Grover Cleveland wins Sweet Home Tip-off in wild finish
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home coach Paul Schintzius has watched the finish of his team's Sweet Home Tip-off final with Grover Cleveland close to 100 times and he still has no idea how the Presidents were able to pick up the victory.

Grover Cleveland avenged two losses last basketball season to Sweet Home with a 61-59 victory. on Saturday. All-tournament selection Anthony Caba tipped in a second Grover Cleveland missed shot at the buzzer.

"They threw it in bounds and Eric Schinirel deflected the ball," said Schintzius. "The ball popped up in the air and Schnirel, Glenroy Carr, Steven Roberts, and Ali Ramadan were all going for it with eight seconds left. Carr tries to dribble it but it went off Roberts' leg which caromed to the left to a Grover Cleveland player who shot it and missed. Another Grover player then tips it and misses. Then Caba hit it at the buzzer. For us to not come up with the ball, it was one of those things you would see on America's Funniest Home Videos."

Williamsville East split its games at the tournament, falling 71-61 to Grover Cleveland and beating Niagara-Wheatfield, 74-47, in the consolation.

Sweet Home tied Grover Cleveland at 59-59 when senior Glenroy Carr, one of the team's top scorers, scored his only two points of the game with 17 seconds remaining. Carr scored 20 points and 15 rebounds in Sweet Home's 69-51 first round win on Thursday. Carr and Ramadan were held scoreless with three fouls in the first half against Grover Cleveland.

The Panthers dug themselves a 32-20 halftime hole and 17-point deficit in the middle of the third quarter before Terrell Rankin and Schnirel scored 14 of the team's 20 points to put Sweet Home down four, 44-40. Rankin finished with 26 points. Schnirel had 12. Both made the all-tournament team.

The Presidents, who lost to Sweet Home, 58-55, in last year's Sweet Home Tip-off final and 50-46 in the Section VI Class A-1 final, shot seven more three-pointers (9 to 2) which Schintzius said was key to their victory. Sweet Home also made 23 two-point baskets to Grover Cleveland's 12.

"Grover came in with a lot of energy and excitement and we didn't match their intensity early," added Schintzius. "I'm proud of our guys for fighting back. In the second half, we did a good job defensively and took several charges. This tournament still showed we have the heart of a champion."

MVP Anthony Greene led the Presidents with 26 points.

Roberts, who played with a bruised heal from the opening tip of the Niagara-Wheatfield game, added nine points for Sweet Home. Schintzius also said Earl Jackson played well.

Sweet Home dominated Niagara Wheatfield from the opening tip. The Panthers led 22-11 after the first quarter, outscored them 17-7 in the second to lead 39-18 at halftime, and were up 55-37 after the third quarter. Rankin and Schnirel scored 17 and 13 points, respectively.

Sweet Home played West Seneca West on Tuesday and hosts Clarence at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Williamsville East was in control against Grover Cleveland until six minutes left in regulation.

In a span of 40 seconds, East turned the ball over twice and missed a three that led to three President layups and erased a five-point East lead. Grover Cleveland would eventually take a five-point lead and East never recovered.

"We lost our composure and turned the ball over," said East coach Dennis Belote. "They took the lead and we could not get it back."

East outscored Grover Cleveland 26-15 in the third to lead 52-47 heading into the fourth.

All-tournament selection Brian Wallden scored 16 points and grabbed 26 rebounds to lead East. Rick Silvestri added 12 points, including two three's. Andy Heim chipped in 11. Adam Kausch came off the bench to score nine second half points, including two three's.

Greene scored 26 points to lead Grover Cleveland.

Frustrated by the loss, East thumped Niagara-Wheatfield. The Flames led 17-8 after the first quarter, 34-21 at halftime, and 59-37 after three.

Ten of 11 East players scored. Wallden led with 14 points and 20 rebounds. Justin Andreozzi added a career-high 14 points, shot three three's and had five steals and seven rebounds on defense. Heim (11 points), Kausch (eight points, two three's), Mike Rath (six points, two three's), and Mark Guenther (seven points, six rebounds, five steals) also contributed. East shot nine three's.

"It was an opportunity to play all 11 kids available," said Belote. "All played at least five minutes."

Belote said his team learned from the tournament to be composed in the fourth quarter and not let up until the game is decided.

Niagara-Wheatfield's Aaron Foote also made the all-tournament team.

East played at Williamsville North Monday in a non-league game and hosts West Seneca East at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com