Panther boys can clinch share of ECIC II with win
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home has played some of its worst basketball of the season lately but because of a competitive ECIC II division, the Panthers can still clinch a share of the league crown with one more home win.

Sweet Home (10-8, 7-4) hosts Hamburg (14-5, 8-3) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. A Panthers' win gives them a share of the division.

"It's kind of fitting," said Sweet Home coach Paul Schintzius. "It seems like every chance we have to get the league title we've thrown it away."

That includes the Panthers' 61-55 home loss to Lake Shore last Tuesday.

Sweet Home had a 31-19 halftime lead shrunk to 43-37 after the third quarter. The Panthers were outscored, 23-12, in the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, Lake Shore went to the line eight times in the fourth quarter and 14 times in the second half. They also made three-pointers in the second half courtesy of Kyle DeNisco, who nailed four of them. DeNisco scored all 15 of his points in the second half.

"They made some shots and their defensive intensity was far greater than ours," said Schintzius. "They deserved to win."

Sweet Home jumped out a big lead in the first half thanks to seven threes. Jamel Werts, Brian Pappagallo and Richard Rush each made two. Casey Kacz also hit a three. The Panthers did not hit a three in the second half.

"Lake Shore played a zone defense in the second and they packed the lane, basically daring us to shoot," said Schintzius.

Ali Ramadan was the only Panther in double figures with 20. Despite playing with four fouls, ten of his 12 points came in the fourth quarter.

Pappagallo and Werts did not score in the second half.

It was Sweet Home's first home loss of the season.

The Panthers got back on the winning track after routing West Seneca East, 69-26, last Friday at West Seneca East.

Ahead 17-10 after the first quarter, Sweet Home outscored the Trojans, 24-2, in the second quarter to lead, 41-12, by halftime. The Panthers went up, 55-18, after the third quarter.

All 10 Sweet Home players who dressed scored. Ramadan led with 16 points. Werts and Will Reese each had 12. It was a career-high for Reese.

Sweet Home's other game this week was against Frontier at home on Tuesday but the result was unavailable before The Bee went to press.