South boys drop two on the road; East routs West Seneca schools
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East's Brian Wallden completes his second dunk of the game against West Seneca West last Wednesday. The Flames won 68-34.

The Williamsville South boys basketball team dropped its first two games on a five-game road swing in different fashions.

The Billies (1-3, 0-1) lost at the buzzer, 65-63, last Tuesday at Bishop-Timon St. Jude and were dominated by Hamburg, 64-38, last Friday.

Sophomore Darale Young scored the last six points of the game for Timon. He hit baskets with 53 seconds and 15 seconds left on the clock to tie the game, then blocked a 10-foot shot in the lane by South sophomore Mark Coppola with four seconds left, raced down the loose ball and hit a runner from just inside the three-point line to win the game. Young finished with a game-high 34 points.

"It wasn't only a great shot but a great defensive play," said South coach Al Monaco. "Mark (Coppola) had done an outstanding job in the second half getting inside the lane and scoring or setting others up with a great play."

Coppola scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half. He was limited to four assists.

Judging by how South played in the first half, it was a miracle they were even in the game. Timon led, 19-11, after the first quarter and 38-22 at halftime.

Monaco told his team at halftime to compete in the second half, and they responded. After Timon scored the first basket of the second half to go ahead, 40-22, South went on a 28-11 for the rest of the third quarter to trail, 51-50, by the end of the quarter. In the third, Coppola scored nine points as did junior Zach Murray. Senior Brian Webb and freshman Phil Stasiak each scored four.

Murray finished with 19 points, 15 coming in the second half, and added seven rebounds and two blocks. Stasiak had 11 points and nine rebounds. Webb chipped in four points and four rebounds. Freshman Joe Licata scored seven points and hauled in seven rebounds.

Monaco was proud of his team's effort.

"This game showed how much character and composure we have," he said. "If they come to play every night like that, the wins will take care of themselves."

As nice as the almost comeback win against Timon was, the loss to Hamburg was that bad.

South took itself out of the game with poor shooting, making only 14-of-59 shots, including 5-of-25 three-point attempts. The Billies also only made 5-of-14 free throws.

South was still in the game after the first quarter, trailing 14-9. They were down, 24-17, with two minutes left in the first half, but Hamburg scored the last six points of the half to go ahead, 30-17. They started the third quarter on a 12-2 run to put the game out of reach.

Coppola and Murray were each held to nine points. Murray's points were three threes. Coppola only had three assists, mainly because South missed so many shots. Stasiak had eight points and four rebounds.

Hamburg's 6-foot-10 center Blake McLimans finished with 15 points but had at least six blocks and altered many of South's shot attempts, Monaco said.

South plays at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Sweet Home.

Williamsville East

The Flames opened its season by having its way at home with the West Seneca teams.

East blew out West Seneca West, 68-34, last Wednesday and West Seneca East, 65-41, last Friday.

East used an 18-7 first quarter lead against West Seneca West en route to the victory. The Flames were ahead, 36-21, at halftime, and 52-26, after three quarters.

Every East player saw action and 11 kids scored, led by senior Brian Wallden, who had 19 points, including two nice dunks, a three-pointer, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

Chris Schiumo (10 points, five assists), Peter Heim (seven points, three steals) and Mark Rutecki (six points, nine rebounds) contributed. Andy Steel came off the bench and scored six points and made four steals. Mark Guenther added four points and grabbed a couple of rebounds.

The West Seneca East game was a little more challenging for the Flames. East was ahead, 15-13, after the first quarter, 29-18, at halftime, and 46-32, after three quarters.

Again, Wallden led East with 25 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He also hit 2-of-4 three-point attempts.

Schiumo scored 10 points, hit 5-of-6 free throws, and dished out a team-high nine assists. Rutecki added eight points and nine rebounds. Kevin Castine scored five points off the bench. East made 15-of-23 free throws.

East beat St. Francis, 64-62, in overtime on Monday. Game highlights will appear in next week's Bee. The Flames (3-0) play at Timon at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com