Sweet Home, North boys hoops defeat Lancaster
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North's Ryan Young battles underneath against Orchard Park on Feb. 12. The Quakers won 73-61. Photo by John Normile Purchase photos at www.BeeNews.com

Sweet Home and Williamsville North's boys basketball teams closed out their regular seasons with home wins over Lancaster.

Sweet Home clinched the ECIC Division II with a 76-42 victory last Wednesday. The next night, North came back to beat the Redskins, 63-52.

The Panthers led, 18-0, at one point in the first quarter and were ahead, 21-5, by the end of the quarter. Sweet Home extended the lead to 39-16 at halftime and 59-24 after three quarters.

All 13 players scored led by Terrell Rankin's 17. Eric Schnirel and Josh Parker each scored eight. Glenroy Carr chipped in seven.

"One of goals this year was to win a league title," said Sweet Home coach Paul Schintzius. "As good as a season as we had last year, we didn't win the league title. Our second goal is to go back and get another sectional crown."

It wasn't as easy for the Spartans, who trailed Lancaster, 19-7, but a three-pointer from John Ticco seemed to relax the rest of the team, said North coach Chuck Swierski.

The Spartans took a 34-32 halftime lead, 10 points coming from John Piaggione, and a 51-47 advantage after three quarters. Piaggione finished with a team-high 14 points.

Ryan Young had an all-around great game with 13 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, and five steals. He was also 5 of 5 from the free throw line; North was 20 of 23 overall. Alex Barth poured in 10 points.

North opened last week with a 73-61 road loss on Feb. 12 versus Orchard Park. The only drama in this meeting was whether or not the Spartans could come back, which they did with 2½ minutes remaining but traveled on a two on one to lose any thoughts of a comeback.

The team's last meeting was played on two days because of a collision between Orchard Park guards Jim Brewer and Andy Buyea which sent both to the hospital with concussions. Brewer and Buyea combined for 32 points this time.

"We had nice momentum and shot ourselves in the foot again," said Swierski.

Brian Davis came off the bench for North and scored 14 second quarter points, finishing with a career-high 19.

Piaggione, Steve Barth, Zach Boron and Young each scored eight points. Alex Ulrich added seven points and 11 rebounds.

North point guard Alex Calderon rolled an ankle three minutes in and did not return.

Sweet Home and North will play Section VI Class AA playoff games this week. North (9-11, 5-9), seeded ninth, plays at eighth seed Clarence at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The winner plays at top-seed Niagara Falls at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Swierski said his team has to look out for Greg Stevens. He had 13 points in the Red Devils' 70-66 win in December. He scored 24 in North's 60-55 win two weeks ago.

"If you leave him open, he'll knock down a jumper and if you play him too tight, he will drive on you," said Swierski.

Sweet Home (16-4, 12-2), seeded second, hosts the winner of seventh seed Lockport or tenth-seed Niagara-Wheatfield at 7 p.m. on Friday in the quarterfinals.

"I hope our experience from last year carries over, you would hope it would, but you don't know," said Schintzius. "Some of the guys who were paramount from last year are gone. Some of these younger guys are going to have to step up."

Ali Ramadan, who has been out since January because of academic reasons, will be available for the Panthers.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com