News > Boys Varsity > Niagara Falls
03/10/06
Boys basketball capsules
James Johnson
staff writer
(March 10, 2006) — Class AA
Matchup: No. 5 in the state rankings Fairport (21-1) vs. No. 10 Niagara Falls (15-4), 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Outlook: These teams meet again. Niagara Falls edged Fairport, 52-50 on Dec. 10 at Niagara University. Wolverines guard Jonathan Flynn, who has given Syracuse a verbal commitment, averaged 33.6 points in four Section VI playoff games. Flynn, a 6-foot junior, also has 6-8 senior forward Tyrell Lynch to work with. "We go as our defense goes," Fairport point guard Corey McAdam said. Fairport allows about 50 points a game with 6-8 senior Cory Magee anchoring its defense. Magee (18 ppg) and McAdam (18 ppg) are Fairport's leading scorers.
Class A
Matchup: No. 12 Wilson (18-6) vs. unranked Sweet Home (19-5), 7:45 p.m. today.
Outlook: This might have been a tough game for Wilson to win. Now the Wildcats must try without senior guard and four-year varsity player Robert Parks (17 ppg), Section V's Class A Tournament MVP. Parks had surgery to remove his appendix on Wednesday. Parks' absence probably means Wilson needs a third scorer to help seniors Waryn McCullough (18 ppg) and Brandon Williams (13 ppg). Sweet Home hit seven 3-pointers in its state qualifier game, five from on-court leader Quentin Hudson, a 6-1 senior.
Class B
Matchup: Unranked Penn Yan (14-10) vs. No. 1 Lackawanna (23-1), 2:45 p.m. Saturday. Outlook: Penn Yan has answered challenges the entire postseason. The latest one for the Mustangs is a biggie. The Steelers have depth and like to swarm their opponents with pressure defenses. If you get by the quick guards, 6-9 senior Steve Kozaczka waits for ballhandlers. Lesean Braxton, a 6-1, 230-pound senior, is regarded as Lackawanna's clutch player. Penn Yan coach Chuck Roach called frontcourt players Bob Nolan and Alex Brown, the team's "bread and butter." Yet, how is this for balance? Brown, Derek Stork Jared Wigden each scored 11 points and Nolan nine, as the Mustangs stopped Bishop Kearney's run to states.
Class C
Matchup: No. 2 Campbell-Savona (21-3) vs. No. 6 Randolph (19-5), 1 p.m. Saturday.
Outlook: It's difficult to outscore Campbell-Savona, because the Panthers are good at not letting opponents score (39 ppg). "We are pretty stingy," Panthers coach Merlin Button said. "It's hard to hold teams at this level to that, but it's still about playing that kind of defense. Lyons coach Steven Veeder said with that type of defensive play and underrated senior guard Matt Newman (11 ppg), he would be surprised if the Panthers don't win the state title. Randolph's players are winners. Eleven of the 12 players were members of the school's state football champion, including 6-7 senior Mike Seiberg.
Class D
Matchup: No. 5 Finney (21-3) vs. No. 14 Clymer (19-3), 6 p.m. today.
Outlook: Clymer features a frontline with three players 6-3 or taller, so the Falcons will try to use their speed to limit touches down low. "We haven't faced anyone with that much size," Finney coach Joe Marchand said, but his club draws confidence that it has beaten a few larger schools with similar size. Finney's frontcourt has 6-2 Mike Wielert, 6-1 Aaron Fischer and 6-foot Gaven Spuck. Shooting guard Chris Verosky, who averages 18.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5 assists and 5.1 steals, also is 6-3.
JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com
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