(Lockport's Kya Doxey scores during a fourth quarter run)

 

In a season of WNY basketball that is seemingly defined by parity among even the best teams in the area, the Niagara Frontier League has emerged as a hotbed for intensely competitive basketball, night in and night out.  Five of the eight teams in the league have received votes in the large school poll and each of those teams deserved them.  No team has emerged yet to clearly set themselves apart from the pack, but the league as a whole has, when compared to any other in Section VI.  North Tonawanda's visit to Lockport on Tuesday night was another exciting chapter in the great story that league has become this season.

 

Lockport saved its best for last and knocked the Jacks out of first place in the NFL with a 61-51 win.  The Lions improve to 9-3 in the league standings, while NT falls back to 8-3.  Kenmore West sits next to them with a mark of 8-3, while all look up at Grand Island, who now sits alone in first place at 8-2.

 

In the first meeting between the two, Lockport went into the Lumber Yard and dealt North Tonawanda its first loss of the season, 61-46.  However in last night's rematch, things didn't start out so hot for the Lions.

 

"We played the worst first quarter of basketball all season," Lockport coach Dave Gilson said.  "In the end, we were only down two points."  

 

The Jacks found immediate success out of the opening tip looking inside to Rory Farkas.  The senior big man scored all eight of his point in the opening quarter, and all came from point blank range in the paint.  North Tonawanda was up 6-0 in the first 70 seconds and took a 12-5 lead in the last minute of the frame.  A 3-pointer from Kyle Brown, along with a bucket by Devin Leatherman in the last 30 seconds pulled Lockport back within two, 12-10 and seemed to calm a team struggling to find the right energy.

 

"I think they just settled down after coming out flat," said Gilson.

 

Still trailing by a basket two minutes into the second frame, a traditional three-point play converted by Tavon Chambers (11 points) was the start to a strong finish to the half for Lockport.  Brown scored seven of his game-high 15 points in the quarter, as the Lions ended the half on a 14-3 tear, including an important late score from Javon Ford.

 

"They were the quicker team to 50/50 balls," North Tonawanda coach Ryan Mountain said.  "We had a couple stops where the balls is bouncing in the key and they're getting it and laying it in…that's just not going to get it done against this electric energy that Lockport has."

 

The Jacks responded nicely in the third, looking more decisive offensively and moving the ball better.  The result was open looks on the perimeter, and the NT shooters were feeling it.  Alex Quinn opened the second half scoring with a bomb and stayed on the attack, netting nine of his team-high 13 points in the stanza.  Vincent Tripi connected from beyond the arc midway through the quarter, setting off an 11-0 surge that saw Joseph Kish bang consecutive trifectas.  North Tonawanda had taken the lead back and extended on scores from Alex Johnson.  Then for good measure, Zack Woodard drilled a trey with 22 seconds left for NT's fifth 3-pointer of the quarter.  Lockport trailed the Jacks, 44-38 heading into the fourth quarter.

 

"We blew a timeout and let them understand that the defense has got to move," Gilson said. "They started to get some deflections and contested their 3-point shots."

 

Message received by the Lions in the late third quarter huddle.  Sophomore Malik Brooks moved as quick as anyone and rattled off seven straight points in the first two minutes of the final frame.  His energy quickly caught on.  Brooks had nine of his 11 points over the final eight minutes and Lockport's defense again set a tone that fueled easy transition points.  Chambers assisted a score by Kya Doxey and then earned a steal and took it in for another score.  A 17-4 blast flipped the game back in Lockport's favor, 55-48 with 2:12 left.  The Lions would outscore NT 23-7 in the fourth and allowed just two field goals.

 

"We didn't protect the rim as well as we needed to and had a couple crucial turnovers down the stretch," said Mountain.  "They're not big, but they're quicker than we are and that negates our size on the boards."

 

 "We know we're not a big team, so we talk about the fundamentals – boxing out, moving the ball, getting into the gaps," Gilson said.

 

Cordel McDowell finished with 13 points for Lockport, scoring 10 of those in the second half.  Beyond his scoring, the 5-9 senior attacked the glass and did a great job all game defending both the paint and the perimeter.

 

"Cordel isn't the biggest kid, but he has some strength,"  said Gilson.  "I thought he played really well for us tonight."

 

Coming off a victory at Niagara Falls, a second win this season over North Tonawanda, who entered the game ranked #7 among WNY large schools, might be a sign that the Lions are finding their stride at just the right time.

 

"I hope so," Gilson said. "It's a good bunch of guys that enjoy playing for each other."

 

Lockport is back in action on Thursday, hosting Notre Dame out of Section V.  The Jacks will host CSAT on Friday.

 

N. Tonawanda  12  -  7 – 25 –   7 = 51

Lockport            10 – 18 – 10 – 23 = 61

 

Point Totals

Lockport:  Kyle Brown 15, Cordel McDowell 13, Tavon Chambers 11, Malik Brooks 11, Kya Doxey 4, Devin Leatherman 2, Dorian Byrd 2, Javon Ford 2

N. Tonawanda:  Alex Quinn 13, Rory Farkas 8, Trevor Book 7, Alex Johnson 7, Joseph Kish 6, Brandon Casterline 4, Zack Woodard 3, Vincent Tripi 3

 

– centercourt