With the weather postponing the last couple night's games at the Pastor-Cooper Tournament, it made my choice pretty easy when deciding which games to take in tonight.  I hit the Wilson Tipoff Tournament to see three local programs that are always in the mix and one out-of-state school with a 6-10 West Virgina signee.

 

There's nothing like the anticipation of what a team will look like the first time they take the court for the season.  Tonight was my first viewing of Canisius, Riverside, and Wilson.  I knew all three would be good this year, but after seeing them play, I'm here to tell you that all three will definitely be heard from in league and the postseason. 

 

Aaron Nevins scored eight points in the tightly contested final quarter of a tightly contested game, to lead the Crusaders to a 48-45 victory over the Brunswick Blue Devils of Ohio.  Nevins finished with a game-high 21 points, including a pair of gritty traditional three-point plays down the stretch, to lift his squad.

 

Trailing 15-7 late in the first quarter, Canisius head coach Kyle Husband called a timeout.  When they came back out on to the court, he had his Crusaders playing the kind of defense that will make them very difficult to beat.  The Crusaders would allow just five points over the next ten minutes and served notice to Brunswick and everyone else watching, they were playing the rest of the way for keeps.

 

Gordon Lyons battled and scrapped with the much taller Pat Forsythe, who will be playing for the Big East Conference Moutaineers next year.  The D1 recruit earned  all 19 of his points and was often beaten to the spot and the ball by Lyons.

 

A pair of sophomores, Matt McDonald and Aaron White, showed no sign of being new to the varsity level for Canisius.  From the way White defended the opposition, it sure looked like he picked up a thing or two from new Crusader assistant and former LaSalle great, Modie Cox.

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In the first game, Riverside couldn't miss a 3-pointer for anything, played tough defensively, and crashed the boards all game, as the Frontiers cruised past Wilson, 72-57.  Riverside closed out the first half on an 18-2 run, allowed just one field goal in the second quarter, and owned a 47-21 lead at intermission.  The Lakemen looked much better in the second half and never allowed Riverside to let up, but were in too great a hole to dig out of.

 

The Riverside starting five will present a tough matchup to anyone in WNY, as Canisius will experience tomorrow.  Gilbert Herrera and sophomore Justice Feggans scored 18 points apiece and Bennett transfer Deon artis added 11.  Artis is a great addition to this team and his style of play blends right in at Riverside.  Willie Jefferson and Lamont Little round out a starting five that can run, shoot, and defend very well.  6-3 junior Mike Leonard was also an impressive sixth man for Riverside.

 

The Lakemen were lead by Brennan Moxham, who finished with 12 points.

 

The schedule for day two of the tournament:

Wilson vs. Brunswick, OH – 5:30 pm

Canisius vs. Riverside – 7:00 pm

 

-centercourt