(Lancaster's Vito Fulciniti works off a screen set by Tim Molik)

 

Lancaster basketball has been looking up at Jamestown for a long time.  While the Red Raiders have enjoyed a string of six consecutive league titles in ECIC I, the last time Lancaster could call themselves league champs was over 20 years ago, in 1995.  After cruising through their league schedule all season, the Legends were unbeaten as they made the long trek to Jamestown, also unblemished against the ECIC I competition, in a battle for first place.  

 

After four quarters and an extra session, Lancaster left defeated.  A hard-to-stomach loss by one point at the hands of the defending champions, despite feeling like they could have won…maybe should have won…but once again back in the uncomfortable position of looking up at the Red Raiders.  But Lancaster had one more shot coming on Monday night in its gym and seized that opportunity to hit Jamestown with its best shot.  When the game ended, they had landed that shot – right square between the eyes.  Now Lancaster isn't looking up anymore, but instead looking straight ahead and asking "You want some more?"

 

From start to finish, it was Lancaster's night, drilling the visiting Red Raiders with a 74-46 victory.  With one game left in the regular season for each, they are locked in a tie for the league title.

 

"Jametown's a great ball club and has been a great program for years," Lancaster coach John Otto said.  "For us to do this tonight is pretty amazing, especially after a couple bad showings…we didn't play our best basketball the last couple games.  Whether it be nerves down in Jamestown or looking to this game, we put it together tonight."

 

There really wasn't any aspect of the Legends game that wasn't together on Monday night.  They were the smarter team, the more focused team, the most passionate team, and they never let up.  From the opening tip until the game ended, Lancaster played brilliant basketball for 32 minutes and got to reap the benefits.

 

 "They took it to us all night,"  Jamestown coach Ben Drake said.  "The bottom line is they wanted it more than us.  They got every 50/50 ball, every loose ball…they were just going after it much harder than we were."

 

The tone was set immediately.  A 3-pointer by Noah Speyer in the game's first minute.  A bucket from Connor Duck on a smooth dish from Vito Fulciniti, who followed it up with a pair of his own scores.  Just like that it 9-0 before the contest was three minutes old.  All five starters put the ball in the basket in the opening frame and as a team, knocked down 10 field goals to grab a 22-13 lead.  After playing even with the Red Raiders for the first portion of the second quarter, a 9-0 run at the end of the half extended the Legends' lead to 38-21.  Once again, four different players scored during the push, highlighted by a great finish inside and three-point play conversion from Alec Tamburri.  Everyone was sharing the ball, making the offense look easy & automatic.

 

"They really moved the ball well, they hustled, they made shots, and their shots came from a lot of different people,"  Drake said.  "John had them ready to play tonight – they were clearly the better team."

 

By halftime it was obvious that Lancaster had come play and made some improvements from the first battle in Jamestown a week earlier.  Ball movement had been a weak point in the first meeting, as shot went up too quickly and failed to go in as often.

 

"It's one of the things we didn't do very well down in Jamestown and was a big focal point for us tonight," Otto said.  "Trying to get everyone touches before a shot goes up."

 

After withstanding Jamestown's attempt at a second half rally and not allowing a run, the Legends took a 53-39 lead into the final stanza.  Then in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, Fulciniti went back-to-back from downtown, giving his squad a 20-point lead.  As the momentum was reaching its fever pitch in the favor of the home team, Red Raiders' standout James Rojas was whistled for his third and fourth fouls which sent him to the bench.  A 13-0 run would ensue and the party was on in Lancaster.

 

"Our mental toughness has hurt us at different times this year and it hurt us tonight,"  said Drake.  "If we don't learn from that and respond better the next time, we'll take an early exit from the playoffs."

 

The victory for the Legends sets up must win games on Wednesday night for both teams.  Lancaster hosts Frontier for senior night, while Jamestown visits league rival Williamsville North.  A win for both would mean a shared title, while an outright championship is earned if only one is victorious.  The chances of the Legends holding up their end of the bargain seem strong, as they took the first meeting with the Falcons by 29 points.  Still, the notion of finally seeing the Lancaster basketball program breakthrough after a 22-season league drought seemed almost too good to be true for Otto.

 

"You can't even fathom it,"  said Otto.  "This was my goal when I took over the program.  We've got a good chance of making it three in a row at Buff State."

 

Fulciniti led a balanced Lancaster squad with a team-high 19 points.  Duck stuffed the stat book, scoring eight points, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing six dimes, and recording four steals.  Tamburri and Noah Speyer each finished with 11 points, with Speyer adding four blocks & three steals.  LG Castillo was a force for the Legends and played well against the taller Rojas in the paint.  He dropped 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and three blocks.

 

"He's tremendous every night," Otto said of Castillo. "He's a great player, great athlete, and a better person.  He's one that sacrifices for the team for sure."

 

Rojas scored a game-high 21 points for Jamestown and added 11 rebounds, along with five steals.  Ryan Holdridge chipped in 11 points that included three 3-pointers.

 

Following the game, an ecstatic group of players seemed happiest for their coach.  Even former players were quick to approach with congratulations for the man who guided them.  As the winning coach took a moment to accept some positive feedback and support from his father, I learned from his players that it was his birthday.

 

"They were wishing me Happy Birthday all day long,"  said Otto. "I said I don't want anything for my birthday, I want to win tonight…that's it."

 

They went all out for you coach…and wrapped it with big bow!

 

Jamestown 13 – 10 – 16 –   7 = 46

Lancaster    22 – 16 – 15 – 21 = 74

 

Point Totals

Lancaster:  Vito Fulciniti 19, LG Castillo 17, Alec Tamburri 11, Noah Speyer 11, Connor Duck 8, Collin Reformat 6, Jakob Jerebko 2

Jamestown:  James Rojas 21, Ryan Holdridge 11, Grant Moore 7, Marcus Rojas 4, Matt Hill 3

 

– centercourt