Williamsville North not ready for WS West
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North boys coach Chuck Swierski called his team's road loss at West Seneca West the most disappointing defeat of his entire coaching career.

The Spartans, who beat the Indians, 71-41, in late December, lost 55-54 last Friday.

"We came in with an attitude that all we wanted to do was show up," said Swierski.

North was out of synch even before the game started. Swierski benched eight players, including three starters, for the entire first quarter for violating the team dress code. With regular starters Alex Ulrich and Ryan Young and reserves Justin Miller, Joe Greenwald and Dave Kling, the Spartans fought back from a 9-2 deficit to trail, 13-11, after the first quarter.

With the regular starters back in the lineup, North led, 30-26, at halftime, but were outscored, 17-9, in the third quarter. Swierski said his team turned the ball over twice in the last 30 seconds of the game, including once with four seconds remaining. Both were set plays to Young, although he never touched the ball on either possession.

"It came down to execution and it wasn't there," said Swierski. "West wanted it more than we did."

Steve Barth and Young each scored 12 points. Young also grabbed 12 rebounds and made four steals. Ulrich added nine points.

The Spartans' week started much better, winning, 60-55, at home on Jan. 30 over Clarence. Trailing, 32-29, at halftime and, 43-42, after three, North tied the game at 55-55 late in the fourth. With under a minute remaining, John Piaggione hit a three to put North ahead, 58-55. On the ensuing possession, Alex Barth tipped the ball away from a Clarence player, jumped on it and called timeout. Later, Barth blocked a Clarence shot, Alex Calderon (10 points) grabbed the rebound and threw it to a wide-open Ulrich for a layup at the buzzer. Alex Barth also finished with seven points and five steals.

Piaggione led North with 12 points, including two threes in the fourth. Young added a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds). Steve Barth (nine points) and Ulrich (six points) also contributed for the Spartans.

North (8-9, 4-7) looks to get back on the winning track at Sweet Home at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Amherst Central

Maryvale made their shots down the stretch and Amherst didn't in the Flyers' 66-58 home win last Friday.

The loss snapped the Tigers' six-game win streak.

"As a team, we weren't patient and came away empty on too many trips to the basket, partially due to their defensive intensity," said Amherst coach Mike Chatelle.

Maryvale also hit 13-of-15 free throws in the fourth quarter to Amherst's 7-of-10 attempts. The Flyers were 23-of-25 overall, Amherst was 11-of-15.

Nine of Amherst's converted free throws came from Cordell Freeman. The senior finished with 21 points but had to earn every point thanks to Maryvale's box-and-1 defense.

The Tigers were ahead, 14-8, after the first quarter and, 27-26, at halftime before Maryvale tied it at 35-35 after the third quarter.

Chris France added 17 points for Amherst.

The Tigers improved to 7-1 in ECIC Division II with a lopsided 74-46 road win at West Seneca East. Amherst was in command the entire game, leading 19-7 after the first quarter, 36-19, at halftime, and, 53-38, after three quarters.

"Our defense really stepped and our transition game got going off missed shots," said Chatelle. "When we scored, we set up pressure that bothered them."

Ten of 13 Tigers scored led by Freeman's 28 points. He scored 12 in the first quarter and hit four three's. France (14 points) and Andre Hakeem (10 points) also scored in double figures.

Amherst, 9-5 overall, continues a grueling eight games in 17 days with a home game against West Seneca East at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday and at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Iroquois. They played at Tonawanda on Tuesday but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com