News > Boys Varsity > Edison Tech
12/05/04 - Fresh faces help Fairport cruise in opener
James Johnson
Staff writer
(December 4, 2004) — Yes, the jerseys were still red and the letters across the chest spelled Fairport.
That was about the only predictable thing about the Red Raiders before they tipped off their boys basketball season Friday night.
Who knew what kind of team Fairport had after seven of the top eight players from last season's sectional finalist graduated?The Red Raiders were able to sigh in relief following a blowout 72-53 non-league victory at Edison.
Twelve Red Raiders scored, as last season's Section V Class AAA runners-up never trailed during their season opener.
Kelly Condello and Corey McAdam, a pair of juniors, paced Fairport with 11 points each."It was a classic opener," Fairport coach Scott Fitch said with a smile. "I liked our effort. That's something I know that I'm going to get all season, and as a coach, that's exciting.
JAMIE GERMANO staff photographer
Fairport's Cory Magee (34) goes up to try to block a shot by Edison's Terryl Smith-Ashford during Friday night's game."Defensively, we were OK. Offensively, you could tell it was our first game. The other thing is, we did it without Cory. It was good for the other guys."
Cory Magee, the lone starter from the 2003-04 Fairport club back with the team, finished with 10 points. Magee was forced to watch chunks of the action after he picked up four fouls; but, to his delight, the Red Raiders kept rolling.
"It felt good to be out there for a little while at least," Magee was able to joke. "That's the way it goes. We're a deep team. We have 10 guys who can score.
"We're not as tall as last year's team, but we definitely have more speed and a lot more ball-handlers.
"My teammates stepped up. Half of the guys haven't played varsity games, and they were hitting big shots when Edison tried to get back in it."
The Inventors had a tough time doing that without 6-5 center James LaRoda and guard Kyle Lewis, two seniors who are academically ineligible for another week.
Edison could've used both players, particularly LaRoda for rebounds.
"We could've used their leadership," Edison coach Dan Johnson said. "When you start four kids who have barely played varsity basketball, you are going to go through shooting slumps.
"They are not acclimated yet. We're a good 3-point shooting team and we haven't shot it well. You just have to keep plugging."
The Red Raiders (1-0) put Edison (1-1) in catch-up mode right from the start.
Two turnaround jump shots from the free throw line and a 3-pointer by Scott Rogerson helped push Fairport to a 9-1 lead.
The Red Raiders were ahead by 10 points through the first quarter and at halftime.
"We still have a lot of things to work on," Fairport senior point guard Matt Lostumbo said. "It was important for us to come out strong.
"If we came out flat, it might have put a burden on us."
Instead, the Red Raiders were able to quickly build confidence.
McAdam was with the Fairport JV last season. His older brother, Ryan, was a key player on last season's Fairport team and selected to the All-Greater Rochester first team.
"As a kid, I looked up to those guys," Corey McAdam said. "Now, I am one of them.
"It's overwhelming."
JJOHNSO@DemocratandChronicle.com
