News > Boys Varsity - Sectionals: Gates-Chili
03/02/06
Fairport's McAdam shreds Gates Chili for 28 points
Jeff DiVeronica
Staff writer
(March 2, 2006) — When teams are chosen on the playground, Corey McAdam probably wouldn't be picked first.
"He looks like the water boy," Fairport basketball coach Scott Fitch said about his point guard. "But then he comes out and plays bigger than he is. He's quicker than he looks, and he's stronger than he looks."
And whether it's dribbling, passing or shooting, McAdam simply shreds opposing defenses.
That's exactly what he did to fourth-seeded Gates Chili in Wednesday night's Section V Class AAA semifinals at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.
JAMIE GERMANO staff photographer
Fairport’s Tyler Launer (55) gets a handin the face of Gates Chili’s Jeremy Washington.
McAdam racked up 28 points on 10-for-12 shooting and added nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals as the top-seeded Red Raiders ran away with an 85-53 victory.
"I just let the game come to me," the senior said. "My teammates were passing me the ball, so the least I can do is put it in the hole for them, get them the assist."
Don't let the nice-guy lines fool you. On the court, McAdam is a killer, and he'll need to have his game sharp again in Saturday's 9 p.m. title game.
Fairport (19-1) will play No. 2 Rush-Henrietta (17-3) back at the arena. The Royal Comets edged defending champion East, 57-51, in Wednesday's first semifinal.
It'll be the third meeting of the season between the Monroe County Division I rivals. Fairport won both times so far, 62-55 on Feb. 8 at R-H and 43-35 on Jan. 11. Before that, the Comets had won the past seven matchups, including a 48-42 win in last year's semis and a 62-52 victory in the 2004 final.
It's Fairport's fourth trip to the title game in Fitch's five years as coach, but the Red Raiders are still trying to win their first crown since 1975, when Fitch's father, Jeff, was coach.
McAdam was the difference Wednesday as they overcame early foul trouble. He directed Fairport on a 19-4 spurt in the second quarter that just about knocked out Gates Chili (11-9), which trailed 38-22 at halftime.
The Raiders beat Gates by 16 points in January and just six on Feb. 3 in the regular season, but the Spartans made just 17 of 55 shots on Wednesday.
"McAdam is such a smooth player. We played some good defense on him at times, but he still found a way to make a play," Gates Chili coach Todd Esposito said.
McAdam was at his playmaking-best all night. He scored 12 points and handed out five assists in the half. He even converted on offensive rebounds twice as he was fouled. And when Gates hinted at trying to rally early in the third quarter, McAdam simply took over. He scored 12 straight points during one stretch, turning steals into layups.
"It doesn't surprise me at all," said Fairport's 6-foot-8 senior center, Cory Magee, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds, most after he sat the final 4:21 of the first quarter with two fouls.
"I've been playing with him since fifth grade. He was more pass-first then, but he always has the ability to take over. He has another gear, and being a guard he can kind of pick and choose his times to go. In the third quarter he chose a good time to go."
The Raiders' decisive run in the second came after Magee returned. Senior forward Kelly Condello had picked up the slack with six points in the first quarter, and Fairport led 13-11 headed to the second.
That's when it broke the game open with that 19-4 surge. Magee dropped in three straight baskets and sophomore Kyle Downey, who was 4-for-6 from 3-point range in the game and scored 16 points, came off the bench and buried a pair of 3s.
No. 1 Fairport 85, No. 4 Gates Chili 53
Gates Chili 11 11 17 14 — 53
Fairport 13 25 24 23 — 85
GATES CHILI: Sean Marshall 8, Daniel Snead 2, Jeremy Washington 13, Steven White 8, Pedro Sosa 15, Brian Cunliffe 0, Chad Dillard 4, Andrew Omoregie 0, Paul Neyland 0.
FAIRPORT: Corey McAdam 28, Cory Magee 12, Kelly Condello 12, Mark Bruce 5, Owen Reilly 0, Kyle Downey 16, Brian Gebhardt 0, Jeremy Roberts 2, Kevin Borden 2, Tyler Launer 5, Adam Cole, 3, Travis Condello 0.
3-point goals: Marshall, Washington, White 2, Miller, Downey 4, Bruce.
JDIVERON@DemocratandChronicle.com
Fairport's Owen Reilly gets a welcome from his teammates before the start the game against Gates-Chili.
HEATHER CHARLES
Fairport's Corey McAdam (12) drives to the basket over Gates Chili's Steven White (42). McAdam racked up 28 points on 10-for-12 shooting and added nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals as the top-seeded Red Raiders ran away with an 85-53 victory.
JAMIE GERMANO
Fairport head basketball coach Scott Fitch instructs his team at the end of the first quarter.
HEATHER CHARLES
Fairport's Kelly Condello (32) goes up for a rebound over Gates Chili's Pedro Sosa (50).
JAMIE GERMANO
