North answers challenge against Jamestown
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Chuck Swierski challenged his Williamsville North basketball team on Friday and they passed with flying colors.

The Spartans led ECIC Division I powerhouse Jamestown from start to finish in a 76-65 home win. North lost, 69-41, in the first meeting on Dec. 6.

"I told the seniors, 'you have a month left in your high school careers. How do you want to be remembered?"' said Swierski. "And Ryan Young played great, Alex Calderon played smart and Zach Boron came off the bench and played well."

Young finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. Calderon had five. Boron scored 10.

The Spartans opened with a 7-0 run and led, 19-7, after the first quarter. North extended the score to 37-16 at halftime and 49-30 after three quarters.

Jamestown closed the deficit to six in the fourth on the shoulders of Dominique Kendrick, who scored 21 of his 39 points in the quarter. Kendrick hit a school-record 11 three-pointers, breaking his own record of eight he set earlier in the week.

"The only person I could put in the same category is (Niagara Falls') Johnny Flynn from last year (against us)," said Swierski. "Ten of his three's he made we were in his face."

The Red Raiders also fouled North 25 times in the fourth to stop the clock. The Spartans made 17 attempts. They finished 18-of-30 overall.

John Piaggione added 19 points for North. Steve Barth added 14.

"No matter who I put in, they played great," said Swierski. "Our shooters were shooting, our big guys were rebounding, blocking shots inside and scoring. Everyone did everything they were asked. It was a consummate team effort. We were the better team that night"

As well as his team played against Jamestown, Swierski felt they played poor in a 69-67 double overtime home loss to Orchard Park on Saturday.

The game was originally held on Jan. 11 but was suspended at 35-35 with 1:49 to play in the third quarter after Orchard Park guards Andy Buyea and Jim Brewer collided going for an offensive rebound. Both were taken to ECMC with concussions and released.

"I think mentally we were not ready to play as a group," said Swierski.

The game wasn't decided until OP's Pete Evaldi hit a three from the corner with 12 seconds left. North had a couple scoring chances at the buzzer but could not convert.

The game was tied at 40-40 after the third quarter and 52-52 at regulation. Alex Ullrich (13 points) hit a six-foot jumper to tie it at, 60-60, after the first overtime. North was up 66-60 with two minutes left in the second overtime.

"I thought we had problems guarding people, especially their guards," said Swierski. "Whenever we had a chance to put it away, we could not do it."

Alex Barth led North with a career-high 20 points. Young scored 16 points, 11 rebounds and six steals.

Greg Michael had 22 to lead OP. Kyle Perla added 16 in the second part of the game.

North opened the week with a 57-50 road win at Lancaster last Tuesday.

The play of the game took place with 1:30 remaining. Down by four, Lancaster was looking for a bucket inside and Steve Barth came from the weak side, stole the pass and was fouled. Two free throws later, North was up six.

The Spartans led, 19-12, after the first quarter and outscored the Redskins, 19-9, in the second quarter, to go up, 38-21, at halftime. Reserves Joe Greenwald (eight points - two three's, mid-range jumper) and John Ticco (5-of-5 free throws) contributed for North in the second quarter. The Spartans led, 49-34, after three.

Calderon hit four three's in a career-high 16 points. Steve Barth scored seven of his 10 in the fourth. Young added nine points and a bunch of rebounds, said Swierski.

North (7-7, 3-5) plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Frontier. If North is going to get things rolling on a consistent basis, they have to play a full four quarters. Swierski said his team is 12-2 at halftime.

"I don't know why we tense up but it seems when it comes down to crunch time, we don't flow with the same confidence in the rest of game," said Swierski. "I don't know if it's a characteristic of being young or inexperienced."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com