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Macks to play for the Class A state title

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After finishing undefeated in the Yale Cup for two straight seasons, what does a team do for an encore? They go after a state championship.

 

McKinley is on the brink of its first state title in school history, following an impressive 75-61 win over defending Class B state champ Bishop Ludden. The Macks will face Burke Catholic for the NYSPHAA Class A state championship tomorrow at 1:30 pm.

 

After a tightly contested first quarter, the Macks trailed by three points.  Two minutes into the second quarter, Reyzjon Jordan connected from downtown to tie the game at 21-21.  After a stop, Marcus Morris swished his third '3' of the game to give McKinley the lead.  The Macks would never be behind on the scoreboard the rest of the way.

 

The Macks came of the locker room for the second half and blew the game open with a 23-4 run to take a 55-34 lead, led by nine points from Morris and eight from Lovell Smith.  Three minutes into the final stanza, Bishop Ludden pulled to within 10 points, but would never get any closer, as Smith scored another eight points during the next four minutes to help seal the win and advance to the title game. 

 

Smith finished with a game-high 23 points, with 16 of those coming in the decisive second half.  Morris  scored 21 points,  Sammy Smith added 10 points, and Jordan netted nine points.   Daequan Warren collected 11 rebounds and three steals for McKinley in the win. 

 

Click my twitter link below to review the game tweets from earlier.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

5 responses to “Macks to play for the Class A state title”

  1. McShea is God Avatar
    McShea is God

    Great win 4 the Mack’s. Beat Burke Catholic and they will have beaten 3 straight catholic school’s 2 win the Class A ‘Public School’ State title.
    Being at Glens, and seeing how good Burke is – they looked JUST like Canisius – I will b voting McKinley #1 in the final poll if they can win the State title title. Just 2 punish Canisius 4 never making the Fed in this 4 year run.
    All WNY team I will post my ‘picks’ tomorrow – 1 spot still left open on 1st team depending on tomorrow.

    Reply
  2. Game Avatar
    Game

    they out of everyone really seemed to have it the sweet spot by taking their already strong play ,up a notch.Now to continue that for another game will be a magical run for them.they have seemed to either been playing close to error free ball or they have great coaching that has got these kids heads on right and looking syraight for the crown.i know they have these kids on the move and they certainly are active and really just have it right when it counts and I don’t care who you are if you got it working like that you will be tough to beat.now if you run into a team like you then it comes down to error free ball and heart because at this level im pretty certain everyone has got “GAME”. All the best to them and I just have a feeling especially in light of the way they have dispatched all comers thus far,you have to like their chances but I do lack knowledge of the team they play so its a vote from the heart as well.

    Reply
  3. Polar Bear Avatar
    Polar Bear

    They have GOT to do something about how cold it is during the first session at the Glenns Falls civic Center on Saturday. I get that there is an ice rink under the floor boards, but my god you could hang meat in that arena. My family and I were freezing.

    Reply
  4. Bona fan Avatar
    Bona fan

    I agree with MIG, what a joke that Mckinley has to beat 3 CATHOLIC schools in a row to win the PUBLIC school title. And if they do, their reward is a date in the Federation tournament next weekend, where they will probably end up meeting another CATHOLIC school, depending on how the brackets play out. I suspect the new Pope has something to do with this.
    First things first for the Macks, though. Beat Burke catholic today. Burke does kind of remind me of canisius, similar guys with a similar style. But Mckinley reminds me VERY much of the old LaSalle teams that were able to win 3 state titles in 80’s and 90’s, particularly the 95 and 96 teams that had 3 lightning quick guards, not a starter taller than 6’2″, and got it done with defensive pressure and points in transition. If mckinley runs for 32 minutes today, I believe they can bring home the state title.

    Reply
  5. section 6 Avatar
    section 6

    MIG. Still hung over from McKinley’s big win? We are all patiently waiting for your All- WNY pics you said you were going to post Sunday.

    Reply

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Centercourt

Devoted to boys varsity basketball, covering Section VI and the Monsignor Martin Association of WNY

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