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Taplin an asset on offense, defense for Will North By Melissa Brawdy
Ericka Taplin has been playing varsity basketball for Williamsville North since eighth grade. This year is her junior year, and she’s in the top three in every statistical category on the Lady Spartans and has been key to the team’s 7-1-1 record. She’s one of four players who have played in all nine games for North. Taplin credits her own hard work as well as that of her teammates for the success she’s had as a basketball player. “Some of the reasons for my success are working hard during the season with my teammates,” she said. At press time, Taplin was second on the team in points with 131 and third in assists with 23. Not only
has she been an offensive threat, but Taplin has been key defensively as well. She leads her team in rebounds with 99, is tied for second in steals with 25, and is first in blocks with 34. Taplin once again credits her hard work for this success along with wanting to help her team win every game. “I want to help my team win and work hard when I’m out on the court,” Taplin said. As a leader on this year’s team, Taplin brings that desire to win to her team, along with a positive attitude. “I like to bring positivity and the will to win,” she said. Of course, she also brings the offense and defense her team needs. Taplin’s gamehigh in points is 21, which she’s done in three games so far (Dec. 12 , Jan. 12, Jan. 15). The Dec. 12 game was the team’s biggest win of the season, an 86-42 triumph over West Seneca West. Taplin also had two assists, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots, and three steals in that game. She’s proud of her team’s
success this year and says they’ve come a long way since she joined the team. It’s something Taplin is very excited about. “I feel very happy with the season so far,” she said. “My team has come so far from when I was younger and it’s very exciting.” Taplin hopes to see Williamsville North continue its success this season. Her goal for her team is to win a championship. For herself, she’ll continue to work hard and have fun. In order to continue their success and reach their goal of winning a championship, Taplin says her team needs to continue to work hard while remembering to have fun as well. “To meet these goals, my team and I just need to focus and work hard but also have fun in the process,” Taplin said. With Taplin and her teammates’ continued hard work and Taplin’s leadership, Williamsville North’s success could continue through the season and beyond.
JEFFREY T. BARNES
Ericka Taplin (32) is a junior on the Williamsville North girls basketball team. She had 131 points at press time, which ranked second on the team.
Lady Spartans cruise past Orchard Park in ECIC I rematch By Aaron Garland
At a quick glance, it looks like a stark contrast. The Orchard Park girls basketball team welcomed Williamsville North to its gym on Jan. 14, and the sides battled until the Lady Spartans came away with a 66-57 double-overtime win. It was a nail-biter. The rematch, played less than a week later on Tuesday
(Jan. 20) at Will North, wasn’t as much of one. That’s largely because the home team zoomed out of the gates. The Lady Spartans led, 19-5, after the first quarter, leaving OP unable to recover in a 49-34 ECIC I victory for Will North. The game flow wasn’t overly indicative of the score. The Lady Quakers (5-5, 3-3 ECIC I) were a little hesitant with the ball during the opening minutes while Will North attacked and scored often. That was the difference,
as Will North held a slight 30-29 edge from the second quarter on. But employing a full effort for four-plus quarters is what got the Lady Quakers close the last time out. Give the Lady Spartans (8-1, 7-0 ECIC I), who OP coach Josh Dannecker called “the best team in the league,” an inch, and they’re not leaving without going up for a second helping. “That was what we wanted to do,” Will North coach Bill Shaw said. “I kind of drilled
Wheatfield Blades defeat Clarence Stallions
that into their heads get on them early, and keep it going.” Ericka Taplin led all scorers with 19 points for the Lady Spartans, who also received 11 points from both Clare Ahern and Natalie Hazzan. Tactically, Shaw didn’t change anything from the first matchup. He said the Lady Spartans just played more active defense, which forced a few lengthy OP scoring droughts, particularly in the first quarter.
“We didn’t start well, and I thought up there, Orchard Park was outstanding,” Shaw said of the tight win on Jan. 14. “I thought Orchard Park played well here (Tuesday), too. I just think our kids picked it up another notch and our defense was so much better here than it was up there.” Once the Lady Spartans constructed a double-digit lead, they sustained it the rest of the way. Orchard Park got within 10 early in the third, but Will
North responded by going on a 10-1 run. The chances of overcoming that second-half spurt, or any other one, were slim, however a reality that stemmed from the Lady Spartans’ plus-14 opening quarter. “I think some shots weren’t falling for us early,” Dannecker said. “We just weren’t able to really get it going. We had some streaks where we were playing with them, but we couldn’t climb back after the slow start.”
Pacatte drops 27 in leading Clarence out of early deficit “Girls hoops” from page 6
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Mite Major Wheatfield Blades defeated the Clarence Stallions, 2-0, Jan. 18 at Cornerstone CFCU Arena in Lockport. Wheatfield goals were scored by Owen Tylec and Joseph Muscarella. Tylec and Zachary Zemrac had assists. Pictured are TJ Bamrick of the Wheatfield Blades (left) and Miles Santa Maria of the Clarence Stallions. SUN LEAGUE STANDINGS AS OF GAMES PLAYED BEFORE JAN. 22 BOYS BASKETBALL ECIC I Jamestown....................... 5-0 Will North ....................... 5-0
W. Sen. West .................... 0-6 MSGR. MARTIN
Lancaster ........................ 2-3
Clarence ................... 1-4 W. Sen. West .................... 1-4 Orchard Park .................. 1-4
GIRLS BALL
BASKET-
ECIC I Will North ....................... 7-0
Orchard Park .................. 3-3 Lancaster ........................ 2-3 Frontier ........................... 1-4
team, and it was good preparation for the league games coming up for Clarence. Friday (Jan. 23), the Red Devils face league opponent Lancaster. Overall, Booker said, Clarence has been playing well lately. “We came off two solid wins,” Booker said. “We’ve been playing very well.” She also made it clear to her team that she was proud of the way they played, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits after the game. “I told them in the locker room, ‘yes, it’s a loss, but we’re still playing as good as we did last week,’” Booker said. “This was the No. 7-ranked team in Western New York. I don’t feel bad losing by six points.”
Buffalo Seminary ............ 0-4
Division I St. Joe’s ...................... 9-1-0-0
O’Hara............................. 4-0
Orchard Park ............ 4-2-1-0
Nia.-Wheat
.......... 5-2-0-1
Lancaster .................. 4-6-0-0 Mount Mercy................... 6-1
Canisius .................... 3-2-1-0 Frontier ..................... 3-3-1-0
Nardin ............................. 5-3
Will North ................. 2-4-0-0
Christian Central ............ 3-3
Clarence ............. 1-5-1-1
Nichols ............................ 2-2 St. Mary’s ........................ 1-5
Jamestown....................... 3-1
Clarence ................... 3-2
comeback, but the game was still a competitive one. Pacatte led Clarence’s offense Tuesday night, ending the game with 27 points. She also had 12 rebounds. Reynolds had seven points and 12 rebounds. Storr had nine rebounds, and Barden had six assists. Booker made it clear that she was happy with the way her team played and especially that the girls never gave up. “I was impressed with our hustle, I was impressed with our just being positive and coming back from almost a 20-point deficit at one time and ending it to be a six,” Booker said. The game also gave valuable experience to some of the younger players on the
BOYS FED HOCKEY
Sacred Heart ........ 6-0
Frontier ........................... 3-3
Amherst’s offense came out strong, and after the first quarter the Tigers had a 21-7 lead. But Clarence wasn’t ready to give up. Instead, the defense adjusted to Amherst’s offense, and Clarence’s offense put up some numbers of its own. “I thought we played great defense,” Booker said. “We adjusted our defense against them in the second quarter and played with them, if not better than them, in the second, third, and fourth quarters.” At halftime, Clarence trailed 35-22. Then at several times during the third and fourth quarters, the Red Devils cut Amherst’s lead to just four points. They were unable to complete a full
Timon ........................ 1-5-2-0
GIRLS FED HOCKEY Kenmore ................... 6-2-3-0
Mount St. Mary ............... 1-6 Nia. Catholic ................... 1-6 Park ................................. 0-3
OP/Frontier ............... 7-3-1-0 Msgr. Martin ............. 7-2-0-0 Lancaster/Iroq .......... 6-5-1-0 Williamsville ............. 5-3-1-1
JEFFREY T. BARNES
Anna Meichenbaum and the Red Devils fell to .500 after losing to Amherst.
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Rod, Gun & Game: Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo set for this weekend By Forrest Fisher OUTDOOR COLUMNIST
The Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo is set for this weekend, Jan. 23-25, at the Niagara Falls Conference and Event Center, in downtown Niagara Falls. At this “cabin-fever” time of year, winter-bound sportsmen are looking to learn more about the outdoors and improve their outdoor skills. The Niagara Outdoor Expo this year will help with those needs, providing more than the usual outdoor show, since the show will focus on outdoor education. More than 60 expert speakers will present over 100 seminars during the three day event. With the laudable goal to educate locals and visitors about the Greater Niagara Western New York outdoor paradise we live in, helping folks just into the outdoors to learn more the abundant our outdoor adventures just waiting to be discovered. Most of us already know that the Greater Niagara Western New York area is an outdoorsman’s paradise, featuring some of the best freshwater sport fishing in the world. We have hiking, kayaking, snowmobiling, cycling, camping, shooting, photography and so many more world class outdoor activities! The Expo will offer more 150 manufacturer and vendor booths across 116,000 square feet of space at the Conference Center, while continuous free seminars will be offered in the 10 private, sound and picture screen conference rooms at the site. Numerous nationally and internationally renowned keynote speakers will be on hand each day. On Friday night, Jan. 23, one of America’s greatest outdoor personalities, Charlie Alsheimer, will offer two free seminars: one on Creative Nature Photography and the second on Ultimate Deer Hunting. Alsheimer is a legend in
the outdoor world and his insight into the world of whitetail deer is extremely knowledgeable and thought provoking. If you are a deer hunter and you’ve never heard Charlie speak, you owe it to yourself to sit in on his seminars. If you own a camera and want to take better pictures outside, there isn’t anyone better in the outdoors with a lens. In addition, expert angler, Matt Straw, will be around all three days giving seminars on fishing expertise. Straw is an expert angler himself and his articles are found in nearly every angling periodical around the country, including In-Fisherman, Great Lakes Angler, Salmon/Trout/Steelheader and others. If you are ready for ice fishing, this show will offer an opportunity to get in tune with hard water tackle with advice and new tips too. Whether you are a beginner learning more on how to get started, or an expert learning to expand your ice fishing knowledge, you will be able to talk with Scott Brauer on ice fishing gear and Mike Smith from the Clam Corporation, the ice fishing shelter guy. Both will be on hand to answer ice fishing questions. Tim Thomas from the New York State Pro-Am Ice Tournament’s and Winter Classic will be offering information on those new fishing competitions. Will Elliott will offer seminars on ice fishing WNY and Lake Erie perch fishing. This is the largest educational three-day show of its kind on the Great Lakes. Entry fee for the show is $8, kids 10 and under are free. For more on this show, see www.niagarafishingexpo.com to check the complete list of speakers and seminar times. Look for my better half and I to be on hand to meet with you and talk about the many facets of our great WNY outdoors, we’ll be in the booth with the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen. See you there!
JOE FORMA
WNY whitetail bucks are even more handsome in January, but it will not be long until the male deer drop their massive antlers and start to grow new antlers for 2015. Ice Fishing Report WNY ice coverings on our inland lakes have grown considerably in the last few days, but anglers should still keep in mind that ice thicknesses can vary greatly on the same body of water due to underwater spring locations and other conditions. So be safe before you are sorry. Drilling holes or tapping with a spud bar to check ice thickness is recommended on your way out, or when moving around. Safety ice picks, boot cleats, throw rope and a floatation device are always recommended safety supplies. Use good judgment and fish with a friend when possible. Those new to ice fishing can check the NYSDEC ice fishing basics web at: http://www.dec. ny.gov/outdoor/7733.html. The Buffalo Small Boat Harbor has good ice of about
8 to 10 inches, with anglers catching yellow perch, sunfish, smelt and a few crappie, mostly using small jigs with grubs. Anglers using tip-ups with shiners have hooked an occasional northern pike and rainbow trout. At Chautauqua Lake, there is about 8 inches of ice in the south end and 4-6 inches of ice in the north end, with perch, crappie and walleye catches reported by anglers this past weekend. Ice fishing is popular on Cattaraugus County lakes too, with ice fishing activity on Harwood and Allen Lakes offering fair ice fishing success for smaller yellow perch and a variety of sunfish. However, there is also the opportunity to catch large breeder trout that were stocked in the fall by the Randolph Fish Hatchery. Safe Act Statistics Since the controversial Safe
Act law was passed in January 2013, and was in effect by March, 2013, there have been approximately 4,000 arrests through mid-December under various SAFE Act provisions, these data from state records obtained by the Gannett News Albany Bureau, according to a report circulated by the New York State Conservation Council. The largest number of arrests have been in New York City (3,230), there have been 53 arrests in Erie County. Most of the arrests are reportedly for criminal possession of a firearm, which is a felony under the new Safe Act Law. The inside word is that Safe Act II is not too far behind. NYSDEC Summer Camp The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Summer Environmental Education Camp registration
opened on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Parents may register their children through DEC’s online registration system and pay by credit card, e-check or with a sponsor code. Parents and sponsors can currently access the registration site to create their profiles on line. It is important that all contact information is updated since email will be the primary method of contacting parents and sponsors. The link to the registration site is http://www. dec.ny.gov/education/61769. html. Look for the green “Register for summer camp button.” In addition to inviting parents to register their children to participate in DEC summer environmental education camp program, several local WNY sporting clubs sponsor one or more children for a week at camp. These include the West Falls Conservation Society, East Aurora Fish and Game, Southtowns Walleye Association and other groups. Information about becoming a sponsor is available at www. dec.ny.gov/education/1866. html The 2015 summer camp season will not include a price increase, as camps will remain at the $350 weekly fee, but this year, the summer camp week has been changed from 6 nights to 5 nights. The fee includes program supplies for outdoor lessons and adventures, 15 meals, a camper t-shirt and accommodations for 5 nights. Outdoors Calendar Jan . 23-25: Niagara Falls Outdoor Sportsman’s Show and Educational Academy, info: www.niagarafishingexpo.com Jan. 25: 3D Winter Archery, 2015 league, walk-on’s welcome, Evans Rod & Gun, Cain Rd., 8 a.m.-2 p.m., info: 866-5072 Send outdoors info to Forrest Fisher Column 10 days in advance, email: nugdor@ yahoo.com.
Bisons luncheon provides respite from winter doldrums By Mike Haim COLUMNIST
While there’s been an increased amount of daylight every day since December 21, it’s still hard sometimes to overcome the doldrums of winter. One remedy to that malaise: keep counting down the number of days until baseball benchmarks like the start of spring training or opening day. Last Thursday, the Buffalo Bisons emphatically did that at their annual Hot Stove Luncheon at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. This year, attendees received an organizational
update from Toronto Blue Jays assistant general manager Andrew Tinnish and were treated to “fireside chats” with Steve Tolleson and Chad Jenkins, two players who saw 2014 action in both Buffalo and Toronto. Just over a month before spring training begins, there is scant certainty as to the makeup of the Blue Jays roster, especially when it comes to pitching. Starters Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey are all but guaranteed their spots, and Marcus Stroman figures to be a starter as well. After that, expect an open competition. Two pitchers, Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris, who came through Buffalo for quick stints en route to their big-league
debuts in 2014, could end up starting the season with the Bisons. The same goes for newcomers like speedy outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and first baseman Daric Barton. Second baseman Devon Travis, acquired from the Detroit organization in a trade for the enigmatic Anthony Gose, figures to be in Buffalo after spending all of 2014 in Double-A. Tinnish addressed the challenges of dealing with players who believe they belong on the major league roster, only to have decision-makers like manager John Gibbons or general manager Alex Anthopoulos determine that a player is better suited to be in Buffalo.
“Especially for a young, upand-coming player, it can be tricky,” Tinnish admitted in a pre-luncheon media session. “Obviously the ultimate goal for a lot of these players is to have a long major league career. We try to put the players in the best situation to be successful. Whether we feel they’re ready for Toronto or they end up starting here, only time will tell.” Tinnish smiled when he said he is constantly reminded about the importance of providing the Bisons with players who can produce not only a winning season, but a playoff competitor. The 2014 Bisons posted a 77-66 record, the franchise’s most wins since an 82-62 division-winning season in
2005 as a Cleveland affiliate. Alas, last year’s Herd failed to qualify for the postseason, falling 1 ½ games behind Pawtucket for the I.L.’s lone wild-card berth. “(Our goal for Buffalo is) not finishing above .500 or finishing with ‘x’ amount of wins,” Tinnish said. “The ownership group here and the staff work night and day to try to win games and get to the playoffs. That’s the ultimate goal.” Tinnish admitted being pleasantly surprised with 2014’s organizational successes like Stroman, Norris, and outfielder Dalton Pompey. “From a development perspective, it was a great year,” he explained. “At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t so sure that those guys would
touch this level, let alone the big leagues. The fact they were able to make those strides is encouraging and gives us a lot of optimism about what these players can ultimately be going forward.” The Blue Jays also are proud that the Bisons’ entire coaching staff manager Gary Allenson, hitting coach Richie Hebner, and pitching coach Randy St. Claire will return. “It’s important to have continuity,” Tinnish said. “They got along well with the group and the Bisons felt the same way. There’s (usually) a lot of turnover in minor league coaching staffs, and we feel good about having the whole staff return.” www.twitter.com/mikehaim
Hasek’s No. 39 officially retired by Sabres By Dave Ricci
SPORTS REPORTER
When Dominik Hasek arrived in Buffalo in 1992, the last thing on his mind was getting his jersey retired. Back then, the young goalie from the Czech Republic was an unproven commodity just trying to win a job. “My goal was to become the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres,” Hasek said. He did that and more.
On Jan. 13, Hasek saw his No. 39 raised to the rafters of the First Niagara Center as he became the seventh players in franchise history to have his number retired. Hasek joined the Blue and Gold elite with Danny Gare, Pat LaFontaine, Tim Horton, Rick Martin, Gilbert Perrault and Rene Robert. “For me, it’s a great feeling to be back in Buffalo where I spent the best time of my hockey career,” Hasek said. “It’s an accomplishment for what I was able to do for this
organization and for this community, for this city and for the people of Buffalo. “I’m very appreciative and I am honored to be one of seven players whose jerseys have been retired.” One of the most decorated athletes ever in the National Hockey League, Hasek owns six regular season Sabre records and five postseason records. A six-time Vezina Trophy winner, Hasek captured back-to-back Hart Memorial Trophies and Lester B. Pearson
Awards in 1997 and 1998. “He’s a legend. The first Czech player in the Hockey Hall of Fame,” said Sabre goalie and Czech Republic native Michal Neuvirth. While Hasek’s unorthodox style would delight and amaze fans, Sabres GM John Muckler would often chastise the young keeper’s reckless style. It took an injury to starter Grant Fuhr to truly open the door for Hasek. Small wonder why, in those days especially, Hasek never expected this kind of
honor. “This is something that you don’t think about at all when you play hockey,” Hasek said. “After you finish your career and you sort of go back. Thinking about what you’ve done, what you’ve done for hockey. The people from Buffalo were calling me and I knew the last few years it’s coming, this day. So it’s not like it took me by surprise.” Hasek’s style certainly had a way of taking everyone by surprise and he made the
impossible save look routine time and time again. “When you spend 10 years on same team you kind of get used to it,” said former Sabre defenseman Alex Zhitnik. “But when you play against him, you understand how great he was.” The ceremony was held prior to the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, the team Hasek won Stanley Cups with in 2002 and 2008 It featured Danny Gare and Rene Robert on the ice with Hasek.