(Roy-Hart's Chris Anderson goes to work in the paint against Newfane) 

 

Can you remember the last time Roy-Hart made an appearance at Buff State?  I can't either.  But the Class B2 school from the Niagara-Orleans league just might be ready for the big lights on Grant Street in Buffalo.  After getting my second glimpse of the Rams this season, I came away even more impressed than the first time I saw them.  They have all the right pieces for a postseason run – size, balance, depth, a go-to scorer, coaching, and most importantly, hunger.  Roy-Hart has been committed all season to reaching to the big stage, and after watching the way they utilize all the aforementioned pieces they have in place against Newfane last night, I like its chances.

 

The Rams got key contributions from several players and never trailed, earning a 65-59 win over visiting Newfane.  The win improves Roy-Hart to 10-2 in league, trailing Medina by just one game with two N-O battles remaining for each school.

 

"Tonight we were able to make good passes, we were strong with the ball, and we made free throws," said Roy-Hart coach Joe Pawlak.

 

The home team got a quick spark out of the opening tip, as senior team leader Andy Xaspos drilled a 3-pointer on his first shot just seconds into the game.  On his next trip down the court, Xaspos finished a tough take in traffic.  He and teammate Justin Heschke combined for 13 points in the opening quarter as the Rams were able to take an early six-point lead after one quarter, 17-11.

 

The Panthers cut the deficit to one early in the second quarter, but Roy-Hart answered as Jake Bruning banged a 3-pointer and followed it up with a layup for the Rams as part of a 7-0 run.  Newfane answered with the last six points of the half to make it 26-24 at halftime.

 

After Max Weber tied the game for the Panthers to start the second half, Xaspos, Heschke, and Chris Anderson teamed up to deliver 13 unanswered points for Roy-Hart, the largest run of the game, to give the Rams a 39-26 lead.  For Newfane, everytime they would get close, the Rams would build its lead back up.  In the game's key moments, the Panthers couldn't get enough shots to fall.

 

"We never could make a big run because when we had open shots or the big shot to hit to get the crowd & bench into it, it seemed like it wouldn't go," said Newfane coach Eric Klumpp.

 

Part of thwarting a run from the Panthers was controlling the boards all evening.  Roy-Hart's combination of Anderson and Heschke made life tough in the paint for Newfane, who has a scrappy, but undersized unit.

 

"We don't have a guy out there over 6-foot and we don't have a lot of meat to us, so when you're working to keep two guys off the boards like Anderson & Heschke, while trying to matchup – in the end, their bigger, stronger players provided the advantage for them," said Klumpp.

 

Along with his strong play in the paint, Heschke helped handle the ball & break the press, and even drilled a 3-pointer from straight away during the 13-0 run.  His effort, combined with his composure, was a big part of the Rams' success.

 

"Justin Heschke was a beast in the middle on the press-breaker," said Pawlak.  "He was kind of our point forward tonight – he was able to handle it in the full court and we got him a lot of looks in the blocks."

 

Klumpp agreed that Heschke's impact on the game was a big difference in the outcome.

 

"When we would get a block out situation, they'd be the first ones to the ball, especially Heschke – he was a monster today," said Klumpp.

 

Bruning and Tim Moriarity were also key for the Rams, as they were relied upon to help get Roy-Hart into sets as Newfane made a concerted effort to limit the number of touches Xaspos got.

 

"Jake Bruning and Tim Moriarity did a heck of a job handling the ball when Andy had it out of his hands," Pawlak said.

 

Xaspos scored a team-high 18 points in the win for Roy-Hart, despite gaining the extra attention from Newfane defenders.  His passion for the game jumps off the court at you, as he seems to relish being chased all over the court by two defenders and takes the challenge in stride.

 

"Some people around WNY might say he's very overrated,"  Klumpp explained.  "They might say that until they come watch him play, or have to devise a game plan to stop the young man, because he's going to use his smarts and figure out a way to be successful – you don't see many kids in this new age that go out and grind and have that competitive greatness."

 

Newfane got a game-high 24 points from Weber, while fellow sophomore Kyle Devoogal added 16 points, with 14 of those coming in the second half.  Devoogal has been on fire from the perimeter recently, shooting better than 50% from beyond the arc, something that was not lost on Rams' coach Pawlak.

 

"We wanted to make it difficult for him without the ball, he's so good with the ball that once he gets it, there's not much you can do," said Pawlak.  "Our guys did a good job of getting into him when he didn't have the ball."

 

With three minutes in the game, Weber hit a 3-pointer to get Newfane within six points, but poor free throw shooting down the stretch crippled any chance the Panthers had of overtaking the lead.  While Roy-Hart shot 9/13 from the stripe in the fourth quarter, Newfane was just 2/9, missing its final seven tosses.

 

"We struggled to make the most important shots tonight, especially free throws. We were 0-7 down the stretch  making those allow us to get our defense set up, allows us to get the defensive players in that we want – we had the energy, but it just wasn't going our way," Klumpp said.

 

On a positive note for the Panthers, their ball movement stood out, even late in the game when many teams crumble under the feeling of desperation.  Newfane continued to swing the ball around, which allowed them to hit 3-pointers that kept them in the game late.  On one possession in particular, all five players touched the ball, before the open man canned the open look – a thing of beauty to witness.

 

"For as young as we are, we're very good once we get into our sets," said Klumpp.  "We're not dribbling it – if you're going to dribble it, it has to be a drive & when the help comes, we kick it.  Then when the rotation comes, we get that extra pass.  When we're playing well, we're assisting on more than half of our baskets."

 

For Roy-Hart, they will need help to claim a share of the league crown in the N-O.  The Rams must win their final two games and hope for a Medina loss, which on paper seems an unlikely scenario.  However, Roy-Hart will host a playoff game in the sectional quarterfinals in two weeks, thanks to the success they've enjoyed all season.  A win in that game would punch their ticket to Buff State, a goal the team has been working towards since Pawlak took over as head coach last season.

 

"We want to be playing good basketball heading into sectionals," Pawlak said.  "You can come right in our locker room, it's been sitting right by the white board since I got here two years ago – we've wanted to go to Buff State and we think that's attainable, we believe it."

 

Point Totals

Roy-Hart:  Andy Xaspos 18, Justin Heschke 15, Jake Bruning 12, Chris Anderson 9, Tim Moriarity 5, Matt Borel 4, Brendan Hess 2

Newfane:  Max Weber 24, Kyle Devoogal 16, Chad Gilson 8, Nick Schultz 5, Albert Kramp 3, Brandon Gross 3

 

-centercourt