Sweet Home clinches at least tie for league title
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home is still in control of its own destiny for the ECIC Division II title with league wins last week over Williamsville North, 76-45, and Frontier, 61-43.

The Panthers (15-4, 11-2) have already clinched a tie for the league crown but can win it outright with a home win over Lancaster on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Besides an 8-0 run from North to start the game coming from Alex Calderon and John Piaggione three-pointers and an Alex Barth steal and layup, Sweet Home was firmly in control against the Spartans.

After each team called a timeout and traded baskets, Sweet Home turned up the defensive man-to-man intensity and outscored North, 13-1, for the rest of the first quarter. Panthers coach Paul Schintzius credited point guard Steven Roberts for stealing the ball and getting his team's transition game going in the first quarter. Roberts finished with 10 points.

"Our philosophy is ball pressure and causing defensive problems for their offense," said Schintzius. "Our mindset was focused on playing good defense. We grabbed a couple of steals and got out in transition."

"We knew their man-to-man defense was coming but it was hard to recreate it in practice," added North coach Chuck Swierski. "It starts with Roberts. Everyone followed suit played and we didn't handle it well."

Sweet Home led, 37-21, at halftime and, 59-30, after the third quarter.

Terrell Rankin led Sweet Home with 27 points in what Schintzius called "his best game of the season." Rankin only missed two shots from the field.

North reserve Brian Davis led the Spartans with 11 points. Piaggione added 10 points. Ryan Young only took seven shots and finished with five points and four blocks. He was not the team's leading rebounder in a game for the first time all season. Young's four rebounds was trumped by Alex Barth's six. North committed 21 turnovers.

Against Frontier, Sweet Home showed they could win without Rankin. The senior forward picked up three first quarter fouls and played about eight minutes the entire game. Rankin scored all eight of his points in the third quarter.

In Rankin's absence, Earl Jackson (14 points), Roberts (10 points) and Glenroy Carr (nine points) picked up the offense for Sweet Home.

The Panthers led, 10-4, after the first quarter although Schintzius felt the lead should have been about 27-4 from Frontier turnovers. Sweet Home was ahead 27-20 at halftime and 47-33 after three quarters. It was also rescheduled from Tuesday, Feb. 6 to Saturday night because of the wintry weather.

"It was a tough game," said Schintzius. "It almost had the environment of a scrimmage. It was a game that worried me because I know it was a game we needed for the league championship."

North (8-11, 4-9) lost 73-61 at Orchard Park on Monday. The Spartans host Lancaster at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.