Flames need double overtime to win at Hamburg
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Peter Heim's 16-foot jump shot at the buzzer lifted Williamsville East to a huge 61-59 double overtime road win at Hamburg last Friday.

Junior guard Kevin Castine brought the ball up the court, wove through a couple of Hamburg defenders, and fed Heim on the left side of the baseline. With four seconds remaining in double overtime, Heim took a couple of dribbles and took a shot just underneath the three-point line to end a see-saw contest between two of ECIC Division II's best (Both are honorable mention in the Western New York large school rankings). Heim scored five of his 15 points in overtime.

The victory moved East's record to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in league play, a half game better than Hamburg's 2-1 mark. Sweet Home is in first place at 4-0.

Hamburg was ahead, 12-8, after the first quarter and 29-22 at halftime, before East, led by 6-foot-6 senior center, Brian Wallden, woke up in the second half.

Wallden, who was coming off a stomach virus, scored 25 of his 27 points in the second half. He shot 7 of 10 from the field, 3 for 5 from three-point range, and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. He also had 15 rebounds and five blocks.

Wallden and 6-foot-11 junior Mark Rutecki (six points, 12 rebounds) held Hamburg's Blake McLimans to six points in the second half. McLimans finished with 17 points.

Hamburg led, 12-8, after the first quarter and had a 29-22 cushion by halftime but East coach Dennis Belote said his team turned the ball over fewer times (14 of 22 turnovers in first half) and passed a lot better which resulted in the Flames outscoring Hamburg, 20-7, in the third quarter to go up, 42-36. Wallden scored 13 points in the third quarter.

Hamburg, led by Dorian Myles, brought the Bulldogs back. Myles, a 45 percent free throw shooter, made two free throws with two seconds remaining to force the game into a first overtime tied at 50-50. He also made a shot to send the game into double overtime tied at 54-54.

In addition to Heim's five points in overtime, Wallden added four and Rutecki dumped in two.

Junior Mike Silvestri came off the bench to score five points and grab rebounds.

East played at St. Joe's on Tuesday but the result was unavailable before The Bee went to press. They host Williamsville South, 2-2 in ECIC II, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.