Polls and debates about which team is better and who could beat who make for some interesting banter throughout the basketball season.  Sometimes it takes until the end of the season to find out the answer.  Some years the debate carries into April because top teams play in different leagues or classes, and never end up facing each other.   But for a second straight in WNY, the top ranked large and small schools, also regarded as the very best representing the area, got together for an early season tilt to settle local bragging rights, assuming the teams can maintain their rankings.  And unlike last season's game that went down to the final minute and left spectators room to continue the conversation, we got a firm answer about which team should be considered the best WNY  has to offer.  

Before a near capacity crowd at the Bernard J. Kennedy Field House at Canisius High School on Saturday afternoon, the Crusaders scored a convincing 67-49 victory over Olean.  The win improves Canisius to 5-0 on the season, a record that also includes a win over defending CHSAA state champion Nazereth.  For the Huskies, it's their first setback (4-1) in a season where they play a brutal independent schedule in hopes of seasoning a squad for a state title run.  

Early on, the game and atmosphere displayed all the intensity you could hope for in a highly anticipated duel of top teams.  The first quarter saw the lead change six times and included a pair of ties.  Olean's last lead 8-7 on a basket bt Dante Tarr at the 2:51 mark of the opening quarter.  Canisius held a 13-10 advantage following the first stanza.  Midway throught he second quarter with the score favoring the Crusaders, 22-19, Canisius stole the game's momentum when Stafford Trueheart rose up behind the Husky's defense and flushed a beautifully thrown lob from fellow sophomore teammate Howard Washington.  The play got the field house rocking and was followed up by a Michael Keenahan 3-pointer, giving Canisius a 27-19 lead.  

The game went to intermission with the Crusaders in front, 29-24, but would soon get blown wide open.  Canisius began to disrupt the offense of Olean, while getting its mojo going in its own end, resulting in a 16-2 run that pushed the score to 45-26.  It would prove to be more than the Huskies could overcome, as they trailed by double figures for the remainder of the game.

The biggest difference in the game through my eyes was the defensive pressure and rebounding from Canisius, made possible by the athletes on its roster.  They are more of a matchup nightmare for Olean this season.  The Huskies couldn't score inside and struggled equally from the perimeter, connecting on just two shots from downtown after 20 attempts.  Canisius held a 55-34 advantage cleaning up the glass, and only one of the Husky players (Wil Bathurst) finished with double figures in scoring.  He was just 9 of 23 from the field in reaching a game-high 21 points.  

 Trueheart and TJ Wheatley did a great job defending Olean's Sam Eckstrom inside and held him to just two field goals and six points.  Trueheart played like he was the highly touted big man in WNY, and Wheatley, who won't be out-muscled by anyone I've seen, moved Eckstrom away from the basket, altered his shots, and kept him off the glass.  Ryan Richards (my pick for the player of the game) was a force on both ends – defending, rebounding, getting out in transition, and converting both passes and second chance points around the basket.  Josh Huffman came off the bench and frustrated the Huskies with his quickness and intense defense.  Washington and Keenahan both did a great job of staying with Olean's guards, handling the ball, and facilitating the offense.  And I still haven't mentioned LaTerrance Reed, who just makes Canisius go.  Reed has a great motor, is another solid defender, and can flat out score. 

Richards big game included a team-high 19 points, along with 10 boards. Reed scored 14 points, Washington had 13 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. Trueheart scored 10 points and ripped down a game-high 16 rebounds.  Keenahan scored seven points and dished eight dimes.

-centercourt

@centercourt42