News > Boys Varsity > Niagara Falls
03/11/06
Published: March 11, 2006 06:55 pm
BASKETBALL UPDATE: Falls beats Fairport, 68-59
Return trip to Glens Falls for Wolverines
Niagara Gazette
SPORTS REPORTER JAY SKURSKI IS AT BUFFALO STATE FOR TODAY'S FAR WEST REGIONAL AND IS FILING A QUARTERLY BLOG ON TONIGHT'S GAME:
END OF FIRST QUARTER:
NIAGARA FALLS 18, FAIRPORT 15:
Fairport controlled the opening tip at Saturday night's Far West Regional at Buff State, but the Wolverines did a great job on their first defensive stand, forcing the Red Raiders into a shot clock violation.
Anthony Marshall led Niagara Falls in the first quarter with eight points, while Johnny Flynn had six.
Buff State's arena is packed with Fairport fans; I saw four busses pulling in before the tip. Still a good crowd following the Wolverines, though. I'd say it's just about evenly split and we'll put the total estimate at about 2,000.
Cory Magee and Corey McAdam each had four points for Fairport.
HALFTIME ENTRY:
NIAGARA FALLS LEADS FAIRPORT, 29-27:
Fairport doesn't look too intimidated playing the reigning state and Federation champs. It helps that the school's students brought their “A” game, creating a sea of red under one of the baskets.
The Red Raiders turned it up defensively in the second quarter, switching to a box-and-one on Niagara Falls star Johnny Flynn. Mark Bruce pulled the difficult assignment and held the Syracuse-bound star to just two points in the quarter. Flynn appears frustrated with the lack of calls he's getting.
Niagara Falls did get a call when Fairport's McGee laid out Niagara Falls' Dennis Crittenden on what looked like a clean pick. When one of two refs made the call, the Fairport bench went ballistic.
And while we're at it, why just two refs for a regional?
Fairport led, 25-20, with two minutes to go, but the Wolverines responded with three straight three-pointers.
Looks like this one's going down to the wire.
THIRD QUARTER ENTRY:
NIAGARA FALLS 46, FAIRPORT 44:
Maybe it was coach Dan Bazzani's halftime pep talk. Maybe it was the Niagara Falls pep band. Whatever it was, the Wolverines came out ready to rock in the third quarter, using three more threes to take a 46-37 lead.
Fairport coach Scott Fitch was forced to call a timeout and Flynn left the floor waving his arms as the Niagara Falls faithful went crazy.
Fitch's strategy must have worked, though, as the Red Raiders followed the timeout with a 7-0 run that pulled them close.
This one is going to be a nail-biter.
IT'S FINAL:
FALLS TOPS FAIRPORT, 68-59
Maybe the refs had something against McGee. For the second time, he was whistled for a seemingly clean pick, prompting another angry response from Fitch. The coach settled down just before getting T'd up.
The refs let the kids play as their were plenty of plays that had each side looking for a whistle.
Fairport fans waiting to see all the hype surrounding Flynn finally got to see the real thing. With just under four minutes to go, the junior guard soared to the basket and threw down one of the best dunks you'll see on any level off a Tyrell Lynch miss. I'm pretty sure I even heard some Fairport fans cheering. One fan cheered out, “best player in the state.”
source: http://www.tonawanda-news.com/sports/gnnsports_story_070185545.html?keyword=secondarystory