Amherst boys hoops clinch ECIC Division II
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central's Cordell Freeman takes the ball away from Medina's Kevin Dukes during the Tigers' 82-69 non-league road win on Feb. 12. Amherst won the ECIC Division II regular season title. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase photos at www.BeeNews.com

Amherst Central's formula to winning games this season was evident in last week's group of victories.

The Tigers (15-5, 11-1) shot well from the field, got contributions from several players, and tightened up their defensive intensity in wins over Medina, 82-69, Williamsville East, 70-55, and Lake Shore, 66-43.

"We started off the season slow at 2-3 but finished 12-2," said Amherst coach Mike Chatelle. "I was pleasantly surprised with how the regular season has turned out. Maybe it took us a while to gel but the kids have really developed."

Amherst shot 52 percent from the floor against Medina and extended a 37-25 halftime lead to 58-49 after the third quarter.

Cordell Freeman led all scorers with 31 points, 21 coming in the first half. Chris France added 17 points and six steals. Will Gowen almost recorded a double-double (15 points, nine rebounds). Viron Hale contributed eight points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

The Tigers also shot 52 percent against East, opening a 22-11 first quarter advantage and building a 39-29 halftime lead. Amherst was ahead, 59-42, after the third quarter.

"We got off to a fast start but was patient with our shots," said Chatelle. "We played an aggressive zone which took them out of their offensive sets."

East coach Dennis Belote said his team shot horrible, including 0 of 15 from three-point range. The Flames also only made half of their free throws (5 of 10).

"They made everything and we couldn't make anything," Belote said.

France led all scorers with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Freeman had 18 points. Hale (seven points, seven rebounds, four steals), Gowen (eight points) and Andre Hakeem (seven points) also scored for the Tigers.

Brian Wallden led East with 20 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks. Andy Heim (13 points), Justin Andreozzi (10 points), Rick Silvestri (eight points), Mike Ferguson and Mike Rath (two points each) also scored for the Flames.

Later in the week, Amherst and East each beat Lake Shore.

Amherst used a 21-4 second quarter to rout the Eagles by 23 points while East overcame another poor shooting night to win, 62-43.

France (18 points) and Freeman (13 points) scored in double figures for Amherst. Gowen chipped in seven. The Tigers shot 19 of 21 from the free throw line.

East trailed Lake Shore, 10-5, after the first quarter but was ahead, 20-16, at halftime, and, 39-27, after the third quarter.

Wallden had a monster game with 29 points, 30 rebounds and four blocks. Heim added 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Silvestri (six points), Mark Guenther (four points, six rebounds), Nick Kanutsu and Mike Ferguson (two points each) also scored.

East's shooting woes continued against Bishop Timon-St. Jude at home on Monday. The Flames lost 61-58 but had they made more than one three (1 of 17) and more than half of their free throws (13 of 25), they probably could have won. Four of East's missed free throws came with the game tied late in the fourth quarter which led to consecutive Timon baskets. East had two good looks at the basket for a game-tying three but the ball hit the front of the rim.

"The kids played well defensively but we shot under 30 percent for the game," said Belote.

Timon triple-teamed Wallden and held the junior to 14 points and nine rebounds.

"When we run our fastbreak, we were fine but in our half court offense, Wallden was triple-teamed and we couldn't knock down a shot," said Belote.

Andreozzi added 14 points and seven rebounds. Heim added 11 points and nine rebounds. Silvestri scored 10 points to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.

East (11-9, 8-4), seeded fifth in the Section VI Class A-1 prequarterfinals, hosts 12th-seed Iroquois at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The winner plays the winner of West Seneca East and McKinley at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Amherst, seeded first, will host the winner of eighth-seed Riverside and ninth-seed Starpoint at 7 p.m. on Friday.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com