A-9
Lockport Star /Saturday, February 14, 2015
Big Three changing culture at Starpoint: Kroening, Nodine, Walters lead way for Spartans
By Nick Sabato SPORTS REPORTER
It’s been more than a decade since Starpoint last had a winning basketball team, but that all changed this season. The Spartans have just two losses on the season—thanks, in large part—to the junior trio of Brock Kroening, Christian Nodine and Ben Walters. The ‘big three’ are scoring a combined 42.7 points per game this year, and were the top three scorers on the team a season ago as sophomores. In head coach Ben Scaffidi’s second season at the helm, he opted to bring all three players up to the varsity squad following a one-win season in 2012-2013. He saw a six-win improvement last year and, this season, they have already well surpassed that mark to guarantee a winning season and a high seed in the sectional tournament. “We’ve seen those guys since they were freshmen, so this is their third year playing together,” said Scaffidi. “They do bring something a little bit different. Ben being a guard, Christian is a slasher and Brock is our big guy around the basket. “Ben Walters has improved tremendously since he was a freshman,” Scaffidi added, “and so has Christian Nodine and Brock, and that’s from work that they put in outside of the season. That carries over and the other guys see how hard they work and we’re get-
the passing lanes, while Nodine likes to penetrate and has been getting to the free throw line at a high clip. Kroening, on the other hand, is a big man that finishes around the rim and grabs rebound after rebound. Perhaps the biggest benefactor of the variety of skill sets has been Nodine. When he drives, he has the choice to get to the rim himself, kick it out to Walters or drop it over to Kroening for an easy basket. “I can always get into the lane, but I’m not always going to finish,” said Nodine. “So it’s nice to have to be able to drop it off to Brock and he can finish. Or, I can kick it out to Ben and he can really shoot the ball from the outside. Even if I miss the layup, Brock is always there to put it back in for me.” The connection that the trio has on the court is undeniable. It all started as freshmen on the JV team, during the first year they played together. That has carried through to the past three seasons and has helped their chemistry on the court turn into points and victories this year. It may not have been more evident than in a recent overtime victory against Iroquois, the team’s fifth overtime victory of the season, when the big three scored 29 of Starpoint’s 34 points in the fourth quarter and OT. “I believe it was a big help when we stayed down on JV FILE PHOTOS and got a little bit of a connection,” said Kroening. “Then coach pulled us all up at one “We got our experience last year,” said Ben Walters (right). “(Coach) Scaffidi gave us a chance to work out our mistakes time. It wasn’t like we got broand it’s leading to us building on our confidence.” ken up. We all stayed together and we keep playing as a team.” ting some results out of that.” Dennis Held and Eric Yaeger them to the top seed in Class While all three players Starpoint still has a big road Being brought up together have all seen their averages go A2 at the moment. happen to be tremendous indi- game looming against Willast year has really helped them up this year to make the Spar“We got our experience last vidual talents, they also bring liamsville South in the season turn the corner this season as tans a very dangerous offensive year,” said Walters. “(Coach) three different skill sets to the finale on Feb. 18. The Billies they have all increased their basketball team. Scaffidi gave us a chance to court, which helps them mesh are the only league foe to have scoring averages and it hasn’t That year of learning the work out our mistakes and it’s with each other and with their beaten the Spartans so far this been at the expense of other varsity ways and intricacies leading to us building on our teammates. season. players on the team. has helped them produce even confidence and making better Walters is an outstanding Twitter: @SabatoNick In fact, seniors Ian Emerick, more this season and push plays for us this year.” outside shooter and is a thief in
Lockport placed 3rd in Division 1, Small Division “Cheer” from page 8 to grow at the school. “I have a really young team,” Rotella said. “This is the first year that we have a JV basketball team, a varsity basketball team and then we combined it for a competition team. A lot of those girls are in seventh and eighth grade so I definitely think in the years to come we will be very strong considering the talent that they already have.” Lockport also had a strong day as it placed third in Division 1, Small Division behind Williamsville East and champion Orchard Park. The Lady Lions had performed the day before in the JDRF Cheer for a Cure competition in Niagara Falls, so its performance at sectionals was just the second time they had competed all season. Given that, they were quite happy with the finish, considering some of the girls had never cheered before. “It’s very difficult, especially because we have a lot of new girls this season,” Lockport head coach Jackie Clare said. “Some of them have never performed in a competition, so it’s a lot a different adjusting from the game to competition floor.” Now that they are not just performing at basketball home games, Clare believes that her team has the potential to grow due to the fact that they will now be attending competitions as well. “I absolutely do think that,” she said. “After the girls got off the floor, they said they
can’t wait until next season and we want to recruit all of these other girls.” Wilson competed in the largest division in terms of quantity of teams, which was the Division 2, Small Division. They fibnished in eighth place. It was also just the second competition that the Lakewomen had participated in all season, which makes it a little difficult to make a major impression in five minutes on the floor. Rebekah Blasius, a senior on the Wilson squad, was also a standout on the soccer team in the fall so she’s used to competition and performing under pressure, but she says the difference in cheerleading is the rush from competing. “The transition is hard because you are used to the physical contact compared to this,” Blasius said. “The time and effort that you put into cheerleading feels more successful because you get a rush.” During soccer or any other sport a player knows that one play won’t win or lose the game and if a mistake is made there are several minutes to make up for it. In cheerleading you have five minutes to make or break the competition, which can make things a little more nerve racking. “For a soccer game you have time to make it up if you make a mistake,” Blasius said. “In cheerleading you don’t have that time. You need to be perfect or you’re done.”
Christian Nodine
Brock Kroening
State qualifiers to be held today at LSHS “Wrestling” from page 8 Lockport also had a strong day as it placed third in Division 1, Small Division behind Williamsville East and champion Orchard Park. The Lady Lions had performed the day before in the JDRF Cheer for a Cure competition in Niagara Falls, so its performance at sectionals was just the second time they had competed all season. Given that, they were quite happy with the finish, considering some of the girls had never cheered before. “It’s very difficult, especially because we have a lot of new girls this season,” Lockport head coach Jackie Clare said.
“Some of them have never performed in a competition, so it’s a lot a different adjusting from the game to competition floor.” Now that they are not just performing at basketball home games, Clare believes that her team has the potential to grow due to the fact that they will now be attending competitions as well. “I absolutely do think that,” she said. “After the girls got off the floor, they said they can’t wait until next season and we want to recruit all of these other girls.” Wilson competed in the largest division in terms of quantity of teams, which was
the Division 2, Small Division. They fibnished in eighth place. It was also just the second competition that the Lakewomen had participated in all season, which makes it a little difficult to make a major impression in five minutes on the floor. Rebekah Blasius, a senior on the Wilson squad, was also a standout on the soccer team in the fall so she’s used to competition and performing under pressure, but she says the difference in cheerleading is the rush from competing. “The transition is hard because you are used to the physical contact compared to
this,” Blasius said. “The time and effort that you put into cheerleading feels more successful because you get a rush.” During soccer or any other sport a player knows that one play won’t win or lose the game and if a mistake is made there are several minutes to make up for it. In cheerleading you have five minutes to make or break the competition, which can make things a little more nerve racking. “For a soccer game you have time to make it up if you make a mistake,” Blasius said. “In cheerleading you don’t have that time. You need to be perfect or you’re done.”
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Lockport Star /Saturday, February 14, 2015
Lakewomen cagers proving the Wilson way
By Nick Sabato SPORTS REPORTER
Winning four sectional championships in five years should put you on the map in the hierarchy Section VI programs. That hasn’t been the case for the Wilson Lakewomen though, as they have largely gone under the radar in terms of being considered one of the top tier programs in the area. This season could change all of that, however, as Wilson is drawing close to yet another Niagara-Orleans League title and another No. 1 seed in sectional play. Prior to the season, many associated with the N-O league grouped the Lakewomen in with the some of the contenders for a league championship purely based on its established reputation. It has been said many times, but Wilson returned no starters from last season and the returning leading scorer had just 30 points for the entire season. Yet here they are again, still unbeaten in league play and still playing the previous dominant teams in the Brian Baker era proving that Wilson is truly one of the great programs in Section VI. “I think program is the key word for us,” Baker said. “We’ve got some great youth coaches. The tradition started with coach (Larry) Lash. He obviously did a great job here at Wilson and we just wanted to continue it.” The Lakewomen have had its share of great players over the last six years, with the likes of Jamie Curry and Emily Lasher, but what has been special about the program is that they have been able to have such a deep bench.
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Having a strong bench is not possible without players being willing to accept a smaller overall role for the betterment of the team. Wilson currently has three seniors on the roster in Megan DiLaura, Taylor Devole and Mercedees Rees, and while their statistics don’t appear to be overwhelming on paper, they will graduate as some of the most successful basketball players in league history. DiLaura is a four-year varsity basketball player who has just two league losses to her name, while Devole and Rees have played three years without suffering a
Wilson is drawing close to yet another Niagara-Orleans League title.
Wagner has been unstoppable recently
Niagara County Wrestling Wrap Up
“Wagner” from page 8 Another reason is the adjustment to second year head coach Karen Catalano. “I think it’s attributed to team chemistry,” said Catalano. “As much as this is my second year, it still took some buy-in, and it’s the competition we played. We played one of the best teams in the state to start the season, without a scouting report, because it was their first game of the season. I just wanted them to see how hard they have to work if they want to be considered one of those teams. We are hoping that this is the time of the season where those games pay off.” In the five games since the Lady Lions suffered their only NFL loss of the season to Kenmore West, Wagner has been unstoppable both offensively and on the boards. She’s averaged 18.6 points and 12 rebounds per game over the last five contests to raise her season averages to where many thought they might be. The senior attributes the sudden surge to a slow start that she often has to start each season, believing that she plays better as the season progresses, which is a good sign as sectionals rapidly approach. “Every year I start out
slow,” she said. “Gradually each game I pick it up more, start scoring more, start thinking and playing smart. So that’s why my numbers keep going up. Playing against teams that are good helped me because I don’t play well against teams that are slowpaced.” Now that she is no stranger to opposing teams around the area, Wagner often sees a variety of defenders and double teams. That has forced her to become a strong passer out of the post to find open teammates for easy baskets, which is something that Lockport has improved on as a team throughout the season. “She has been doing a smart job of finding people who are open,” said Catalano. “She is finding where the double teams are coming from, finding her teammates and things of that nature. Our teamwork is definitely the area of where we have had the most growth and that’s one of those examples.” While her scoring took some time to come along, Wagner’s rebounding has been consistent across the board for the entire course of the schedule. In fact, she has been one of the best rebounders in Western New York since
her varsity career began as a sophomore. In 2012-2013, she averaged 10.9 rebounds per game, while last year her averaged dipped slightly to 8.2. This season, though, her numbers are back up to her typical standards at 11.8 per night, including 10 double-doubles. Wagner’s anticipation and ability to read how the ball is going to come off of the rim is one of the big reasons why she’s currently second in the NFL in that category. “What makes her special is her anticipation,” said Catalano. “She really reads where the ball is going outstanding. She beats you to it, aside from the fact that she is built very strong.” Wagner has been such a terror on the boards that she has an opportunity to reach 600 rebounds for her career by season’s end. Another one of the reasons why she is so prolific on the glass is that rebounding just happens to be her favorite aspect of the sport. “Rebounding is my favorite thing in the game,” she said. “I read the rebound really well. I see where the ball is going. I just get it.” Twitter: @SabatoNick
In 2012-2013, Wagner averaged 10.9 rebounds per game, while last year her averaged dipped slightly to 8.2. This season, though, her numbers are back up to her typical standards at 11.8 per night, including 10 double-doubles.
single N-O loss in their careers. While many three or four-year varsity players might feel as if they should be getting top minutes and a ton of touches, these seniors understand what role they’ve been assigned and fully accept it. “Ever since I’ve been on the team I’ve always been a shortminute player,” Devole said. “I’ve never been that star player and I’ve always accepted it and gone in. I’ve been in an important role because I’ve gone in when we need a ball handler or someone to pick up the team and I’ve just accepted that ever since I started.” To boot,. Rachel Senek and
Kayla Neumann are proving to be among the next crop of tremendous Lakewomen basketball players. Despite being a sophomore, Senek is in her third varsity season and like her senior teammates has never lost a league game. While there were some that didn’t believe that they would continue its dominance this season, those around the team were not among them. For Baker and his team it was business as usual and his mentality and expectations of the girls never changed from any previous year. “I knew that even if we were losing a lot of seniors, Mr. Baker prepares enough to face our opponents,” Senek said, “so I wasn’t worried about people saying we weren’t going to be as good. He expects the same things and he works us just as hard as ever. I knew that he had faith in us; that we would be just as good as we always were because we would work just as hard to be at the top spot and we knew he would be a great coach to get us there.” As is only natural for seniors to do as their time winds down on their careers, they tend to think about what they have learned from experiences. For a senior like Devole, she has already taken a great deal away from her experiences in the Wilson program. “I’ve learned to never give up and always give 100 percent,” she said. “Even if you aren’t getting what you want, it’s for the team, not for yourself.” Senek looks at the unselfishness of this year’s senior class and hopes that she can apply it when she steps into a leadership role as the next crop of young talent roles through with the likes of Serena Jaeger, Jodie Vincent, Shea Munnikhuysen, Zipporah Barrett, Jen Darlak, Rachael Cobo, Erin Boyle, Leah Herman and Lauren Couturier. “I want to take what they are doing and do the same when I’m in their position,” Senek said. “We all just know our roles and we accept it. That’s what is so great about our team.” Twitter: @SabatoNick
By Nick Sabato SPORTS REPORTER
he New York State Section VI State Qualifiers are all set after all area teams competed in class championships last weekend. Niagara County will be well represented in both the Division I and Division II tournaments this weekend as several area teams performed well. In the Class C tournament, Newfane came up just two points shy of host Falconer for the team championship, but they did manage to put eight of its 15 wrestlers into the state qualifiers. Paul Dunbar, Jake Kubala and eighth grader Charlie Johnstone all came away with tournament titles, while Cyrus Simmons was a runner-up. Chris Johnstone, Adam Nowicki, Zach Brown and Tyler Simmons also advanced for the opportunity to make the state tournament. While the Niagara-Orleans League champions performed admirably in Class C, their rival Barker/Roy-Hart also put in a solid tournament as they finished fifth. Barker/Roy-Hart, coached
by Keith Jones, did not have any individual champions but they did advance six wrestlers to the state qualifiers. The squad had particularly success in the heavyweight division, as they were able to place two different grapplers in Sam Dauphin (second) and Kirk Fay (third). Meanwhile Brent Bachman was able to place second in the 120 pound division. Niagara-Orleans All-League champion D.J. Gardner continued his success with a third place finish at 160, while Ryan Ulrich placed third at 138. Dan Wheeler will also continue his season at the state qualifiers in the 126-pound weight class. In Class D, Wilson got a tournament championship for the second straight week in Dylan Thompson-Cox, who also won the N-O tournament at 220 pounds and will compete for a position at state. Claytin Taylor (132) and Matthew Morgan (195) placed third, while Jacob Sanborn placed fourth in the 113-pound class for the Lakemen. Starpoint was the host of the Class A tournament and put forward a fourth place finish as a team in a tough class that included champion Iroquois. Brian Ghiandoni (138) and Wayne LeBlanc (195) managed to wrestle their way to runner-up performances and advance to the state qualifiers, while Richard Duermeyer (285) also advanced with a third place finish along with Lucas Stover (145). Fred Armogast (170) and Emerrick Finch (182) wrestled to fourth place finishes. Starpoint will compete in the Division I New York State Quali-
In the Class C tournament, Newfane came up just two points shy of host Falconer for the team championship, but they did manage to put eight of its 15 wrestlers into the state qualifiers. Paul Dunbar, Jake Kubala and eighth grader Charlie Johnstone all came away with tournament titles, while Cyrus Simmons was a runner-up. fier along with other large schools such as Lockport and NiagaraWheatfield. The tournament will be held at Lake Shore High School on Saturday (Feb. 15). Meanwhile, wrestlers from Barker/Roy-Hart, Newfane and Wilson will compete in the Division II tournament at East Aurora High School on the same day. Twitter: @SabatoNickw