I-Prep begins play each season in the Lockport Rotary Tournament.  The other schools in that tournament are all successful large school programs.  Despite being the only Class D school in the City of Buffalo, the Presidents were highly competitive in both games there to start the year, something that had to be a major confidence booster heading into league play.  It may have been just what they needed in a tight spot last night.  I-Prep is the favorite in Yale Cup II, but in its league opener, found out that means every team will give them their best shot.

 

Davon Ganf's dunk in overtime put the finishing touches on a strong extra session by I-Prep, as they were able to fend off a fiesty Olmsted team, 71-63.  The win improves the Presidents to 3-2 overall, and a 1-0 mark in Yale Cup II.  

 

I-Prep got out to a 12-point lead early in the second quarter, holding Olmsted standout Brandon Roach scoreless to that point and looking like they would soon be on cruise control.  After a wave of substitituons and a spirited pep talk from Owls head coach Rich Skrabucha, Olmsted found its pulse and began to show some signs of life.  Baskets by Naseem Baynes and Dan Reid were followed by consecutive long-range bombs by Roach, as part of a 10-1 run that cut the I-Prep lead to 20-17.  But then the Owls gave upthe last six points of the half and were right back down by nine, 26-17, heading into the break.

 

Rather than folding, Olmsted came out of the locker room for the third quarter with even better energy than they had started to show before, and a 'one possession at a time' mentality.   Thanks to a quick six points from Christian Barnes and eight of Roach's team-high 22 points in the third quarter, the Owls clawed their way back into the game, twice tying things up in the stanza.  With the score knotted at 38 each, Davon Gant got loose and threw down a one-handed dunk at the buzzer to give I-Prep a 40-38 advantage through three.

 

A 6-2 push to start the fourth quarter gave Olmsted its first lead of the game, 44-42. The Presidents came back with a 9-4 surge, with seven of those points coming from Terrence James, to re-establish their lead at 51-48 with two minutes remaining in regulation.  However, a technical foul was called on I-Prep and the Owls were able to cash in on the free throws and then sink another pair from a foul called as they retained possession, giving them a 52-51 lead with 1:47 to go.

 

The game was tied at 53 each, when Jeffery Townsel scored the go-ahead bucket for I-Prep with just 6.8 seconds on the clock.  The Owls flew back down the court and gave Dan Reid a look at the potential game-winning 3-pointer.  The shot missed, but the rebound was put back up at the buzzer by Athaan Kaudeyr, who scored Olmsted's last five points, to force the extra session.

 

The Presidents fell behind twice early in OT, but owned the final three minutes of the contest to secure the win.  Gant put the finishing touches on the 'W' for I-Prep with another breakaway dunk to end the game.

 

"Olmsted played great, it was a heck of a battle", I-Prep head coach Shaun Ryan said.  "I told those guys going into overtime, just remember how we played those last couple of minutes.  They woke up and started playing – it was a heck of a win".

 

I-Prep had four players finish in double figures:  Xavier Maye – 19 points,  James – 17 points,  Gant – 16 points, and Santiaga – 11 points.

 

Kaudyer scored 13 points for Olmsted and Reid added 11 points.

 

-centercourt