against Grand Island, the Panthers' student section, known as the Blue Zone, chanted "We're not Wilson".  The Lakemen had lost to Grand Island four days earlier, 54-17.

 

With Section V's Bishop Kearney the favorite to represent Rochester in Class AA, Niagara Falls coach Sal Constantino scheduled two regular season nonleague games with the Kings.  When people would ask me why, I said maybe Sal subscribed to the theory "it's tough to beat a team three times in a season", so he was trying to give Falls an edge at the Far West Regionals.  Then they won in the first meeting.

 

I've only seen Constantino wear a tie twice and it's been good luck both times.  Once was a three-point win against Aquinas in the 2010 Classic and the other was this year's 2012 Classic win against Kearney.  In each game, the dress shirt became completely untucked by early in the third quarter.

 

While tyring to convince the ref that his player's pass had been tipped before it went out of bounds, Batavia coach Buddy Brasky said "Come on, he's not that bad that he'd just throw the ball out the door".

 

While watching the Crusaders dig themselves a huge hole in the first half of their loss to Olean, I thought, "They're playing with no Hart".  It was an illustration to me of just how important Matt Hart was to that team last year.  Canisius will be fine, but they'll have to find a way to compensate for his leadership.   Speaking of Hart, he scored a _{career-high 27 points} in leading Hamilton College to a win earlier this month.  He leads his team in scoring, minutes played, and steals.

 

Bishop Timon/St. Jude's win against Kenmore West on Monday was the schools first victory over a ranked WNY large school since the 2010 season.  

 

Next season, Jamestown versus Olean in a nonleague game. Please.

 

New St. Mary's AD Joe Rera didn't miss a beat in carrying on the AdPro ECIC/MMA Challenge.  Another outstanding three-day, 10-game event.

 

During Jamestown's win over Williamsville South, I asked Keith McShea about the Red Raiders' Quinn Lee Yaw.  I wanted to know if Lee was part of the first or last name.  McShea replied, "Yaw don't know his name?"

 

Jared Keppel of North Collins scored 32 points  & grabbed 12 rebounds in a win against Gowanda on Wednesday.

 

My first poll ballot of the season for the large schools was identical to how the actual poll turned out.  Clearly a smart group of pollsters has been assembled for this season.

 

When Depew and Niagara Catholic played at the Cataract City Classic, both teams wore away jerseys.

 

East has stumbled out of the gates as usual, beginning 1-2, including a 10-point loss to Maple Grove.  It likely doesn't get better when they host Riverside this Friday.  Look for the Panthers to win Class B2 and face Olean in the overall Class B final.

 

At the Cataract City Classic, the game announcer would say something like, "at the end of the 3rd quarter, it's Willaimsville North 39, Batavia 23...you do the math".

 

Middle College junior Bri'an Brown set the early season scoring bar at 38 points, which he scored in a nonleague victory over CSAT Wednesday night.

 

Coaches:  Please teach your players some subbing etiquette.  Don't tap the media table and then stand in front of it so no one can see.  Go to the middle, where the scoreboard operator is, and SIT (just like they do in college & NBA).  He will sound the buzzer at the next whistle and then wait for the officials to wave you in.  That's how it works.  Amazing how many kids have no idea what the rationale is behind checking in at the scorer's table is.

 

-centercourt    

@centercourt42

2013 Poll Ballots - Week 1

As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools.  The polls are based on games played through Sunday of each week.  Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.

 

Large Schools

1. Niagara Falls (AA) - The Wolverines deserve this spot, this week, for slugging out an overtime victory against Section V Class AA favorite Bishop Kearney.  

2. Canisius (MMA) - A season, with expectations as high as they've ever been, starts for the Crusaders tomorrow against Olean at St. Mary's.  

3. Jamestown (AA) - In the second half against Williamsville South, the Red Raiders looked like I thought they would this season - much improved thanks to the growth of some key underclassmen. 

4. McKinley (A1) - Business as usual in the opener against Timon.  The Macks relentless style wears teams down, while the talented, fresh legs just keep coming. Host St. Joe's this Friday night.

5. St. Joe's (MMA) - Followed up a wild double overtime victory against Kenmore West with a pair of routs in the Lockport Rotary Tournament against Williamsville East and I-Prep.  Next up, a date with Jamestown tomorrow night at St. Mary's - part of an incredible double-header, as Canisius/Olean follows!

6. Williamsville North (AA) - Sterling Taplin was easily the best player on the floor as the Spartans rolled to victory against Batavia, but it was their team execution that was most impressive.  If they continue to play that well together, a Falls/Jamestown AA finale is no sure thing.

7. Kenmore West (AA) - After taking the Marauders to the brink of defeat last week, the Blue Devils can prove they deserve this spot tonight with a win over a talented Timon squad that has begun 0-3.

8. Clarence (AA) - A balanced team with a strong backcourt led by Bryan Jost and Bobby Florio that opened the year with an attention-grabbing Amherst Tournament championship.

9. Amherst (A2) - After falling to the Red Devils in their tournament, the Tigers were lucky to escape with a win over Depew.  But they do deserve credit for responding in overtime with their backs against the wall and this team should only get better as the year wears on.

10. Riverside (A2) - Difficult to gauge where they really are because they haven't played at full strength yet. Justice Feggans is now cleared to play, the biggest difference maker in that lineup.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - They still only start one senior.  Raced out to a 47-8 halftime lead against Bradford (PA) in their season opener.  

2. Middle College (C1) - Seeking a third trip to Glens Falls in four seasons, they won't face a Class C school until sectionals.  

3. Silver Creek (C2) - If you think this is too high for this team, you're wrong and probably haven't seen them play yet.  They are better than last year's team, the one that saw a win against Middle College and a trip to Glens Falls get away when a shot in the lane missed at the buzzer.

4. Depew (B1) - Every year, new players get plugged in and the system continues to work.  The Wildcats saw their stock rise in a loss to Amherst.

5. East Aurora (B1) - They lost Stan Wier, but return enough from the team that finished with wins against Riverside, Amherst, and McKinley, to be a force again this year after dropping down to Class B.

6. Lackawanna (B1) - Season opening victories against St. Francis and Frontier is as impressive a start as any small school had.

7. Nichols (MMA) - Well look who's off to a 4-0 start despite a pair of early injuries. The Vikings are gaining confidence and optimism, something that will continue if they are able to better Sweet Home tonight at St. Mary's.

8. Newfane (B1) - Who's going to win the N-O?  CSAT? Akron?  Too early to say for sure, but while CSAT fell to Niagara Catholic already, the Panthers started off their season by beating the Manhattan Cup finalists.

9. St. Mary's (MMA) - Loss to Newfane puts them here, after garnering a pair of wins over Yale Cup I schools, East & Riverside.  Wednesday night, they host Williamsville South in the ECIC/MMA Challenge finale. 

10. Cleveland Hill (B2) - Giving them this final spot because they led Nichols for over three quarters before falling at the end, despite Jared Watkins not playing, and then defeated Lancaster two nights later.  Alden was closely considered, but the Golden Eagles got the nod for being defending ECIC IV co-champs.

 

-centercourt

2012 Cataract City Classic - Day Two

Brunswick 57, Niagara Falls 45

After making big plays down the stretch one night earlier in it's win over Bishop Kearney, Niagara Falls ran out of gas after a close three quarters, and fell to the visiting Blue Devils of Ohio.  The Wolverines were outscored 20-6 in the final quarter, after being tied at half and trailing by two after three quarters.  Jermaine Crumpton led Falls with 13 points, while JJ Wilkes added 10 points.

 

Jamestown 68, Williamsville South 46

The Red Raiders took the first half to shake off the rust, then used a 25-8 third quarter to blow what was a three-point game at half, wide open.  The lone senior on the Jamestown roster, Tommy Campion, led the way with 19 points.  Sophomores Zack Panebianco and Brandon Kellam each netted 12 points during the second half surge, finishing with 14 & 13 points respectively.

 

Depew 49, Niagara Catholic 40

The Wildcats maintained their composure in a scrappy game and pulled away from the pesky Patriots in the fourth quarter, aided by solid free throw shooting.  Derrick Sekuterski led Depew with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

 

Geneva 53, Bishop Timon/St. Jude 50

The Tigers dug themselves an early hole and could never quite get back out.  Timon trailed 22-6 after the first quarter, before surging back with a 20-8 second frame.  The rest of the game was very back-and-forth, but the Tigers were unable to steal a lead.  Donte Williams scored 22 points to lead Timon.

 

Newfane 61, St. Mary's 56 - OT

The Panthers came out of a timeout trailing by three points with nine seconds remaining and executed a play perfectly to force the extra session.  Connor Sears took the ball on the wing, penetrated briefly, and then kicked to the top of the key to Reid Weber, who buried a 3-pointer as the buzzer rang.  Once in overtime, Newfane quickly gained a five-point lead and then connected from the line to secure the win.  Connor Sears scored 24 points, ripped 11 boards, and collected eight steals for the Panthers.  Paul Rath netted 18 points and Tyler English scored 17 for St. Mary's.

 

Grand Island 54, Wilson 17

Jordan Jelks led the Vikings with 22 points and Jadon Wegrzyn chipped in 12 points, as Grand Island limited the Lakemen to just four points in the first half.

 

-centercourt

Falls slays Goliath

Last season, Bishop Kearney was led by a pair of future Division I towers in 6-10 junior Chinonso Obokoh and 6-8 freshman Thomas Bryant.  After losing in the NYSPHAA Class A semifinals and only graduating one starter, the Kings moved up to the state's largest classification, Class AA.  They also added another 6-10 D-I prospect, 6-10 transfer Gods Power Ogide, prompting a hype machine that included them in a preseason fab 5 Max Preps article.

 

On Friday night, the Kings embarked on the first game of a grueling regular season schedule.  Despite all the preseason buzz, the Kings quickly found out that teams would be gunning for them, including the one that's for now considered the favorite to keep them making it out of the Far West Region.

 

Junior Vinzell Watkins drained both ends of a one-and-one free throw situation with just 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, where defending Section VI Class AA champ Niagara Falls would go on to defeat Bishop Kearney, 52-47.  Canisius College signee, senior Jermaine Crumpton, scored a game-high 18 points to lead the way for the Wolverines.  Ramir Burton added 16 points (13 in the 4th & OT), while Watkins scored 13 points.

 

Obokoh scored 12 points, Ogide netted eight points and Bryant finished with seven points in the loss.

 

While I think the Kings did little to exploit their distinct size advantage, I feel it's better explained as what Falls did to earn the win:

- Blistering man-to-man defense all evening that contested every shot

- A willingness to hit the floor for every loose ball

- Ramir Burton picked up a pair of early charges, limiting how agressively he could defend

- Because of the size discrepancy, Falls was forced to shoot from the perimeter, and knocked down  shot after shot

- They did an outstanding job of limiting the Kings' second chance opportunities

- NFHS brought the energy for 36 minutes and dictated the tempo because of it

 

Not exactly breaking news, but Crumpton is really good and provided a little bit of everything in leading Falls to the win.  I highly doubt anyone in attendance last night would argue that he has earned his signing with the Canisius Golden Griffs.

 

Last night was what it's all about.  It was a game that'll be permantly burned into my memory for the combination of atmosphere, talent, and intensity that filled the Wolv-Arena.  Year after year, some of the best nights of basketball each season unfold in the headliner games of the Cataract City Classic.

 

-centercourt

 

Follow @centercourt42

It's official!  I've decided to stop living in the pre-shot clock era...sort of.

 

Due to the repeated advisement of those in the know, I will now be tweeting.  The handle to follow, as it says in the title of this post, is @centercourt42. 

 

I literally received my first ever twitter tutorial last night while watching the Pastor-Cooper Showcase games at Daemen College.  We'll see how it goes - like my first ever tweet admits, I still don't even own a cell phone, so it'll be all laptop-based tweets.  But hey, I collected three followers (including Keith McShea, or God as another of my followers calls him) before I even tweeted once.

 

***

 

A BIG night at Niagara Falls High School tonight, as the team with the tallest prep front court in NYS, the Bishop Kearney Kings, visit to do battle with the host Wolverines in the night cap of the Cataract City Classic.  The event begins tonight at 5 pm, with Sweet Home facing Niagara Wheatfield, followed by Williamsville North taking on Batavia.  Six more games on tap for tomorrow, including a visit from Jamestown (vs. Williamsville South) and a Falls finale against Brunswick, Ohio.  Click here for a complete 2012 Cataract Classic schedule.

 

-centercourt

Buffalo Storm Summer Tip-off Team Camp

The 2012 Buffalo Storm Tip-off Summer Team Camp will take place on Friday, June 22nd & Saturday, June 23rd.  The camp, which is presented by Niagara Wheatfield head coach Erik O'Bryan and Damen Associate head coach Mike Miranto, will have games played at three different sites on each day: Daemen College, Park School, and Sweet Home High School.  Games will begin on Friday at 4:30 pm and on Saturday at 8 am.  A one time admission of just $5 is good for any and all games during the two-day event.

 

The camp's format guarantees each team at least three games.  A total of 24 schools will participate, with each school placed in a four-team pool:

 

Pool A - Niagara Falls, St. Joe's, Olean, & Amherst

Pool B - Canisius, Jamestown, McKinley, & Kenmore West

 

Pool C - St. Mary's, Williamsville North, Batavia, & Newfane

Pool D - Depew, Williamsville South, Clarence, & Sweet Home

 

Pool E - Niagara Wheatfield, Wilson, Tonawanda, & Iroquois

Pool F - Grand Island, Maryvale, North Tonawanda, & Park

 

** A champion will emerge from each pool and then face the champion from the pool it's paired against (A vs. B, C vs. D, E vs. F), meaning there will be three overall champions crowned.

 

Some of the marquee matchups that are guaranteed to take place include:

 

Friday @ Daemen

5:45 pm - Niagara Falls vs. Olean

7:00 pm - Jamestown vs. Canisius

 

Saturday @ Daemen

2:15 pm - McKinley vs. Jamestown

 

Saturday @ Park High School

11:45 am - Niagara Falls vs. St. Joe's

2:15 pm - Olean vs. St. Joe's

 

Saturday @ Sweet Home

10:30 am - Canisius vs. McKinley

 

-centercourt