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
Great to see centercourt back posting ... want to point out, though, that Olean lost in the state semis at Glens Falls last year, not in the B championship.
Friday night's test was the kind of game Olean needed. They finish regular season with Dunkirk, Allegany-Limestone and Gowanda.
Posted by: Use Ya Left | Saturday, February 02, 2013 at 07:50 PM
Thanks for that. I think I could use an editor - are you interested?
Posted by: centercourt | Saturday, February 02, 2013 at 08:18 PM
Look forward 2 the other 7 voters joining my season long pick of Canisius being #1
Posted by: McShea is God | Saturday, February 02, 2013 at 09:55 PM
MIG - does the term self gratification ego ever enter into your mind? I would like to read about basketball and not your prognostication ability.
Posted by: A broken clock is right twice a day | Saturday, February 02, 2013 at 10:33 PM
CC, I'd have to quit my day job... I'll just try to help out when I can.
Posted by: Use Ya Left | Saturday, February 02, 2013 at 10:49 PM
i got lost Use ya left" and need reading help or"thinking"help as this was a copy 7 paste from the article about Olean losing in the semis @ glens falls written on the openlead>>>>>"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. where did he say they lost the B championship game????
cause i'll do the edit thing as it looks to be good by CC.....idk maybe your buddies and just tryin to screw me up,dont need any help there!!!I Do Love This Game>>>i can add blog now as well but will keep my username short since it end up being the only thing that is....have a great night everyone,be safe Good recap of the game CC guy.!!
Posted by: ilovethisgame | Sunday, February 03, 2013 at 12:43 AM
the only poll that means anything is the final one after the seasons complete...who cares who is 1 or 2....or 8....every team has the ability to win....or dare i say lose!!!when East came to Newfane last year....they looked like giants and was almost comical how bad the Newfane team was compared to them....well that height advantage would allow them to skate out with a 5 point win and Newfane had a scrappy gamer who held their big man to 5 points...maybe a few more but the tall was it....they were lucky to walk out with the win but did deserve it...just saying the obvious is not a good word in local hoops....just my 2 cents on what i heard and got some footage on.
Posted by: ilovethisgame | Sunday, February 03, 2013 at 12:54 AM
You are right love this game, the only poll that matters is the final one. Having said that, in-season polls are a big part of this blog, and its fun to see where the guys rate the teams during the season. It's also fun to add our opinions to the experts. Speaking of experts, I have noticed that only one Buffalo News pollster had Oracle Charter ranked BEFORE their upset of Mckinley, along with consistently voting Canisius ahead of N.Falls. Falls lost to WS, and Canisius beat Fairfield. I would assume on tuesday we will see a change at the top of the large school poll. By the way broken clock, a great man once said "if you don't blow your own horn, no one else will." That man was Ricky Henderson. Fact.
Posted by: Alice Sweet | Sunday, February 03, 2013 at 02:29 AM
CC's original post here, on Olean winning at Rochester East, indicated that the Huskies lost in the B final at Glens Falls last year. I pointed out that they lost in the semis ... and CC corrected his post.
... For anyone who was confused about the reference.
Posted by: Use Ya Left | Sunday, February 03, 2013 at 02:36 PM
And again, thank you. I strive to be accurate and always appreciate anyone who points out something they notice. Over the years, I've sent many emails to Keith pointing out something I caught, with the subject line "edit".
Posted by: centercourt | Sunday, February 03, 2013 at 04:05 PM
my bad left.....i thought you were referring to the above article on Huskies....but at least your watching,cause CC pretty tight!!!LOL. and i guess the polls during the season are fun to read who what how and why they are voting.i like it here simply to try and get a look,or should i say a better look at the localhoop seen and this is the best in my opinion. Ihave gotten rule clarifacations,run under the bus...but alot is because im totally disabled with a bad back and this is my big social event of the end of a long day at times.and i get slapped around once in awhile but i can take it,good times and i think some good people here as well.i think CC has a good grip on the action and looks to put some time into it so kudos to him for making this available for all mentioned things...have a nice night Hoopers.....Oh did the FALLS win????
Posted by: ilovethisgame | Sunday, February 03, 2013 at 11:53 PM
Nice recap CC
Posted by: Woo Hoo | Monday, February 04, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Roger - or I mean a broken clock is right once a day - I am sorry if talking about the Large school BOYS BASKETBALL POLL doesn't seem like the actual 'basketball talk' u 'hunger for' on this blog.
It seems like EVERY TIME A WOMAN is right - all the men on this blog seem 2 'lash out' in anger. It's amazing that 100 years after Susan Anthony woman like me still have 2 take abuse from men like u.
YES - the fact that I have voted Canisius #1 every poll I DO feel good about.
Also, u have insulted Center Court as well, who every week puts his poll votes up as a seperate post. Why not rip into him 4 posting such 'non basketball' talk.
Alica Sweet thank u 4 defending me against such male pigs as that guy.
Posted by: McShea is God | Monday, February 04, 2013 at 02:56 PM
I'm sorry, is Susan Anthony the one who drowned her four kids in the lake, or the one who was recently aquitted for the "alleged" killing of her daughter. Please forgive me, I've got alot on my plate preparing for my defense in my own trial.
Posted by: George Zimmerman | Monday, February 04, 2013 at 05:27 PM