Prep Talk

Super Saturday: Canisius beats Grover

January 31, 2009 - 6:53 PM | Comment

After watching the University at Buffalo hoops team win its ninth game in its last 10, thanks in part to two players I put on my All-2000s team in today's paper (Rodney Pierce and Greg Gamble), I checked out Canisius' 78-69 home win over Grover Cleveland. On the way home, I listened to colleague Jerry Sullivan show why he's the best thing to listen to on local sports radio as he talked about Bruce Smith and Ralph Wilson being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And there's a hockey game tonight. Not a bad day for Buffalo sports.

After watching the Bulls beat Toledo and chowing at Duff's (were medium is HOT and where, for me, chicken wings will always begin and end), I headed to Canisius and my timing was pretty great: I walked in to a 53-53 game at the end of the third quarter.

Canisius had a 62-59 lead with 4:35 to play after a three-pointer by Grover's Ricky Alejandro; teammate Chris Holland and Canisius' Blair Helton also swished threes early in the quarter.

The Crusaders played some excellent team ball in the fourth despite missing four regulars -- Sean Brady and Andrew Zdrojewski to football recruiting trips and Taylor Baach and Max Milholland to illness. Canisius scored six straight points to take a 68-59 lead with 3:20 to play thanks to a three-point play by Helton after he hung in the air to draw a foul and score as well as a baseline jumper by junior Brian Graham (who had seven points and a nice back-door assist to Aaron Nevins in the fourth).

Grover got threes from big man Kenyon Edwards and Holland the rest of the way, but Canisius maintained its lead by neatly breaking Grover's press and hitting enough free throws to wrap things up.

A nice bounce-back for Canisius after being routed at Nichols, particularly without several key players, while Grover suffered its second loss of the week (Riverside on Tuesday). It'll be interesting to see how the large school poll is shaken up.

* * *

Speaking of Riverside, coach Ron Killinger was one of those taking in the game (Maryvale coach/uber-scout Mark Kensy was there with the video camera which just might be attached to his hand). Killinger has a small bandage covering a cut on his head. He got it playing hoops, of course. Those D-ing up coach Killinger might want to give him some room -- he put on a nice pump fake and caught a guy's tooth in his noggin. Ouch.

* * *

It was great that Canisius had a public address announcer, especially for a make-up game that understandably didn't draw that well. I'm all for enthusiastic PA youngsters, but, and this goes for anyone manning the mike: there's no talking during the action to give play-by-play. Also, when the whistle blows, that's because it's a foul -- not a "penalty."

* * *

Quick note: East Aurora is playing at Pioneer tonight in a key ECIC III game that wasn't on our schedule.

* * *

Don't forget about the big one Sunday: St. Joe's at St. Mary's at 1:30 p.m.

Oh, right, there's a super football game later on in the evening, too.

---Keith McShea

All-WNY 2000s team: How'd we do?

January 31, 2009 - 5:30 AM | Comment

Here's my all-2000s team, which consists of the best first-teamers since I've covered high school basketball (1999-2000 to 2007-08).

The years listed are the seasons that the player made first team; POY is for Player of the Year.

Check this previous post for a complete list of the first-teamers from the 2000s, as well as some readers' comments about who should be on the team.

Also take a look at posts discussing earlier eras (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s) as well as who should make the all-time All-WNY team.

First team
Charlie Comerford (Timon/St. Jude), 99-00, 00-01 POY
Paul Harris (Niagara Falls), 03-04 POY, 04-05 POY
Jonathan Flynn (Niagara Falls), 05-06 POY, 07-08 POY
Julius Page (Turner/Carroll), 98-99, 99-00 POY
Rodney Pierce (Hutch-Tech), 03-04, 04-05

Second team
Ray Blackburn (Lackawanna), 03-04, 04-05
Greg Gamble (Niagara Falls) 04-05
Robert Garrison (Niagara Falls) 04-05
Corey Herring (Timon/St. Jude) 00-01
Loren Stokes (Turner/Carroll) 01-02 POY

Third team
Ka'Ron Barnes (Turner/Carroll) 99-00
Greg French (Traditional) 00-01
Terry George (Traditional) 00-01
Daryl Jacobs (Traditional) 99-00, 00-01
Jose Narvaez (Grover Cleveland) 03-04

Fourth team
Micole Parker (City Honors) 02-03 POY
Jeff Parmer (Niagara Falls) 01-02, 02-03
Rahshon Tabb (Niagara Falls) 07-08 POY
Don Juan Tyson (Traditional) 01-02, 02-03
Mike Williams (Riverside) 05-06

As I wrote in today's paper, four of the five first-teamers were locks. There were plenty of excruciating decisions, but, as is the goal with any All-WNY team, I hashed out one that enabled me to sleep at night, so I'm satisfied.

I'm sure everybody isn't :-) The comments section is below, or come charging down the lane at me during Wednesday's 10 p.m. live chat.

---Keith McShea

Full Friday: Sweet Home, Alden, Akron win

January 30, 2009 - 10:33 PM | Comment

Very quickly for now -- Sweet Home wins at Williamsville South, 77-63, after South point guard Mark Coppola doesn't play the fourth quarter after a hard crash to the floor after a drive.

Alden won the first battle of ECIC IV over Lackawanna, 59-53. Akron got a big measure of revenge on Medina with a 63-44 win. Both are impressive small-school wins that should shake up the poll.

Back with more later -- the blog site is driving me nuts because it is very slowwwww for me right now.

Here are Friday's scores -- did I mention the site is driving me nuts?!?!?!??

* * *

After slugging it out -- more like waiting it out -- with our blog-posting site, here are some notes from my visit to South, another packed gym and some more great action from an already-exciting week:

** The game definitely and understandbly changed when Coppola got hurt. I arrived just after the second half started, and South had got some momentum going -- and as always, Coppola was right in the middle of things. The Billies gritted it out into the early fourth without their leader, but Sweet Home was just too much.

"With [Coppola] out we hung in there for a while," said South coach Al Monaco. "Their pressure -- which Mark usually handles -- eventually got to us. It was a great game. Hopefully we'll have him next Friday."

Said Sweet Home coach Paul Schintzius: "It's a game of momentum, and we had some great answers to some of their runs. [Coppola leaving] was a huge impact. We were a little bit rattled at that point [when Coppola got hurt] and it had a huge impact on the game. ... He's such a valuable piece of their puzzle."

* * *

More from Schintzius on the Panthers:

"Donald Watkins stepped up and played like the senior we need him to be.

"When we get ahead, I want us to be aggressive. Every time that we settled for 'J's, they worked their way back in the game.

"D.J. [Nettles] had a bad ankle and that affected him physically and mentally. ... Will Reese stepped up and had the best game of his career. His athleticism was the difference in the game, I thought. A lot of people want to talk about Keron [Briggs] and Donald, Keron and Donald, but Will Reese deserves some ink. A great job by a senior.

"We have to get better. These are mini-battles, and the war will be staged a month from now at Buffalo State. We're still a work in progress."

* * *

Fun Thursday: Big wins for McKinley, Nichols

January 29, 2009 - 10:02 PM | Comment

Two good matchups, two great atmospheres, two very impressive wins.

I watched McKinley put on a great showing at a jam-packed Riverside, winning 69-60, before joining a standing-room-only crowd at Nichols, where the Vikings thumped Canisius, 72-47.

There's a lot here in this post, from great teams to great plays to packed gyms to packed parking lots to officiating to mascots to our all-time All-WNY team. Hey, what can I say? It was a fun couple of hours of high school hoops.

* * *

Yale Cup games are listed at 5:30 p.m., which is a good time to show up to make sure you get a seat, but the games tend to start around 5:45, which is when this reporter usually shows up around the scorer's table.

Today Riverside's JV survived a tense game to beat McKinley, which will give those kids some tremendous experience -- it's amazing to think that the Yale Cup didn't even have JV up until a few years ago.

But all that JV excitement was not-so-great news for hoop junkies like myself who were planning on catching the Canisius-Nichols game afterward. The McKinley-Riverside tip-off didn't come until about 6 p.m.

* * *

Speaking of the two games, while they were both fantastic atmospheres, they were strikingly different.

The Yale Cup games have a tempo unlike any other games in Western New York. The gyms are old and small, the volume is turned up and pace can be ridiculous sometimes. Over at Nichols, a larger gym was also packed, the pace a little more half-court, but the teams were still battling (all you had to do was look at Canisius' big men vs. Nichols' Will Regan). At Riverside, our photographer was having trouble because the gym was so dark -- at Nichols it felt like spotlights were lighting the court.

Another not-so-good thing at Riverside -- I don't know if it was dirt or dust or what, but the court was very slippery for players and officials. There were quite a few traveling calls, and when some players put on the brakes, they slid a few inches. Obviously not ideal for hoops.

* * *

I knew I had shown up in time when I walked into Riverside and soon saw Romeo McKinney, the longtime city coach who is now assisting at McKinley, walking down the hallway. I asked him what he thought of our 50th anniversary All-WNY series and he shook his head -- "a lotta good ballplayers from around here."

I talked briefly with longtime Riverside coach and current assistant Bill Russell about it as well, and we talked about how it's based on players' high school careers, not beyond. "That will make things interesting," Russell said.

* * *

I've been very impressed with Riverside of late and I expected this to be an outstanding game. It was from the start, as Isaiah Jefferson continued his outstanding play early. He stole the ball from McKinley's Mansa Habeeb near midcourt, then led a fast-break to the left side and delivered an outstanding bounce pass to the right -- only to have the layup missed. Jefferson had a similar set-up later in the first quarter which also came up empty. The first ended 12-12 with both teams tenaciously battling and fast-breaking back and forth.

McKinley, as they did at the MLK Challenge against Sweet Home, subbed all five of its players out with about four minutes left in the first. And as with the Sweet Home game, there was no drop-off.

That's what makes these Macks extremely good -- tons of players playing hard, tough, well-coached ball and pressure defense, and an all-WNY first-teamer in Habeeb leading the way. As impressed as I've been with Riverside's unselfishness and composure, I thought early on that McKinley just might have too much.

* * *

Kevin Chillis and Habeeb helped McKinley gain an edge in the second quarter with a 10-0 run in which Chillis hit a three and Habeeb scored seven points: a free throw, a transition layup, a steal-and-layup, and a fast-break finish from Chillis. That put McKinley up, 24-18, and the Macks would have a 32-26 lead at the break.

Riverside had an outstanding fast break during the run, with Jefferson starting it with a long, one-handed diagonal pass to the right side to Jordan Spearman, who dribbled hard to the lane and delivered a slick waist-level pass for a Ricky Mercado finish.

* * *

Terry Lowe, one of the countless contributors for McKinley, put the Macks back in front, 37-34, with a smart three-point play in transition after the Frontiers had tied the game at 34-34.

Chillis finished a nice, hesitation-pump-fake move off a fast break soon after for a layup, and then knocked down a three-pointer from the left side that was set up beautifully by Habeeb. Chillis defender came at Habeeb, who lofted the ball not where Chillis was, but a few steps deeper down the left side. That kept Chillis a crucial step or two away from the defense, and in a perfect spot to catch the ball in rhythm and hit the three.

Very subtle but very good stuff from Habeeb.

There was more to come.

Riverside surged back within 42-39 on a bordering-on-ridiculous reverse layup by Mercado, who took a nice fast-break pass from Jefferson (who started the break with a steal), went left-to-right under the basket and put a mean spin on the ball to bring Riverside within 42-39 with less than three minutes left in the third. That basket came after another slick fast break by the Frontiers as Spearman went behind-the-back to fool the defense and feed Jefferson, who was fouled.

Close game, right? Not with Habeeb around.

He followed a three from the right side with another at the top of the key, followed by a deserved chest-pound, and McKinley was up, 48-39. At the outset of the fourth, Habeeb added a tough, fadeaway three from the right side to make it 55-42. Riverside came within 55-48, and Habeeb stretched the lead back to nine with a sweet teardrop in the lane after dribbling away from at least three frenetic defenders.

* * *

Some more notables from the third-to-fourth quarters:

** Shaquille Holman had a tremendous follow basket off of some great hustle in the lane to put McKinley up, 50-42, in the final minute of the fourth, and Lowe hit a tough hanging jumper at the third-quarter buzzer while being harassed by a defender to make it 52-42. Did I mention that both players didn't even start?

** Due to a ridiculous lack of communication between the officials, the game was delayed for a few moments. One official called a foul on No. 10 red (McKinley) but the other official misunderstood and told the scorer's table as No. 10 white (Riverside). That would have been Sheldon Brown's fifth foul for Riverside, which prompted Riverside coach Ron Killinger to go ballistic, because one official was following through with the fifth foul procedure.

After a lot of shouting between Killinger and the scorer's table and one official, finally the two officials got together and realized the discrepancy. The foul was on No. 10 white. If the two officials checked that as soon as Killinger started hollering (with good reason) about it, then there isn't a delay (and I would have gotten to the Nichols-Canisius game sooner!).

** Speaking of the officials, Jefferson drove the lane late in the third quarter and was fouled so hard I could hear the slap from midcourt. But the official missed it.

Unfortunately, that's going to happen and all you can do is keep playing. But Jefferson let it bother him to the point that he was yelling at an official after he missed a three on his next possession, and he sulked by sitting on the floor against the wall during Riverside's next timeout.

Jefferson is a wonderful player who has been impressive with his all-around play and his composure in big moments the last few games. Hopefully he won't let calls get to him like that in the future.

* * *

Jefferson hit a three to make it 63-55, but Riverside couldn't get any closer. With McKinley up, 69-56, I headed out the door and was off to Nichols: Niagara Street to the 190 to the Scajaquada (an all-time favorite Buffalo word) to Delaware to Nottingham to Amherst ...

... to an absolutely packed parking lot.

Usually I'm able to luck into a spot when a hockey mom or dad picks up a kid from Dann Memorial Rink, but not this time. I gave up after a couple of snowy-slidy laps around the lot and found the closest thing I could find -- a good ways down Crescent Ave. -- and trotted through the snow to Nichols' Gerard Gym.

* * *

I snuck in the center doors behind one of the baskets, saw an absolutely wall-to-wall packed gym, and found myself in the rear of what was an impromptu Canisius student section -- a standing-room-only pack behind the baseline. I saw Nichols' Andrew MacKinnon inbound the ball with the pack screaming in his ear. Some great stuff. Seemed like the Crusader backers were well-behaved for the most part, although a few knuckleheads in hats were yelling some sort of menacing things at Nichols fans. Duh.

* * *

From the spot behind the basket, I craned my neck and watched from the tips of my toes, but I had a great view of some fearless MacKinnon drives and some Connor Vandegriff finishes as Nichols clinically built on the 19-12 lead it had when I walked in. By halftime, I had found a spot near the midcourt doors and Nichols had a 39-22 lead. So much for Nichols' being rusty from its exam break and Canisius playing well of late, huh?

* * *

Just before halftime, some players chasing after a loose ball nearly ended up in the first row -- and in the laps of University at Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon and assistant Jim Kwitchoff, who were part of the jam-packed gym.

I talked to them briefly about our 50th anniversary All-WNY series because we certainly want to consult with them -- but they were way ahead of me. They have our list of all-time All-WNY first-teamers from the paper, and they're going to spend their next bus trip hashing out their version of the team. Awesome.

* * *

Just before the start of the second half, after a fellow hoop fan has found me a seat (behind Lazar Hayward Sr. and next to Time Warner commentator and hoop junkie Mark Collins), I see that Nichols' Viking mascot has taken his head off.

But it's actually a her.

Then I turn to someone and say, "isn't that Caitlin Donahoe?"

That's a new one: three-sport standout/mascot.

"I do a little bit of everything," the All-WNY basketball, lacrosse and soccer first-teamer shrugged.

Outstanding.

* * *

Back to the hoops. Will Regan hit a running hook despite Canisius big guy Andrew Zdrojewski being all over him. He played Regan extremely tough, which Canisius should, especially with he and Pat Wilson available to do so.

Ron Canestro continued to show that he is a serious big-game player. Canisius cut the lead to 10 (44-34) thanks to a deep three-pointer and a terrific finish to a hanging-in-the-air-a-little-longer-than-most-players drive by Blair Helton, Canestro made several great plays.

The guard did some quality acrobatics of his own on a baseline drive in which he went at two defenders and hit a shot off the glass.

A Sean Brady jumper and a neat Zdrojewski drive brought Canisius within 46-38. Then Canestro found a slashing Regan in the lane with a nice pass over the defense, hit two free throws and did something he does every game at least once: steals a ball in the backcourt for a layup. Ben Meyer pitched in with a three-pointer, and Canestro finished an off-balance drive with a bank shot just before the buzzer for a 57-38 Nichols lead heading to the fourth.

* * *

A few last looks at the basket:

** Vandegriff has improved greatly from the beginning of the season. The junior seemed a little tentative at the beginning of the season, which is understandable when you consider he was going from the Niagara-Orleans League to playing Grover Cleveland and Niagara Falls.

** When MacKinnon is hitting threes and Vandegriff is active inside, these guys are extremely good. Regan was harassed all night by the Canisius big men, but the Vikings had the balance (four double-figure scorers) to blow the Crusaders out anyway.

** The question was posed to me if I thought Nichols would go undefeated in league play. Even though they look terrific, and this is about as good a statement win as any when it comes to Manhattan Cup talk, I'll say no. The Vikings are in the toughest league in Western New York, which has already proved to be topsy-turvy with teams knocking off each other. I certainly think they are at a different level than the rest of the league. But every year something wacky happens in the Monsignor Martin (like Nichols losing at Timon last year).

* * *

Here is Thursday's high school scoreboard.

Nice win for South Park over Middle College, and Grover Cleveland survives a trip to Lafayette.

---Keith McShea

You make the call on the all-time All-WNY hoops team

January 29, 2009 - 1:00 PM | Comment

Today we announced that we're selecting a 50th anniversary All-Western New York basketball team. Now it's your turn to let us know what you think.

The News will look back at All-Western New York basketball through the reporters who helped pick the teams: myself, Allen Wilson, Mike Harrington, Mark Gaughan and Bob DiCesare, among others. We'll also be checking in with coaches and contemporaries of various eras to come up with the best of the best -- based on players' high school careers.

As we look back, we'll be selecting all-decade teams over the next five Saturdays -- check out separate posts on each era: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

By the time the playoffs are being held at Buffalo State, we'll publish our 50th anniversary team.

So help us out by trying to pick your own team. Check out the complete All-WNY roster of first teamers from 1958-59 to 2007-08 and come up with a first, second, third and fourth team, just like we do every season.

And yes, just five players per team. And no, of course we don't think it was going to be easy.

We want to hear from current and former coaches and players as well as high school basketball fans from Albion to Wilson and everywhere in between -- or anywhere else in the world Western New Yorkers have ended up. Let us know what you think as we try and make one tough shot.

Who are your top five -- or top 20 -- and why?

---Keith McShea

You make the call on the All-WNY 1960s basketball team

January 29, 2009 - 12:00 PM | Comment

As part of a countdown to The News' selection of a 50th anniversary All-Western New York team, we're breaking it down by decade.

The All-WNY basketball team began with the Courier-Express picking the best of the 1958-59 season. We're throwing those first two 1950s seasons in with the 1960s just to streamline our chapters of hoop history just a little bit.

Fans of that era, don't worry -- full weight will be given to each era and each decade as we attempt to come up with the best all-time All-WNY team we can.

Just as we will do with the all-time team, we'll pick a top 20 for each era, from the fourth team to the top five on the first team.

Be sure to check out the posts discussing the other eras (1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s) as well as who should make the all-time All-WNY team.

Here's a breakdown of the early days of All-WNY hoops (the entire All-WNY list is here):

1958-1959: Tom Chester (North Tonawanda), Frank Cipriani (Timon), Talbot Freeland (Bennett), George Mayer (Williamsville), Gene Morrow (Seneca).

1959-1960: Pete Bisgeier (Kenmore West), Cootie Blanks (Bennett), Joe Bossert (Seneca), Dick Harvey (Dunkirk), Jim Robinson (Cleveland Hill).

1960-1961: Norb Baschnagel (Kensington), George Carter (Silver Creek), Jim Maglisceau (North Tonawanda), Roosevelt Nixon (Emerson), Frank Swiatek (St. Mary's/Lancaster).

1961-1962: George Carter (Silver Creek), Phil Kontrabecki (Duffy), Garry Munson (Amherst), Dan Shea (Lackawanna), Willie Shine (Trott).

1962-1963: Andy Anderson (Maryvale), Tom Bobenread (Amherst), Dwight Bonk (Dougherty), George Hicker (Franklinville), Frank Starks (Trott).

1963-1964: Tom Balen (Lackawanna), Jack Hassett (Timon), George Hicker (Franklinville), Greg Hudecki (St. Joe's), Bill Young (Angelica).

1964-1965: Mike Brown (Lockport), Mike Kull (Timon), John Hayes (Niagara Falls), Tony Masiello (Dougherty), Bill Young (Angelica).

1965-1966: Mike Brown (Lockport), Roger Brown (Hutch-Tech), Bill Case (Franklinville), Bob Lanier (Bennett), Dale Tepas (St. Joe's).

1966-1967: Paul Grys (Timon), Gene Roberson (Burgard), Aubrey Smith (Niagara Falls), Dale Tepas (St. Joe's), Steve Waxman (Kenmore West).

1967-1968: Oscar Colvin (LaSalle), Marty Cott (Hutch-Tech), Chuck Crist (Salamanca), Dan Metzler (Walsh), Brice Miller (Fillmore).

1968-1969: Ed Atwill (Hamburg), Don Hurlburt (Hinsdale), Donn Johnson (Jamestown), Mike Norwood (East), Ken Spencer (Arcade).

1969-1970: Steve Borowski (Dunkirk), Varick Cutler (North Tonawanda), John Karuch (Walsh), Mel Montgomery (Kensington), Fran Moulin (Kenmore West).

So who's the best of the 60s and earlier? Who should be in the top 20? The top five? And why? Let us know in the comments section below, or email kmcshea@buffnews.com.

---Keith McShea

You make the call on the All-WNY 1970s basketball team

January 29, 2009 - 11:00 AM | Comment

As part of a countdown to The News' selection of a 50th anniversary All-Western New York team, we're breaking it down by decade.

Just as we will do with the all-time team, we'll pick a top 20 for each decade, from the fourth team to the top five on the first team.

Be sure to check out posts discussing other eras (1960s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s) as well as who should make the all-time All-WNY team.

Here's a breakdown of the All-WNY first teamers in the 1970s (the entire All-WNY list is here). Note: The Courier-Express and The Buffalo News picked separate teams from 1975-76 until the Courier folded in 1982, and differing selections are listed.

1970-1971: Jack Amphlett (Walsh), Dave Cownie (Kenmore West), Varick Cutler (North Tonawanda), Mel Montgomery (Kensington), Nate Robinson (Timon).

1971-1972: Terry Chili (Jamestown), Ray Morningstar (Depew), Mike Walton (Timon), Bob Williams (Duffy), Jimmy Williams (East).

1972-1973: Fate Harris (Dougherty), Ray Morningstar (Depew), Al Hughes (Hutch-Tech), Jimmy Williams (East), Kevin Cadle (Baker-Victory).

1973-1974: Mike Russell (East), Ollie Harper (Niagara Falls), Chris Patton (St. Francis), Phil Scaffidi (St. Joe's), Rickey Williams (Timon).

1974-1975: Phil Rosenberg (Lockport), Duke Brundidge (Trott), Chuck Threeths (Lackawanna), Syl Pugh (Hutch-Tech), Dwight Williams (Neumann).

1975-1976: Aaron Curry (Neumann), Steve McDowell (Baker-Victory), Chuck Threeths (Lackawanna), Duke Richardson (Hutch-Tech); Courier-Express-Maurice Hairston (Bennett); Buffalo News-Tom Krystofiak (Mindszenty).

1976-1977: Peter Jancevski (Lackawanna), Frank Cooper (DeSales), Phil Rademacher (Alden), John Johnson (Nichols); CE-Richard Brooks (Lackawanna); BN-Chris Jerebko (St. Francis).

1977-1978: Peter Jancevski (Lackawanna), Dave Hart (St. Joe's), Jim Johnstone (Lew-Port), Mike Phillips (Kensington); CE-Chris Kelly (Kenmore West); BN-Don Laux (Neumann).

1978-1979: Chris Kelly (Kenmore West), Mike Howse (Wmsv. East), Tyrone Beaman (Neumann); CE-Jackie Barnes (Lackawanna), CE-Chris Roosevelt (Grover Cleveland); BN-Mark Rzemek (St. Mary's/Lancaster), BN-Mark Saglimben (Allegany).

1979-1980: LaVerne Evans (Lockport), Tony Kelly (Lackawanna), Garland Hughes (St. Joe's), Tyrone Beaman (Jamestown), Lawrence "Ray" Hall (McKinley).

So who are the best of the 70s? Who should be in the top 20? The top five? And why? Let us know in the comments section below, or email kmcshea@buffnews.com.

---Keith McShea

You make the call on the All-WNY 1980s basketball team

January 29, 2009 - 10:00 AM | Comment

As part of a countdown to The News' selection of a 50th anniversary All-Western New York team, we're breaking it down by decade.

Just as we will do with the all-time team, we'll pick a top 20 for each decade, from the fourth team to the top five on the first team.

Be sure to check out posts discussing other eras (1960s, 1970s, 1990s and 2000s) as well as who should make the all-time All-WNY team.

Here's a breakdown of the All-WNY first teamers in the 1980s (the entire All-WNY list is here). Note: The Courier-Express and The Buffalo News picked separate teams until the Courier folded in 1982, and differing selections are listed.

1980-1981: Lester Rowe (Lafayette), Tony Kelly (Lackawanna), Ray Hall (McKinley), Adrian Mitchell (Emerson); Courier-Express-Rich Howse (Wmsv. East); Buffalo News-Mike Freeney (LaSalle).

1981-1982: James Clinton (South Park), Tony Kelly (Lackawanna), Curtis Aiken (Bennett), Gary Bossert (Kenmore West); CE-Rodney Jones (Grover Cleveland); BN-Jeff Zern (St. Francis).

1982-1983: Curtis Aiken (Bennett), Gary Bossert (Kenmore West), Ray Salters (South Park), Michael Ray Jackson (Riverside), Barry Fordham (Sweet Home).

1983-1984: Bryan Randall (Sweet Home), Jerry Kopydlowski (Sweet Home), Anthony Blackman (McKinley), Joe Etopio (LaSalle), Marvin Hemphill (Bennett).

1984-1985: Jeff Taggart (Lackawanna), Cliff Robinson (Riverside), Keith Robinson (Grover Cleveland), Willie Haynes (Lockport), Rick Wnuk (Canisius), Ron Torgalski (Nichols).

1985-1986: Keith Robinson (Grover Cleveland), Brian Brown (Emerson), Norm Echols (Sweet Home), Brendon McClain (South Park), Rick Torgalski (Nichols).

1986-1987: Christian Laettner (Nichols), Rick Torgalski (Nichols), Rod Page (Trott), John Thomas (Bennett), Nate Gainey (Traditional).

1987-1988: Christian Laettner (Nichols), Dan Cyralik (Wmsv. North), Eric Gore (LaSalle), Marcus Whitfield (Burgard), Trevor Ruffin (Bennett).

1988-1989: Marcus Whitfield (Burgard), Ritchie Campbell (Burgard), Lee Matthews (Buffalo Arts), E-Lon-E McCracken (LaSalle), Chris Buchholz (Frontier).

1989-1990: Ritchie Campbell (Burgard), Chris Sprigg (St. Joe's), Carlin Hartman (Grand Island), Duke Davis (LaSalle), Chris Williams (Traditional).

So who are the best of the 80s? Who should be in the top 20? How about top five? And why? Let us know in the comments section below, or email kmcshea@buffnews.com.

---Keith McShea

You make the call on the All-WNY 1990s basketball team

January 29, 2009 - 9:00 AM | Comment

As part of a countdown to The News' selection of a 50th anniversary All-Western New York team, we're breaking it down by decade.

Just as we will do with the all-time team, we'll pick a top 20 for each decade, from the fourth team to the top five on the first team.

Be sure to check out posts discussing other eras (1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 2000s) as well as who should make the all-time All-WNY team.

Here's a breakdown of the All-WNY first teamers in the 1990s (the entire All-WNY list is here).

1990-1991: Willie Cauley (Niagara Falls), Modie Cox (LaSalle), Eric Eberz (St. Joe's), Damone James (Turner-Carroll), Dean Edwards (Olean).

1991-1992: Eric Eberz (St. Joe's), Bob Fitzgibbons (Nichols), Kevin Sanford (Turner/Carroll), Mike Mitchel (Williamsville South), Carlos Bradberry (LaSalle).

1992-1993: Carlos Bradberry (LaSalle), Gerald Brown (Turner-Carroll), Mike Heary (Fredonia), Jeff Muszynski (St. Joe's), Mike O'Bryan (Kenmore East).

1993-1994: Mike Heary (Fredonia), Ryan Cochrane (Cardinal O'Hara), Justin Johnson (Jamestown), Jason Rowe (Traditional), Tim Winn (LaSalle).

1994-1995: Jason Rowe (Traditional), Tim Winn (LaSalle), Malik Campbell (Turner-Carroll), Jim Pieri (Nichols), Gary Raimondo (St. Joe's).

1995-1996: Jason Rowe (Traditional), Tim Winn (LaSalle), Malik Campbell (Turner-Carroll), Damien Foster (Traditional), O'Tes Alston (Lackawanna).

1996-1997: Darren Fenn (Canisius), Damone Brown (Seneca), Darcel Williams (Traditional), Carlos Davis (LaSalle), Craig Austin (St. Francis).

1997-1998: Maceo Wofford (Jamestown), Brian Keenan (Canisius), Charles Croff (Lockport), Brian Dux (Orchard Park), Mark Price (Riverside).

1998-1999: Leonard Stokes (Turner-Carroll), Brian Keenan (Canisius), Maceo Wofford (Jamestown), Hodari Mallory (McKinley), Julius Page (Turner-Carroll).

So who are the best of the 90s? Who should be in the top 20? How about top five? And why? Let us know in the comments section below, or email kmcshea@buffnews.com.

---Keith McShea

You make the call on the All-WNY 2000s basketball team

January 29, 2009 - 8:00 AM | Comment

As part of a countdown to The News' selection of a 50th anniversary All-Western New York team, we're breaking it down by decade.

Just as we will do with the all-time team, we'll pick a top 20 for each era, from the fourth team to the top five on the first team.

Be sure to check out posts discussing earlier eras (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s) as well as who should make the all-time All-WNY team.

Here's a breakdown of the All-WNY first teamers in the 2000s (the entire All-WNY list is here).

1999-2000: Julius Page (Turner-Carroll), Ka'Ron Barnes (Turner-Carroll), Lawrence Maroney (Iroquois), Charlie Comerford (Timon-St. Jude), Daryl Jacobs (Traditional).

2000-2001: Charlie Comerford (Timon-St. Jude), Corey Herring (Timon-St. Jude), Daryl Jacobs (Traditional), Terry George (Traditional), Greg French (Traditional).

2001-2002: Loren Stokes (Turner-Carroll), T.J. Adams (Bennett), Jeff Parmer (Niagara Falls), Edmund Rainey (Riverside), Don Juan Tyson (Traditional).

2002-2003: Micole Parker (City Honors), Jeff Parmer (Niagara Falls), Jeremy Richardson (Bennett), Dewan Stroud (Seneca), Don Juan Tyson (Traditional).

2003-2004: Paul Harris (Niagara Falls), Robert Harris (Niagara Falls), Jose Narvaez (Grover Cleveland), Rodney Pierce (Hutch-Tech), Ray Blackburn (Lackawanna).

2004-2005: Paul Harris (Niagara Falls), Greg Gamble (Niagara Falls), Robert Garrison (Niagara Falls), Rodney Pierce (Hutch-Tech), Ray Blackburn (Lackawanna).

2005-2006: Jonathan Flynn (Niagara Falls), Lesean Braxton (Lackawanna), Mike Williams (Riverside), Devon Dawson (St. Joe's), Quentin Hudson (Sweet Home).

2006-2007: Jonathan Flynn (Niagara Falls), Zach Moore (Olean), Terrell Rankin (Sweet Home), Marcus Rivers (Lackawanna), Kevin Roth (St. Francis).

2007-2008: Rahshon Tabb (Niagara Falls), Jamal Webb (East), Anthony Greene (Grover Cleveland), Mansa Habeeb (McKinley), Will Regan (Nichols).

Note: We tweaked the eras just slightly to included 1999-2000 with the 2000s. That's because that's the season I started on the beat. I organized that year's team and all that have followed, so it made more sense to have an all-McShea era team, if you will. It also provides a little balance by giving the 1990s and 2000s nine teams each.

It's been great fun for me going back down memory lane as I come up with my team -- it will be published this Saturday, Jan. 31. So many great players, moments, coaches, teams, games, seasons, shots, passes, dunks ... it's a blast.

So who are the best of the 2000s? Who should be in the top 20? How about top five? And why? Let us know in the comments section below, or email kmcshea@buffnews.com.

---Keith McShea

Prep Talk

Super Saturday: Canisius beats Grover

All-WNY 2000s team: How'd we do?

Full Friday: Sweet Home, Alden, Akron win

Fun Thursday: Big wins for McKinley, Nichols

You make the call on the all-time All-WNY hoops team

You make the call on the All-WNY 1960s basketball team

You make the call on the All-WNY 1970s basketball team

You make the call on the All-WNY 1980s basketball team

You make the call on the All-WNY 1990s basketball team

You make the call on the All-WNY 2000s basketball team

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