Missed opportunities end North's season
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North's Alex Calderon tries to make a move around Clarence's Nick Miano in the Spartans' 47-45 Section VI Class AA prequarterfinal loss last Wednesday. Photo by John Rusac Purchase photos at www.BeeNews.com

It was the same old story for Williamsville North in their Section VI Class AA prequarterfinal boys basketball game at Clarence on Feb. 21.

The Spartans played aggressive early, were tough defensively, but couldn't cash in on their offensive opportunities and lost, 47-45.

"Our missed opportunities did us in at the end," said North coach Chuck Swierski.

A perfect example of North's inability to cash in was at the free throw line. The Spartans, usually a 68-percent free throw shooting team, made only 10 of 22 attempts, including 3 of 10 in the first half. North also only shot 3 of 11 from three-point range.

"Defensively, I couldn't have been happier," said Swierski. "Alex Barth (seven rebounds, two points) shut down their best player, Greg Stevens, to 10 points after he had scored 24 and 19 points in our first two meetings. But we couldn't make free throws and offensively, could not make open shots."

North junior John Piaggione, who finished with a game-high 16 points, made key plays with under two minutes remaining.

Trailing Clarence by six, Piaggione scored five straight points (free throw, putback on missed second free throw attempt, and fastbreak layup) to cut the Spartan deficit to one. Piaggione then stole the inbounds pass, tried a behind the back pass which he turned over to Clarence, who scored on a fastbreak going in the opposite direction.

"That was the big play of the game I thought," said Swierski.

Swierski said the last minute of the game was a blur. North fouled Clarence who missed the front end of two one and ones. Swierski called a timeout with four seconds left to run a play on the side intended for either a Brian Davis jumper or, if he could not beat his key off the dribble, to dump it to Ryan Young (11 points, six rebounds) underneath for a bucket. Instead, Davis threw a pass to Piaggione, who attempted a 25-foot three at the buzzer that clanked off the left side of the rim.

North led 13-7 after the first quarter and 22-20 at halftime but trailed 40-36 after the third quarter.

Alex Ulrich added six points and seven rebounds for North.

North finish the season 9-12, although Swierski said his team was in at least nine of the games they lost.

Young, who led the team in points, rebounds, blocks and was second in steals, graduates as does point guard Alex Calderon, Davis and reserves Zach Boron and John Ticco.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com