The View From 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

 

PAL/ACE All-Star Game rosters

Below are the rosters for tomorrow's PAL/ACE All-Star games at Niagara Falls High School.  There will be two games played, beginning at 6 pm, with the second to follow immediately after, around 7:15 pm.  The first game will consist of varsity level players that are current sophomores or younger, while the feature game is between juniors & seniors.  Admission for the evening is $5, with all proceeds going to PAL youth activities.

 

GAME 1 - Sophomores & Younger:

                                                                                                               West Coach: Carlos Bradberry, NFHS

East Coach: Ryan Hogan, Kenmore West

                                                                                                                  Cam Lewis - Nichols

Sam Eckstrom - Olean                                                                    Howard Washington - City Honors

Alex Price - Kenmore West                                                          Brendan Cox - East Aurora

Vinzell Watkins - Niagara Falls                                                   Wil Bathurst - Olean

Bri'an Brown - OTC/MEC                                                              Adam Fron - Kenmore West

Quinn Carey - Grand Island                                                          Willie Smith - Riverside

Phillip Bowen - Iroquois                                                                 Derrick Sekuterski - Depew

Moziah Townsend - Lockport                                                      Donte Williams - Timon

Tyler English - St. Marys                                                               Ryan Lawrence - Lockport

Ryan Ross - Grand Island                                                              Kevin Reese - OTC/MEC

Tyler Grandits - Kenmore West

 

 

GAME 2 - Juniors & Seniors

North Coach: Nate Beutel, Grand Island                               South Coach - Erik O'Bryan, NW

Jayson Moore - Sweet Home                                                       Aaron White  -Canisius

Jermaine Crumpton - NFHS                                                        Quinton Campbell - Kenmore West

Taijay Williams - NFHS                                                                 Matt Hart - Canisius

Adam Weir - Canisius                                                                     Cordell Torres - OTC/MEC

Jack Mulcahy - Niagara Wheatfield                                         Matt MacDonald - Canisius

Erik Simmons - St. Mary's                                                            Lovell Smith -McKinley                

Fulton Bryant - Timon                                                                   Justice Feggans - Riverside

Joe Lowery - Niagara Catholic                                                   Jordan Glover - St. Joe's

Aaron Frazier - MST Seneca                                                       Martin Bailey - Kenmore West

Ramir Burton - NFHS                                                                     Jamaal Carter - City Honors

 

 

-centercourt

The 2012 All-Centercourt Team: The Best in WNY

COACH OF THE YEAR:

Chris Koselny, East Aurora

 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Stan Wier, East Aurora

 

FIRST TEAM

Stan Wier - East Aurora, Senior

Matt Hart - Canisius, Senior

Reggie Agbeko - St. Joe's, Senior

Sterling Taplin - Williamsville North, Sophomore

Adam Weir - Canisius, Junior

 

SECOND TEAM

Jermaine Crumpton - Niagara Falls, Junior

Ryan Whelpley - Archbishop Walsh, Senior

Aaron Frasier - MST Seneca, Senior

Cordell Torres - OTC/MEC, Senior

Connor Keenan - Williamsville East, Senior

 

THIRD TEAM

Tommy Campion - Jamestown, Junior

Jordan Williams - Bishop Timon/St. Jude, Senior

Sam Eckstrom - Olean, Sophomore

Wil Bathurst - Olean, Sophomore

Erik Simmons - St. Mary's, Senior

 

FOURTH TEAM

Jordan Farrant - Holland, Senior

Jesse Lalka - Tonawanda, Senior

Kyle Kobis - Bishop Timon/St. Jude, Senior

Zeddie Williams - Silver Creek, Junior

Martin Bailey - Kenmore West, Senior

 

FIFTH TEAM

Nick Lenart - Panama, Senior

Darnell Carson - CSAT, Junior

Matt McCormick - Orchard Park, Senior

Jamaal Carter - City Honors, Senior

JJ Wilkes - Niagara Falls, Junior

 

HONORABLE MENTION

Taijay Williams - Niagara Falls, Senior

Joe Lowery - Niagara Catholic, Senior

Devin Redden - St. Mary's, Senior

Jake Denz - St. Mary's, Senior

Matt Taylor - Frontier, Senior

Alex Warren - Frontier, Senior

Khalid Brown - OTC/MEC, Senior

DeMilo Gibbs - Bishop Timon/St. Jude, Senior

Austin Alonge - Westfield, Senior

Tyler Wagner - St. Francis, Senior

Dustin Schauman - Cassadaga Valley, Senior

Maurice Cheatom - I-Prep, Senior

Alex Grace - Maple Grove, Senior

Jon Gemerek - Depew, Senior

Jaden Cotton - Depew, Senior

Kevin Holmes - Dunkirk, Senior

Adam Cecchini - Jamestown, Senior

Lamont Little - Riverside, Senior

Daquan Griggs - East, Senior

Marcus Nelson - Hutch-Tech, Senior

Tyler Martin - Wilson, Senior

Glenn Belton - Amherst, Senior

Jonathan Belton - Amherst, Junior

Justice Feggans - Riverside, Junior

Aaron White - Canisius, Junior

Matt MacDonald - Canisius, Junior

Quinton Campbell - Kenmore West, Junior

Reyzon Jordan - McKinley, Junior

Marcus Morris - McKinley, Junior

Lovell Smith - McKinley, Junior

Jordan Glover - St. Joe's, Junior

Clayton Hess - Tonawanda, Junior

Chaquille Nettles - Williamsville South, Junior

Nick Schmidt - Olean, Sophomore

Brendan Cox - East Aurora, Sophomore

 

-centercourt

 

 

Poll Ballots - 2012 Season Finale

As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools.  These polls are based on games played in the 2011-2012 season, and heavily weighted on postseason results.  Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.

 

Large Schools

1. Canisius (MMA) - An outstanding season for the Crusaders with no bad losses.  After losing two straight to St. Joe's and Rochester East, they put together an 11-game win streak that included a pounding of the Marauders in the rematch and an emphatic victory over St. Mary's to claim a second straight Manhattan Cup - the first team to do so in over a decade.

2. Niagara Falls (AA) - The team known for their athletic man-to-man defense used a 17-3 run to complete a comeback on Jamestown, thanks to a great coaching decision in switching to a zone.  The Wolverines played their best this season in three losses against top competition: Class AA finalist Aquinas, Class A semifinalist Bishop Kearney, and Milton (GA) which finished the year ranked number seven nationally.

3. Jamestown (AA) - If Tommy Campion connects from the corner at the buzzer, the Red Raiders are celebrating a third straight Class AA title. 

4. St. Joe's (MMA) - They seemed to peak much too early and then regressed much too quickly.  Still, they were the only team fron NY State to beat Aquinas and the only team from WNY to beat Canisius. 

5. East Aurora (A2) - The Blue Devils found their stride at the perfect time of the season.  While the return of Stan Wier was a major part of its success, East Aurora played some of the best team basketball in WNY this season at the most important time. 

6. McKinley (A1) - The Macks made it as high as four on my ballot and number two in the overall poll, but were unable to reach the regionals after an ice cold shooting performance in the Class A crossover.  The good news for McKinley fans is they bring almost everyone back to the squad that ran the table in the Yale Cup.

7. Frontier (AA) - Proved the late-season home win against Jamestown was no fluke by pushing them to the brink at Buffalo State.  The Falcons also swept the season series against Williamsville North.

8. Bishop Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - The Tigers were obviously a talented and dangerous team, but lacked the ability to win the important game.  They were 0-6 against ranked large schools in WNY.

9. Williamsville North (AA) - After picking up a big road win at Kenmore West, the Spartans nearly upset another NFL team in Falls.  An early season win against cross-town rival Williamsville East, along with wire-to-wire battles with the top three AA teams gets them this spot.

10. Williamsville East (A1) - The Flames proved to be a difficult out by battling McKinley to the bitter end, and did so with a pair of freshmen logging major minutes.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - A public school starting four sophomores and a junior, with the first guy off the bench also a sophomore, reaches the state final four.  A remarkable season for the Huskies, and a future so bright it could blind you.

2. St. Mary's (MMA) - Toughness and character defined the Lancers all season in their wins and losses.  They were a great example of what it looks like when a team that has been together, plays together.

3. OTC/MEC (C1) - With a whole new cast, the Kats made it to a second state title game in three years.  Only losses were to Canisius, St. Joe's, East Aurora, and Tuckahoe.

4. Depew (B1) - The postseason proved just how strong ECIC III was this season.  The Wildcats emerged from league play prepared for anything Class B had to offer.  After defeating teams with a combined 34 wins in Dunkirk and Tonawanda, they gave Olean all they could handle in the final.

5. Silver Creek (C2) - I was high on the Black Knights all season, and as it turned out, not high enough (they made it to number seven on my ballot during the season).  If Zeddie Williams' great look in the lane bounces in rather than out against the Kats, I think Silver Creek plays for the Class C state title - just like OTC/MEC did. 

6. Archbishop Walsh (MMA) - They won every game they were supposed to, including a 24-point rout of CSAT and against Portville (overtime C2 semifinal loss to Silver Creek).  The signature moment of the season for the Eagles was a 19-point win over St. Mary's.

7. East (B1) - As predicted all year, the Panthers were right there in the thick of the Class B race at season's end.  East matched up very well with Olean, and like the Huskies, they bring back a lot of talent.  With them dropping to Class B2 next season, it makes predicting an East/Olean crossover for next year petty easy.

8. CSAT (B2) - The Eagles won 10 of their last 12 and took Class B2 convincingly, with a 16-point win over Cleveland Hill in the semifinals and a 14-point triumph on Wilson in the final.  Made history by becoming the first charter school in WNY to win a Section VI title.   

9. Panama (D) - Won its first sectional crown in years with a balanced lineup of shooters, led by all-around standout Nick Lenart.

10. Maple Grove (C2) - Alex Grace missed a shot in the final seconds of a one-point overtime loss to Silver Creek in the C2 final, ending the team's 17-game win streak.

 

-centercourt

Cataract Classic lineup for next season

Friday, December 7, 2012

5:00 pm - Sweet Home vs. Niagara Wheatfield

6:30 pm - Batavia vs. Williamsville North

8:00 pm - Bishop Kearney vs. Niagara Falls

 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

12:00 pm - Grand Island vs. Wilson

1:30 pm - Newfane vs. St. Mary's

3:00 pm - Geneva vs. Bishop Timon/St. Jude

4:30 pm - Depew vs. Niagara Catholic

6:00 pm - Jamestown vs. Williamsville South

7:30 pm - Brunswick (OH) vs. Niagara Falls

 

-centercourt

 

2012 All-League Teams

** Still missing teams from CCAA IV.  As soon as I receive them, they will be added.

 

Monsignor Martin Association

Player of the Year:

Reggie Agbeko - St. Joe's, 12

 

First Team

Matt Hart - Canisius, 12

Adam Weir - Canisius, 11

Ryan Whelpley - Archbishop Walsh, 12

Jordan Williams - Timon, 12

Kyle Kobis - Timon, 12

Erik Simmons - St. Mary's, 12

 

Second Team

Devin Redden - St. Mary's, 12

Joe Lowery - Niagara Catholic, 12

DeMilo Gibbs - Timon, 12

Jake Denz - St. Mary's, 12

Matt MacDonald - Canisius, 11

 

 

************************************************************************** 

 

YALE CUP I

Player of the Year:

Reyszon Jordan - McKinley, 11

 

First Team

Justice Feggans - Riverside, 11

Marcus Morris - McKinley, 11

Marcus Nelson - Hutch-Tech, 12

Lamont Little - Riverside, 12

Lovell Smith - McKinley, 11

 

Second Team

Denzell Washington - Hutch-Tech, 12

Tim Whitehead - Hutch-Tech, 12

Daquawn Griggs - East, 12

Mike Leonard - Riverside, 12

Daequan Warren - McKinley, 11

 

Third Team

Andrew Strug - Hutch-Tech, 12

Johnathan Lewis - East, 10

Mike Davis - McKinley, 12

Jon Colon - Lafayette, 11

Javon Fogan - Bennett, 12

 

Honorable Mention

East: Rashaan Brown - 12, Jayvon Vanoy - 12

Bennett: Ed Bishop - 12

Burgard: Justin Jennings - 12, Arzell Kaigler - 11

South Park: Zachary Kaczor - 10

Lafayette: Anthony Rodgers - 12

Hutch-Tech: Jovohn Owens - 11, Roman West - 10, Amanuel Radford - 10

Riverside: Willie Smith - 10, Walter Pryor - 10

McKinley: Deonte Bell - 11, Samuel Smith - 11

 

********************************************************************** 

 

YALE CUP II

Player of the Year:

Cordell Torres - OTC/MEC, 12

 

First Team

Aaron Frasier - MST Seneca, 12

Jamaal Carter - City Honors, 12

Maurice Cheatom - I-Prep, 12

Khalid Brown - OTC/MEC, 12

DeVonte Harper - OTC/MEC, 12

 

Second Team

Marquel Massey - City Honors, 12

Lenny Dowell - Emerson, 11

Bri'an Browm - OTC/MEC, 10

Devonte Witsett - I-Prep, 12

Kevin Reese - OTC/MEC, 10

 

Third Team

Jaleyn Pierson - MST Seneca, 12

Johnny Linton - Buffalo Arts, 12

Howard Washington - City Honors, 8

Keir Anderson - OTC/MEC, 11

Ameer Franklin - Emerson, 12

 

Honorable Mention

MST Seneca: Marquis Shaw - 12

City Honors: Matt Cieslik - 9

Buffalo Arts: Derek Simpson - 9

I-Prep: Duryll Anderson - 10

Emerson: Demetrius Hodge - 12

OTC/MEC: TJ Scott - 10

 

************************************************************************ 

 

ALL ECIC 

Player of the Year:

Stan Wier - East Aurora, 12

 

First Team

Sterling Taplin - Williamsville North, 10

Connor Keenan - Williamsville East, 12

Tommy Campion - Jamestown, 11

Jesse Lalka - Tonawanda, 12

Jordan Farrant - Holland, 12

 

**************************************************************************** 

 

ECIC I

Co-Players of the Year:

Sterling Taplin - Williamsville North, 10 & Tommy Campion - Jamestown, 11

 

First Team

Matt McCormick - Orchard Park, 12

Matt Taylor - Frontier, 12

Stephen Hughes - Clarence, 12

Alex Warren - Frontier, 12

Adam Cecchini - Jamestown, 12

 

Second Team

Kareem Walker - Jamestown, 12

Neal Farrell - Orchard Park, 12

Jayson Moore - Sweet Home, 12

Sean Murray - Lancaster, 11

Justin Bangert - Willaimsville North, 12

 

Honorable Mention

Williamsville North: David Berkun - 11

West Seneca West: Nick Clancy - 10

Clarence: Bryan Jost - 10

Frontier: Remington Heil - 12

Sweet Home: Rashaad Rogers - 12, Kole Gilchrist - 11

Lancaster: Danny Emma - 10

 

************************************************************************* 

 

ECIC II

Player of the Year:

Connor Keenan - Williamsville East, 12

 

First Team

Chaquiel Nettles - Williamsville South, 11

Nick Benningfield - Hamburg, 12

Michael Kyarunts - Williamsville East, 12

Nate Wilkinson - Iroquois, 12

 

Second Team

Madison Wesolowski - Iroquois, 12

Jim Caputi - Williamsville South, 12

Isaiah Kaudeyr - Williamsville East, XX

Damien Powers - Williamsville South, 11

Eric Moscato - Hamburg, 12

 

Honorable Mention

Lake Shore:  Carl Brueckl - XX, Tyler Mascio - XX, Wade Bergum - XX, Ryan Spears - XX

West Seneca East: Andy Smigera - XX, Alex Pacer - XX

Starpoint: Andrew Rankie - XX

Hamburg: Jeremiah Bill - XX, Kyle Violanti - XX

Iroquois: Ben Wutz - XX

 

************************************************************************** 

 

ECIC III

Player of the Year:

Stan Wier - East Aurora, 12

 

First Team

Jonathan Belton - Amherst, 11

Sean Weisansal - Maryvale, 11

Glenn Belton - Amherst, 12

Jonathon Gemerek - Depew, 12

Marquel Jackson - Cheektowaga, 11

Jaden Cotton - Depew, 12

 

Second Team

Brendan Cox - East Aurora, 10

Alex Turecki - Amherst, 11

Zak Ciezki - Cheektowaga, 9

Derek Clyburn - Cheektowaga, 11

Aaron Ertel - Depew, 12

 

Honorable Mention

Pioneer: Terik Lewis - 11, Mike Brass - 12, Connor Johnson - 11

Springville: Hunter Berry - 12

Amherst: Jonah Heim - 11, Dion Lewis - 11

East Aurora: Ian Allen - 11

 

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ECIC IV

Player of the Year:

Jordan Farrant - Holland, 12

 

First Team

Jesse Lalka - Tonawanda, 12

Daryl Spencer - Cleveland Hill, 12

Clayton Hess - Tonawanda, 11

Miles Barker - Cleveland Hill, 12

Paul Matuszak - Alden, 12

 

Second Team

Zak Stone - Alden, 12

Shaquille Brooks - Lackawanna, 11

Jared Wilkins - Cleveland Hill, 10

Nick Anderson - JFK, 11

Ken Minorczyk - JFK, 12

 

Honorable Mention

Alden: Corey Barczykowski - 11, Ryan Sosnowski - 12

Eden: Joe Slisz - 12, Brad Palmerton - 10

Holland: Trevor Leach - 12, Curtis Blendinger - 11, Clay Lewis - 9

JFK: Jimmy Quinn - 12, Ben Zaccagnino - 12

Lackawanna: Norman Sweat - 11, Raytrel Finley - 12

Tonawanda: Jake Spencer - 12, Ben Stitch - 10

 

********************************************************************

 

NIAGARA FRONTIER LEAGUE

First Team

Jermaine Crumpton - Niagara Falls, 11

Martin Bailey - Kenmore West, 12

Quinton Campbell - Kenmore West, 11

John Dziewit - Lew-Port, 12

Jack Mulcahey - Niagara Wheatfield, 11

 

Second Team

JJ Wilkes - Niagara Falls, 11

Taijay Williams - Niagara Falls, 12

Corey Mis - North Tonawanda, 12

PJ Blanch - Kenmore East, 12

DiAntre Cullens - Lockport, 12

 

Third Team

Quinn Carey - Grand Island, 9

Ryan Bradt - North Tonawanda, 12

Nick DiMartile - Lockport, 12

Jakai Daniels - Kenmore East, 12

Corey Pietkiewicz - North Tonawanda, 12

 

********************************************************************* 

 

NIAGARA-ORLEANS LEAGUE

First Team

Darnell Carson - CSAT, 11

Josh Haight - Barker, 12

Tyler Martin - Wilson, 12

Jake Haight - Barker, 10

Brad Bobbit - Roy-Hart, 12

 

Second Team

Connor Sears - Newfane, 11

Sean Seefeldt - Newfane, 12

Scott Kneeland - Newfane, 12

Pat Diez - Wilson, 12

Connor Ladd - Akron, 11

 

Honorable Mention

Newfane: CJ Knight - 12, Bryan Geise - 11

Wilson: Dustin DiLaura - 12, Pat Walch - 12

CSAT: Justin Black - XX

Medina: Lucas Evans - XX

Akron: Austin Mietz, 11

Albion: Nick Santos, 12

 

**********************************************************************************

CCAA I

Player of the Year:

Kevin Holmes - Dunkirk, 12

 

First Team

Sam Eckstrom - Olean, 10

 Dylan Meyer - Fredonia, 10

Ryan Nord - Falconer, 12

Zach Harrington - Allegany-Limestone, 12

Kyle Radack - Southwestern, 11

 

Second Team

Wil Bathurst - Olean, 10

Max Portlow - Olean, 10

Mike Donaldson - Dunkirk, 12

Nick Johnston - Fredonia, 10

Nick Huffman - Gowanda, 12

 

Honorable Mention

Olean: Nick Schmidt - 10, Luke Hennessy - 10, Pat Scholla - 11

Allegany-Limestone: Kyle Trietley - 12, Jeff Tang - 12

Southwestern: Jake Swan - 12, Peter Trathen - 11

Dunkirk: Josh Mleczko - 12, Evan Ahlstrom - 12

Falconer: Brandon DePietro - 11, Nick Conti - 11

Fredonia: John Piper - 9

Gowanda: Alex Sternisha - 12

 

*******************************************************************************

 

CCAA II

Player of the Year:

Zeddie Williams - Silver Creek, 11

 

First Team

Dustin Schauman - Cassadaga Valley, 12

Zach Blask - Portville, 11

Jevon Battle - Salamanca, 12

John Morgante - Randolph, 12

Brady Morrison - Randolph, 12

 

Second Team

Steve Marcey - Silver Creek, 11

Kaine Kettle - Silver Creek, 10

Mike Querrieo - Portville, 12

Zach Miles - Portville, 12

Gage Bird - Frewsburg, 12

Jackson John - Salamanca, 12

 

Honorable Mention

Silver Creek: Jon Jimerson - 12, Frank Brown - 12

Cassadaga Valley: Mike Lanphere - 12, Matt Woodward - 12, Kyle Pfeiffer - 12

Salamanca: Tanner John - 11, Bryce Stahlman - 12

Portville: Chris Querrieo - 12, Ryan Marcellin - 12, Josh Watson - 11

Cattaraugus-Little Valley: Hayden Griffith - 12

Frewsburg: Alex Elderkin - 11, Ian MacFarland - 12

Randolph: Bryce Morrison - 9

 

**********************************************************************************

 

CCAA III

Player of the Year:

Alex Grace - Maple Grove, 12

 

First Team

Austin Alonge - Westfield, 12

Jake Reynolds - Franklinville, 12

Skylar Liddell - Maple Grove, 12

Jason McMahon - Chautauqua Lake, 12

John Coe - Westfield, 11

 

Second Team

Nate Stott - Forestville, 12

Ian Clute - Chautauqua Lake, 10

Trey North - Westfield, 12

LucasTrombley - Pine Valley, 11

Colin Lapi - Ellicottville, 12

Joe Frazier - Maple Grove, 12

Jason Pembridge - Maple Grove, 12

 

Honorable Mention

Forestville: Jacob Nosbisch - 10

Chautauqua Lake: Dan Gleason - 12

Ellicottville: Connor Hellwig - 12, Josh Bower - 12

Westfield: Anthony Leone - 12

Pine Valley: Lyle Howard - 12, Nate Noble - 12

 

 -centercourt

What would your All-Centercourt teams look like?

The high school basketball season in WNY is officially over and now it's time to honor the very best for the seasons they've turned in.  Sometime in the next couple of weeks, I will publish my second annual All-Centercourt Team and Coach of the Year.  The All-CC Team will consist of 5 five-player teams and 35 honorable mention selections.  That may sound like a lot, but try limiting things to just 60 players when you are dealing with 100  teams, and there are several quality players who miss the cut.

 

Use the comments section below to tell us who you think should make which team.  You could even tell us why.  If you're really ambitious, try coming up with the HM selections.

 

Please keep all commentary appropriate when discussing high school athletes.

 

-centercourt 

The Far West Region in Glens Falls

Class AA State Championship: Mount Vernon 61, Aquinas 57 

 The Lil Irish took one last opportunity to show the state just how good they were and nearly proved to be the best.  Aquinas came up just short of its upset bid to defeat the mighty Mount Vernon, but gave the Knights all they could handle for 32 minutes.

Phil Valenti was named tournament MVP following his 33 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game.  Aquinas fell behind by 14 points in the third quarter, but as they've done so many times before, rallied to come back.  An 11-2 run in the fourth quarter gave Aquinas the lead with 3:51 remaining, but they were ultimately overtaken by the ten-time defending state champions.

 

Class C State Championship: Tuckahoe 77, OTC/MEC 66

 

 

Class AA Semifinal: Aquinas 50, Baldwin 41

Last season, the Lil Irish fell to Jamesville-DeWitt in the Class A state semifinal.  This year, the moved up a class to compete in AA, and are now just one victory away from being crowned champions of the state's highest classification.

In the third quarter with the game tied at 37, Aqiunas senior Phil Valenti went down and later limped off the court with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.  Moments later, Valenti was back in the game and the Lil Irish were soon pulling away from the Bruins.  Valenti finished with a game-high 21 points along with 11 rebounds, while Jarron Jones scored 13 points and ripped 16 boards.

Aquinas will face Mount Vernon (Section I) for the Class AA state championship on Sunday afternoon.

 

Class A Semifinal: Harborfields 57, Bishop Kearney 53

The Kings fell behind by 19 points early in the fourth quarter, before roaring back to within three points with just under two minutes remaining.  Bishop Kearney went on a 14-0 run over a three minute stretch in the fourth, as Antwoine Anderson scored 11 of his team-high 16 points while Bishop Kearney frantically scrambled to climb back into the game.   

Chinoso Obokoh scored 12 points, Thomas Bryant finished with 11 points, and Alvin English added 10 points for the Kings.  Harborfields (Section XI) will face Tappan Zee (Section I) for the Class A state title on Sunday, after the Flying Dutchmen upset four-time defending state champ Jamesville-DeWitt.

 

Class B Semifinal: Bishop Ludden 60, Olean 44

The Huskies went toe-to-toe with Bishop Ludden for the game's first 20 minutes, but quickly fell behind when 6-7 Sam Eckstrom was taken out of the game due to foul trouble .  Eckstrom picked up his third personal at the beginning of the third quarter and was charged with his his fourth towards the end of the quarter, while the Huskies were trailing by just four points. The Gaelic Knights outscored Olean 13-2 to start the fourth quarter.  With the loss, Olean's win streak ended at 21 games.

Nick Scmidt led the Huskies with 14 points, while a pair of sophomores, Daniel Kaigler and Ben Hackett, led Bishop Ludden with 18 points apiece.

 

Class C Semifinal:  OTC/MEC 58, Cooperstown 57 OT

The Kats needed an extra session and some clutch free throw shooting from Cordell Torres, but they're now one win away from a second Class C state championship in three years.  OTC/MEC led after each of the first three quarters until a Cooperstown basket with 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter put the Redskins in front.  The Kats did not take the lead in the game again until there were just 39 ticks left in overtime.

With 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation, Cooperstown big man Michael Moakler missed a pair of free throws, and making even one of them would have won the game for the Redskins.  After OTC/MEC took the lead with 39 seconds left in OT, the lead changed four more times.  The last lead change came when Torres calmly sank two from the line to tie and then win the game for the Kats.

OTC/MEC will play Tuckahoe (Section I) on Saturday night for the Class C state title.

 

 

Class D Semifinal: Sackets Harbor 50, Notre Dame Batavia 40

The Fighting Irish held the lead for the game's first ten minutes, but once they relinquished it, they would never lead again.  Zach D'Allessandro scored 11 of his game-high 23 points in the second quarter to help his Patriots take command against the Class D private school out of Batavia. 

The Fighting Irish overcame a 13-point deficit to tie the game at 35 apiece late in the third quarter, but could never regain the lead.  The Patriots slowed the game in the fourth quarter, took at least 30 seconds off the shot clock on each possesion, and hit several bigs shots over the final 10 minutes to ice the game.  Sackets Harbor of Section III will face Madrid-Waddington of Section IX for the Class D state title on Saturday night.

 

 

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Jordan Williams commits to Niagara

Bishop Timon/St. Jude senior Jordan Williams has commited to attend school  and play basketball at Niagara University after visiting with Purple Eagles head coach Joe Milhalich and his staff on Tuesday evening.  Williams is expected to redshirt during his freshman year under Milhalich, whose interest grew after witnessing his 29-point outburst against Canisius during the semifinals of the Manhattan Cup playoffs at the Koessler Center at Canisius College.

 

One of the best shooters in Western New York, Williams led the Tigers in scoring this year.  He was an All-Centercourt Honorable Mention following last season, was the MVP of the PAL/ACE All-Star game last spring and was a member of the Western New York BCANY squad last summer in Binghamton, New York.

 

Williams was also a First Team  All-WNY football selection by the Buffalo News this year after accumulating 988 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions, but turned down multiple football offers from school, including Edinboro, Hobart and the University of Albany.  “I had football offers on the table but ever since I can remember I’ve wanted to play Division I basketball,” Williams said.  “Now I’m going to get that opportunity and to be able to stay home to do it is exciting."

 

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Nichols coaching vacancy brings speculation

On March 25, 2011, it was announced that Jim MacKinnon was hired as the head basketball coach of the Nichols Vikings.  Less than one year later, MacKinnon has been dismissed from those duties following a 10-16 season.  According to The Buffalo News, Nichols AD Rob Stewart said "It just wasn't the right fit".

 

MacKinnon served as an assistant coach in 2010, the year Nichols won the NYS Class A Federation championship.  Following the 2011 season, Greg Plumb resigned as head coach, opening the door for MacKinnon. 

 

In his first season, MacKinnon brought in four freshmen: Chris Miner, Cam Lewis, Tanner Schmidt, and Jamar Waters.  Each saw extensive playing time for the Vikings this season.  Midway through the season, Waters left Nichols and transferred to Niagara Catholic.

 

The specualtion as to what Stewart's statement specifically refers to has already begun and I'm sure will continue, but that is only one small part of unanswered questions surrounding the Nichols basketball program.   Beyond the reasons for MacKinnon's dismissal, speculation has begun over who will replace  him, which players will remain with the program, if players who were rumored to be heading there next year will still come, and what new names may possibly be headed to Nichols, depending on who is hired. 

 

I've certainly heard my share of Nichols rumors in the last three days, and my sense is that this situation will result in changes in each of the above mentioned scenarios - stay tuned.

 

A fellow hoop-head once said to me, "WNY basketball and specifically the MMA are a lot more interesting when Nichols is relevant".  Well, between all the speculation that will surround this situation and all the discussion that will take place after the new staff is hired and the roster takes form, I'd say Nichols is once again quite relevant.

 

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