Panthers pass road test
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home's Jamel Werts goes up and over a Lake Shore defender during the Panthers' 70-51 win last Thursday at Lake Shore. Werts led the Panthers with 24 points. Sweet Home (5-3, 4-0) is in sole possession of first place in ECIC Division II. Photo by John Normile Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Sweet Home boys basketball coach Paul Schintzius wasn't sure which of his teams would show up to face Lake Shore last Thursday. And after a 70-51 road win, he still is not sure.

The Panthers used an aggressive man-to-man defense to jump out to a 15-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and 36-17 advantage at halftime. But Lake Shore and Sweet Home each scored 34 points in the second half.

"We started out doing what good teams do," said Schintzius. "We were playing good team defense. Guys were talking and in position to help other teammates. Leading 15-4 at the end of the first quarter was the message that I wanted to send. By the second quarter, we were playing like where we have been for most of the year. We just can't sustain it yet."

Senior guard Jamel Werts led Sweet Home with 24 points. Werts and senior point guard Brian Pappagallo (eight points, six in second quarter) each played with sprained ankles.

Senior forward Ali Ramadan added 19 points despite picking up three fouls in the first half for the seventh consecutive game.

Junior forward Donny Watkins was the third Panther player in double figures with 10.

It was Sweet Home's first road win. Its four road losses came at neutral sites - Rochester East at Niagara Falls High School, Canisius at St. Mary's of Lancaster, Kenmore West and Cardinal O'Hara at Kenmore East.

"It was the kind of an uneasy feeling in the locker room prior to the game," said Schintzius. "We were coming off a couple of losses (Kenmore West and Cardinal O'Hara) and the floodgates could have opened if we were the ones down 15-4 at the end of the first quarter."

Nine out of the 13 on the Sweet Home roster dressed. They played the Ken-Ton Holiday Classic over holiday break with seven.

Sweet Home (5-3, 4-0) hosts Orchard Park and West Seneca East at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. The Panthers play at Hamburg at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15.