My favorite two-day high school basketball event in WNY is the annual Cataract City Classic, held at Niagara Falls High School on 4455 Porter Road.  Each year, Sal Constantino organizes the nine-game event which showcases some of the top programs from WNY and surrounding areas.  This season, Constantino will be extra busy, as he will be coaching the host school each day.  Recently hired as the head coach of WNY's premier hoops program, Constantino will look to return the Wolverines to the status they held for nearly a decade after the team failed to advance to the postseason semifinals last year for the first time in its history.  Niagara Falls will open its season with a grueling pair of  games that headline each night of the Classic.  Here is the schedule:

 

Friday, December 10, 2010

Niagara Wheatfield vs. Lancaster – 5:00 pm

– Erik O'Bryan makes his debut as the new head coach for the Falcons on the same court where he led North Tonawanda to a historic win over Niagara Falls a season ago.  Now, O'Bryan begins a new chapter of his coaching career with a Niagara Wheatfield team that has some size, led by 6-6 Jake Hughes.  Lancaster opened the season with a pair of victories by winning its own tournament.  The Redskins will need a strong outing from JJ Harrington, a 6-7 big man who has some range from the perimeter.

 

St. Joe's vs. Depew – 6:30 pm

– A very interesting game between two traditionally strong programs.  The Marauders come in with a size advantage and are a bit more physical, but neither of those assets worked to their advantage in the teams home opener against Riverside.  Depew head coach Larry Jones was on hand to scout that game and will surely devise a plan to slow the game down and run long half court sets.  If you like a good chess match, this would be the game to see. 

 

Niagara Falls vs. Jamestown – 8:00 pm

– This could very well be a preview of the Class AA championship game in March.  Jamestown has a ton of talent back from the team that won the Class AA crown last season and something to prove.  The Red Raiders have never beaten Niagara Falls, and for the first time ever, come into this season favored ahead of the Wolverines.  But beating Niagaara Falls on its home court will be a tall order – the only ECIC team to ever accomplish that was Clarence, during sectionals last year.  The atmosphere for this one should be off the hook.  The Niagara Falls Pep Band will be fired up and firing up the Falls faithful, while Jamestown fans always travel well and are among the loudest in WNY.

 

Saturday, December 11, 2010

St. Mary's vs. Wilson – 12:00 pm

– Fresh off an exciting overtime win against Newfane, the Lancers face another top small school in Wilson.  The Lakemen opened with losses to Riverside and Brunswick, OH (a school larger than Niagara Falls) but still showed the same trademark hustle and grit that keeps them competitive each year.  Wilson hopes to get into the win column and grab early bragging rights over rival Newfane, by beating the team the Panthers just lost to.  The Lancers hope establish their rank among the small schools in the area and will look for Peter Notaro and Devin Redden to build on the their strong play inside.

 

Amherst vs. CG Finney – 1:30 pm

– This game provides a barometer for other schools in WNY.  Finney of Section V is a Class D private school that plays at a much higher level than other schools of its size.  Last season, the school opted to play up in Class B2.  They earned five point wins over both Portville and Class AA McQuaid of Section V, who plays Canisius and St. Mary's next week.  Amherst is coached by Chris Kensy, whose team opened the year with a win over Grand Island.  How the Tigers perform in this game will offer some perspective for multiple teams.

 

Williamsville North vs. Batavia – 3:00 pm

– Led by a freshman point guard in Sterling Taplin, the Spartans future looks bright.  They face a Batavia team that has advanced to Glens Falls for the state final four in two separate classes the past two seasons.  Led by all-state guard Andrew Hoy and legendary coach Buddy Brasky, the Blue Devils are always a top team.  Williamsville North will face tough competition all season in league and the postseason, and getting a win here would be momentum builder moving forward.

 

Canisius vs. Williamsville South – 5:00 pm

– This one just might wind up being the best game of the nine played.  Both teams are very highly regarded in the large school ranks, and what better way to sort out which one should be slotted higher than to pair them up on a neutral court.  Last season, the two teams got together at the ECIC/MMAA Challenge, with Canisius coming away with a 68-64 win.  The Billies were without Mark Coppola in that game, and he's the only impact player that graduated.  This year, the game should be equally close and entertaining, and the outcome will likely hang in the balance until the final seconds.

 

East Aurora vs. Niagara Catholic – 6:30 pm

– Joe Lowery returns to his old high school with his new team, the Patriots.  Niagara Catholic opened the year by winning the A. Leslie Lawrence Tournament.  They face an East Aurora team with new coach Chris Koselny, who will look to get the most out of his club.  Last year at the Classic, the Blue Devils had a strong showing in a win over Medina.  East Aurora is led by Jameson Arnold.

 

Niagara Falls vs. Aquinas – 8:00 pm

– The final game of the Classic pits the Falls up against a team many feel will represent Section V from Class A in the Far West Regionals.  The Little Irish rolled St. Francis to start their season behind the strong play of Phil Valenti.  Niagara Falls will present a much tougher matchup with the imposing front court of Jordan Street, Jermaine Crumpton, and Marcus Feagin.  I'd be willing to bet that Willaimsville South hangs around for this game, just in case they see Aquinas down the road.

 

** I'll be courtside for the games and providing updates for all of them throughout.  If you can't make it out to Porter Road for any of the nine games, check here for the latest.

 

–centercourt