If Niagara Falls High School's boys basketball team has had a shortcoming in the three-plus seasons since the merger with LaSalle, it's been a lack of games against teams nearly as talented as the Wolverines.
That absence of top-flight competition during the regular season, and even the early rounds of the Section VI tournament, helped block Niagara Falls from its ultimate goal -- a state championship.
This weekend's Cataract City Classic represents one step taken by athletic director and coach Dan Bazzani to elevate the degree of difficulty in the Wolverines' schedule.
Despite the graduation of forward Jeff Parmer, who averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds last season, this year's Wolverines opened the season in what's become typical form -- three games, three one-sided wins.
Last week against Kenmore West, Bazzani substituted freely and called off the Wolverines' swarming press, and they still won 97-30. Lockport gave Niagara Falls half a good game in the Wolverines' home opener on Friday, trailing by only five at intermission. But behind sophomore sensation Paul Harris' 28 points and 14 rebounds, Falls pulled away for a 78-45 win.
Bazzani shouldn't have to worry about running up the score on anybody this weekend when they play host to three top teams from around New York State and Pennsylvania.
The Wolverines take on Henninger, the top team in the Syracuse area, at 7 p.m. Saturday. After opening the season 4-0, Henninger was ranked No. 8 in the most recent statewide poll, two spots behind the Wolverines.
Henninger's system revolves around one of New York's premier big men, 6-foot-11 Andre Blatche. In a 66-53 win over Bishop Ludden, he scored 30 points and grabbed 22 rebounds. Blatche's all-around game has inspired comparisons to Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves and drawn the interest of college powerhouses like Syracuse, Connecticut, Georgetown and Kansas.
Point guard Denard Crouch orchestrates Henninger's offense and defense, while backcourt partner Cornelius Vines is the team's most dangerous outside shooter.
The Falls-Henninger survivor will face either LaSalle Institute of Albany or George Junior Republic of Grove City, Pa., on Sunday.
LaSalle and George Junior Republic tip off the tournament at 5 p.m. Saturday. LaSalle returns three starters from last year's Section II championship team. Senior forward Josh Pelletier, who scored 18.6 points per game as a junior, averaged 24 in the Cadets' two season-opening wins.
Point guard Josh Evans provides LaSalle's floor leadership, averaging 20 points and eight assists per outing. Pelletier and Evans are each Division I college prospects, with the 6-foot-4 Pelletier being recruited by Ivy League and Patriot League schools. George Junior Republic opened its season with four wins in five games, the only loss coming against Philadelphia power Chester High School.
Senior guard Tyrae Denmark is a Division I prospect. The 6-3 senior guard scored 26 points in a 72-38 win over Grove City last week, including four 3-pointers. At 6-foot-7, junior center Brandon Stores is an inside force.
The consolation game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, followed by the championship contest at 7. Admission is $5 for adults each day and free for students and pre-school children.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | December 23 2003 |