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Flyers' defense comes up big in boys hoops win over JFK
By Steven Dlugosz Times
 | | TWO IN THE BANK...Maryvale center Matt Brennan goes up strong for two points over John F. Kennedy's Corey Knox during the Flyers' 66-46 win Tuesday night. Brennan scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. (Times photo) |
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It wasn't the prettiest of wins, but the Maryvale boys varsity basketball team made enough big plays on defense to earn a businesslike 66-46 win over non-league foe John F. Kennedy Tuesday in a turnover-filled contest.
The Flyers forced JFK into committing 27 turnovers. A balanced scoring effort, which included 16 points from senior center Matt Brennan, 11 from junior Jake Nowak and 10 from sophomore point guard Brooks Estarfaa, paid dividends.
The Bears, who opened their season Tuesday, stayed close with Maryvale for much of the first half before the Flyers went on a 8-2 run at the end of the second quarter. Two free throws and a jumper by junior guard Matt Bunting, as well as a John Rutherford layup and a pair of Matt Mohr free throws, gave the Flyers a 33-22 lead at the half.
Maryvale then went on a 14-4 run to start the third quarter, building their biggest lead of the game at 21.
 | | AIRBORNE...Cheektowaga Central's Chris Huggins-Weaver drives for a layup against West Seneca East. (Times photo) |
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A big reason for the Flyers' success was the low-post play of Brennan, who gave his team many second and third chances on offensive possessions with his height (6 feet, 5 inches) and big hands inside. The senior recorded eight rebounds and three blocks. Estarfaa, who went 7-of-8 at the free-throw line, added three steals, while Mohr grabbed six boards and dished out seven assists. Freshman forward Andre Davis contributed eight rebounds off the bench.
However, Maryvale committed 17 turnovers, uncharacteristic of a team that prides itself on fundamentals and ball handling.
"We just need to take care of the ball better," Flyers head coach Mark Kensy told the Times. "We need all eight of our main guys to give an outstanding team effort."
Kensy added that he wanted Brennan to accept an increased role in the post this season.
"We want (Brennan) to demand the ball this year," Kensy stated. "We need his scoring and rebounding."
Brennan agreed that Maryvale needed to work on fundamental aspects of the game.
"We need to avoid turnovers," the center said. "If we do that, we're a good team."
The Flyers spent much of the contest pressing JFK's transition offense. When the Bears did manage to break the press, they missed a handful of layups and close shots.
Bears head coach Tony Krupski said his team needs to be more disciplined and has to hit the boards.
"We were trying to throw passes through passing lanes that weren't there," Krupski said. "I was also disappointed with our rebounding effort. Brennan was our main focus down low, and he gave them second and third chances. You can't give a team like Maryvale those kinds of chances because they'll eventually bury one...We need five guys going to the glass if we want to be successful."
Forwards Jay Ineson (senior) and Mike Bartoszek (junior) led JFK with 10 points apiece. Senior center Corey Knox led the Bears in rebounds with five.
Another reason for Maryvale's success came at the charity stripe. The Flyers went 17-for-22 at the line, while the Bears knocked down just seven of 16 attempts.
Mohr helped the Flyers win the consolation game of the Frontier Tournament on Saturday when his 65-foot heave at the end of the third overtime dropped through the hoop, giving Maryvale a 63-60 win over Williamsville South.
Brennan led the Flyers with 24 points, while Mohr added 21 and Estarfaa, 13.
Maryvale dropped the opening game of the tournament to Frontier last Thursday, 53-50. Mohr and Brennan tallied 16 points apiece, as Mohr drilled four three-pointers. Nowak added 12 points on a variety of drives and jumpers.
JFK returns to action Saturday at home against non-league foe Cheektowaga Central at noon, while Maryvale faces Central at home tonight at 7:30 p.m. Central gears up for rivalry
showdown with Maryvale
The Cheektowaga Central boys varsity basketball team has had one particular game circled on its calendar since it was eliminated last March in the Class A-2 semifinals by local rival Maryvale- its next regular season contest (tonight) on the Flyers' home court.
"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a really big game for us," said Warriors head coach Luke Vogel, whose team dropped a 58-47 decision to Maryvale at Buffalo State College despite holding a seven-point lead late in the third quarter. "We've got to have this one."
Central has started this season 2- 1, dominating non-league foe West Seneca East at home Tuesday, 77- 47. In a balanced scoring effort, junior
guard Donte Parker led the locals with 16 points, while forwards Kevin Hairston (senior, 14 points, seven rebounds), Chris Huggins- Weaver (senior, 14 points, four blocks) and Terrance McCullough (junior, 10 points) also contributed solid performances. Senior guard Deval Watkins recorded nine points, six assists and six steals.
West Seneca East junior guard Jeff Howard led the Trojans with 26 points.
The Warriors salvaged the consolation game of the Wilson Tournament last weekend, cruising to a 68- 56 win over Wilson.
Hairston led the locals with 21 points, also contributing six rebounds and five steals. Parker added 16 points and six steals, while his backcourt mate, Watkins, tallied seven points and 11 assists. Huggins- Weaver nearly notched a doubledouble with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Central jumped out to a 36-18 lead at halftime and was never seriously threatened in the second half, forcing 18 Wilson turnovers.
In the opening game of the tournament against Lafayette, the Warriors saw a 28-25 halftime lead evaporate in the second half. Central shot just 4-of-22 from threepoint range, allowing Lafayette several open fast-break layups during a 16-4 disadvantage in the third quarter.
Watkins led the Warriors with 12 points and five assists. Hairston added 10 but was held to just 3-of- 15 shooting. Huggins-Weaver contributed nine points and five rebounds.
After facing Maryvale, Central will return to action Saturday to take on JFK in a non-league contest on the road Saturday at noon.
Depew wins Lancaster
Tournament, starts 3-0
Depew appears to be a force in ECIC-III early in the season, having thumped two non-league opponents in the Lancaster Tournament, as well as another, Williamsville South, at home Tuesday.
Against South, the Wildcats opened a 34-11 halftime lead and cruised to a 66-49 win. In a balanced attack, senior guard Scott Jachimiak led the locals with 16 points, while senior big men Eric Wild and Paul Nieman added 13 and senior swingman Brad Kujawa, 11.
Depew opened its season last Wednesday with a 72-54 victory over Monsignor Martin Association foe St. Mary's of Lancaster. Kujawa led the Wildcats with 22 points, while Jachimiak and Wild tallied 13 and 12, respectively. St. Mary's senior forward Ryan Kufel led the Lancers with 21 points, while sophomore Sean Cavanaugh added 11.
In the tournament's final against Lancaster on Friday, Depew jumped out to a 15-7 lead and never looked back, defeating the Redskins, 62-39.
Wild led the locals with 14 points, while junior guard Greg Osika added 11.
In the consolation game of the tournament, St. Mary's took out its opening-night frustrations on ECICIV foe Cleveland Hill, routing the Eagles, 70-44. Three different Lancers- Cheektowaga resident and sophomore forward Ken Jarmis, Depew resident and junior forward Bob Mohring, and Kavanaugh- scored 12 points apiece. Kufel added 10.
Senior guard Kurt Nagel led Cleve Hill with 18 points.
The Eagles also dropped the open- ing game of the tournament to Lancaster, 66-36. Junior forward Steve Addison scored 14 points to lead the locals.
Cleve Hill opens its league schedule Tuesday on the road against Holland, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
St. Mary's will face non-league opponent Holland tonight at home for a 7:30 p.m. contest. The Lancers will play another non-league game on Saturday, against Wellsville, at 7:30 p.m.
Depew girls basketball
off to rockin' start
Fresh off a co-league title last season, the Depew girls varsity basketball team doesn't appear to have lost a beat early this season.
The Lady Wildcats (3-0) opened league play with solid victories over Springville (59-50) at home Friday, then Tonawanda (44-33) on the road Tuesday.
Depew trailed Tonawanda 17-15 at halftime, but sophomore forward Alexis Wayne helped rally the locals with her hustle, scoring a game-high 14 points.
The Lady Wildcats also edged non-league foe Kenmore East in double overtime to open its season last Wednesday, 72-69.
Senior point guard Jordan Schrimmel has been a steady leader this season, scoring 20, 29 and 10 points in the three contests so far this season. Against Kenmore East, senior forward Jen Godson scored a team-high 24 points, while Wayne added 19.
Depew, which finished 2005-06 tied with Springville for first place in ECIC-III, came back to edge the Lady Griffins. The Lady Wildcats used a late 6-0 run to take control, as Schrimmel dished out 10 assists. Wayne grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.
The locals return to action tomorrow for a tough home test against league opponent Pioneer, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Maryvale offense stymied
to open girls hoops season
The Maryvale girls varsity basketball team has had major problems putting the ball in the hoop early in the season.
The Lady Flyers (0-3) lost twice in the season-opening Wilson Tournament, including a 30-28 defeat against Wilson in the consolation game.
Maryvale junior forward Toni Caruso led all scorers with 11 points, but the rest of the Lady Flyers could only muster 17.
The Lady Flyers then opened league play Tuesday with a 61-47 loss on the road to Springville. Caruso again led the locals with 13 points, while junior Joey Ruderman added 12. Cleve Hill opens with losses,
JFK wins one of first three
The Cleveland Hill and John F. Kennedy girls varsity basketball teams have found the going tough early in the 2006-2007 season.
Cleve Hill lost to Holland, 41-27, on the road Tuesday. Senior guard Erin Kracker led the locals with 14 points, although the rest of the squad added just 13.
The Lady Eagles also dropped a 48-18 decision at home on Friday, as only junior center Alyssa Luksch (10 points) and Kracker (8) scored for Cleve Hill.
The locals trailed 19-10 at halftime and managed only four buckets combined in the third and fourth quarters.
JFK (1-2) fell behind 33-9 at halftime to East Aurora on Tuesday and was soundly defeated, 63-20. Senior guard Danielle Smith led the Lady Bears with nine points.
JFK won the consolation game of the Akron Tournament over Cardinal O'Hara, 54-39, as junior forward Melissa Schultz (14 points, 19 rebounds, including six offensive) and senior forward Jen Wesolowski (11 points, 10 boards) contributed solid performances.
After trailing 5-3 after one quarter, the Lady Bears went on a 19-3 run in the second to take control.
JFK opened the tournament with a 64-30 loss to Pembroke. The Lady Bears shot just 17 percent from the field and committed 32 turnovers. Schultz led the way offensively with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Central girls open league
schedule with solid win
The Cheektowaga Central girls varsity basketball team needed a balanced effort to beat ECIC-III foe Starpoint on the road Tuesday, and they got it in a 48-42 victory.
Junior guard Breanna Harris led the Lady Warriors with 13 points and six rebounds, while sisters Margo and Taylor Pagano each recorded 12 points and three steals.
Central (2-1) returns to action tomorrow at rival Maryvale, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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