If you go to the championship game of the Williamsville Holiday Basketball Tournament sponsored by the Jolly Boys and the parking lot is full, just circle around a few times and some spaces are bound to open up.  That's because when South plays North tonight for Williamsville bragging rights, it will be in the consolation game. 

 

Newfane scored the biggest upset in the past two seasons with a 65-62 victory over the tenth ranked large school in WNY, Williamsville South.  The Panthers entered the game unranked and became the first small school to defeat a ranked large school since the 2009-10 season. 

 

The Panthers trailed by nine early in the second quarter, but battled back to tie the game at 30 apiece just before the half.  After canning a 3-pointer just before the intermission, South opened the second half by sinking another to go up 36-30.  But just as it seemed the Billies were taking back control of the game, Newfane went on a 19-2 run that gave them the game's largest lead at 49-38 late in the third quarter.

 

"Those two 3-pointers before and after the half were fool's gold for us, because they outworked us and outhustled us for 32 minutes tonight" South head coach Al Monaco said.  "I have all the respect in the world for the way that team plays".

 

The Billies climbed back into the game in the fourth quarter and took advantage of a technical foul.  With just under two minutes remaining, Jim Caputi sank three free throws to pull his team within three points and possesion of the ball with a chance to tie.  However, Newfane's Bryan Geise halted the comeback attempt when he came up with a huge steal at mid-court and converted it into a layup. 

 

For second year head coach Eric Klumpp, the biggest win of his young career had some special meaning.  Klumpp did his student teaching for Williamsville and spent time working under Monaco.

 

"We play a similar style and I told my guys before the game that the winner would be whoever played that style better", Klumpp said.  "We were playing Billie ball with them and getting slugged in the chest for a while.  Then we started making better decisions with the ball which allowed us to dictate the tempo more.  We did a great job of getting offensive rebounds which was a major part of stopping the transition game of South, which is deadly".

 

Justin Harvey finished with a career-high 17 points to lead four Panthers that finished in double figures.  Geise scored 14 points, while Sean Seefeldt added 11 points and Connor Sears chipped in 10 points.

 

Chaquille Nettles scored 17 points for South, while Caputi finished with 14 points.

 

Newfane will face St. Francis in the championship game tonight at 7:30 pm, following the North/South game scheduled to tip at 6 pm.

 

The Red Raiders beat Willaimsville North in the first game, 59-45.  St. Francis jumped out in front early and never trailed the Spartans as they controlled the game from the opening tip until the final buzzer.  A major part of the Red Raiders success was limiting North standout Sterling Taplin to just five points.

 

Matt Morcio led St. Francis with 16 points and Tyler Wagner scored 15 points. 

 

The Spartans were led by David Berkun's 12 points, while Ryan Winkler scored 11 points.

 

-centercourt