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Jefferson’s development helped by previous Warrior bigs
By Dave Ricci Larenz Jefferson knows that more is on his shoulders this year than ever before. He isn’t just aware of this fact, he relishes it. Jefferson, a senior in his third season of varsity with the Tonawanda Warriors varsity basketball team, knows that after two years in waiting, he is now officially his team’s “big man.” “Clayton (Hess) my sophomore year, definitely battling with him (in practice) everyday. I was the only guy big enough to guard him in practice so I was always guarding him in practice,” said the 6-foot-4, 240 pound Jefferson. “Last year, me and Connor (Pumm) got really close during basketball season and he showed me the ropes. Playing on the block and he helped me
DAVE DELUCA
Larenz Jefferson is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound post player for the Tonawanda Warriors. develop my touch.” Jefferson, who serves as co-captain with fellow senior Tristan Boling, feels that playing alongside and learning from the Warriors’ previous big men Hess and Pumm has slowly but surely molded him into
someone who can handle that role this season. While some players might have become frustrated, thinking their path to a starting job on varsity was being blocked by older players, Jefferson has seen the value in being able to come through the system at a good pace and never
feel overwhelmed with the pressure of a bigger role than he was capable of handling. “Freshman year to sophomore year was a big jump from playing JV jumping straight into varsity,” Jefferson said. “It took some time to develop but once I got the hang of it, it came. Learning new moves. Learning how to work down there (in the post) got easier and easier as the time went on.” After two years of being in more of the secondary role, Jefferson takes the great pride in the job description of being the No. 1 big. “It definitely feels good to be able to be ‘the’ big man now,” he said. “(I) don’t have to live in Connor Pumm’s or Clayton Hess’ shadows. I really can show what I’ve got, bring to the team and help (us) win.” Jefferson is coming into his own everyday. A doubledouble (12 points/11 rebounds) in a 52-35 win over Holland showed Jefferson exactly what he is capable of when he is focused. “I told him in that Holland game, ‘you’ve got to get me a double-double,’ and he did,”
said Warriors coach Hank Hughes. “He gave me 12 points and 11 rebounds. If he can continue to play like that, we’ll keep doing ok. I was a bit nervous losing Connor because Connor had the inside, outside and rebounding ability. I was a little nervous about that but last couple games after I gave (Jefferson) a good talking to, he’s responded. I think he’s getting a little more mature.” Coming off of a varsity football season that saw him
win the Lawler Award as best lineman, Jefferson also served as a captain, too. Playing for captains like Hess, Pumm, Jesse Lalka and Ben Stich, who all had a mix of fiery and calming styles, Jefferson said he tries to call on what he learned from those former teammates to be the best captain he can possibly be. “I try to play both sides,” said Jefferson. “I can get on guys when I need to but I also know when guys just need a pat on the back.”
DAVE DEL CA
Jefferson (55) tries to defend Springville’s Pat Emmick during a game earlier this season.
Numbered days left in Alvarado, Mallone lead strong high school led Geercken group of underclassmen back to wrestling room “Swim” from page 7
“One more shot” from page 7 “I just love working hard everyday and being with my teammates e v e r y d a y, ” h e s a i d . “The practices are a lot different than football. Te a m - w i s e , i t ’s a l o t different than football. M a i n l y, I w a n t e d t o stick out the whole season and see the whole new experience. And I don’t like to quit.” To n a w a n d a v a r s i t y wrestling coach Dave Nedell, who was already familiar with Geercken through the Warriors’ football program, said the senior has shown incredible resolve and character to come back to the wrestling team and complete his unfinished business. “One of the greatest lies in sports is that sports builds chara c t e r, ” N e d e l l s a i d with a sly grin. “It doesn’t build character. It defines character. It reveals character and one of the best sports
for that is wrestling. It’s the toughest sport in the world bar none.... You can argue whatever sport you want. But when you get on that mat and it’s you and another guy close to you in weight and for six minutes, you’re there to beat the living tar out of each other and see what you’re made of. You’re going to find out what you’re made up of real quick.” Much to his surprise, Geercken, who wrestles at 220 pounds, didn’t have to wait long to get his hand raised for that first varsity victory. Geercken defeated Hayden Holmes of N o r t h To n a w a n d a o n Dec. 5 on the opening n i g h t o f t h e To n a w a nda Team Tournament. Not only his first win, Geercken’s ‘W’ set the stage for the Warriors’ victory over the Lumberjacks and provided some personal retribu-
tion after losing the TNT football game. “I was down for most of the match. I wasn’t too sure about moves or anything like that. I was just trying to be aggressive being how it was my first match,” he said. “That was the first match of the day for my team too. Once I won that match I knew I wanted to stick this out.” While each and every day has presented Geercken with a new challenge hurdle to c l e a r, h e h a s s t u c k with it. Every time the sport has pushed him, Geercken has pushed back. “ I t ’s t a k e n t h e t e r m mental toughness to a whole new level,” Geercken said with a chuckle. “Knowing that I still keep coming back everyday looking for more.”
DAN HICKLING
Junior Logan St. Cyr is one of several strong underclassmen on the Jacks. “So the kids are believing what we’re doing in practice and they understand that there’s a reason. There’s a method behind the madness.” Led by senior co-captains
William Alvarado and Nick Mallone, the Jacks also have a growing core of strong underclassmen. In fact, that final relay that sealed the win over the Blue Devils was made up of
underclassmen: junior Logan St. Cyr, and sophomores Tyler Brochey, Christopher LaBonte and Michael Orlowski. Wilkie said that while every member of the team is working hard everyday to improve, beyondthecommitmenttoexcellence, there is that intangible of the guys just liking each other. There truly is a family bond; brothers in the water that make each guy want to work harder for the guy next to him. “How close they have gotten together,” Wilkie said when asked what he likes most about this group. “They hang out together outside of this place. It’s not just the swimming together for two hours. They have team breakfasts, they have team outings. So it’s not just ‘come to practice then go (separate ways).’” St. Cyr agreed with his coach and said their really is a closeness. From the senior captains Mallone and Alvarado through the lone eighth grade diver Jason Brounschidle, everyone is as one. “We all just sort of clicked this year,” said St. Cyr. Wilkie said it all starts with his captains, who set the all-for-one tone on the first day and have cultivated it throughout the season.
Starpoint swimmers edge Eden, improve to 10-0 on season The Starpoint boys swimming and diving team improved to 10-0 on the season when it defeated Eden on Jan. 20, 98-76. The Spartans strung together 11 first place fin-
ishes, including wins in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. The 200 medley relay, swam by Skeeter Wagner, Corey Poole, Branden Smith and Jason Prue, finished
in 1:56.15 in claiming the top spot. Meanwhile, the Spartans’ 400 free relay, comprised of Shawn Moore, Prue, Jimmy Sacco and Andrew Luckman, finished in 3:46.75.
In individual events, Prue turned in top finishes in both the 50 freestyle (:25.00) and the 500 freestyle (5:34.60). Luckman also scored two wins in individual events,
taking the 200 individual medley (2:13.67) and the 100 breaststroke (1:10.42). Sacco won the 200 freestyle, finishing in 2:04.07, Cameron Calandra was the top diver with a score of 175,
Smith took the 100 butterfly in :57.94, Wagner won the 100 backstroke with a 1:10.18, and Brandon Joslin rounded out the Spartans’ winners, claiming first in the 100 freestyle in :56.51.
NORTH TONAWANDA SUN LEAGUE STANDINGS AS OF GAMES PLAYED BEFORE JAN. 22 BOYS BASKETBALL
NFL Nia. Falls ......................... 6-0 N. Tonawanda ...... 5-0 Grand Island ................... 4-2 Lew-Port.......................... 3-3 Lockport.......................... 3-3 Ken West ......................... 2-5 Nia.-Wheatfield .. 2-5 Ken East .......................... 0-7 ECIC II Will South ........................ 7-0 Starpoint ................. 5-1 Will East .......................... 4-3 Hamburg ......................... 4-2 W. Sen. East ..................... 3-3 Sweet Home .................... 1-5 Iroquois ........................... 1-5 Lake Shore ...................... 0-6
Lackawanna .................... 0-6
BASKET-
Grand Island ................... 1-5 ECIC II Will South ........................ 6-0 Starpoint ................. 5-2 Will East .......................... 5-2 Lake Shore ...................... 4-3 Iroquois ........................... 3-4 Hamburg ......................... 2-4 Sweet Home .................... 2-5 W. Sen. East ..................... 0-7
NFL Lockport.......................... 5-1 Ken West ......................... 5-1 Ken East .......................... 5-2 Nia.-Wheatfield .. 4-3 Nia. Falls ......................... 3-3 N. Tonawanda ...... 1-5 Lew-Port.......................... 1-5
ECIC IV Holland............................ 6-0 Cleve Hill......................... 5-1 Eden ................................ 4-2 Tonawanda ............ 3-2 Alden ............................... 2-5 JFK................................... 1-5
Division III St. Francis ................. 8-0-1-1 Nia. Falls ................... 8-1-0-0 N. Tonawanda 6-3-0-0 Lew-Port.................... 5-3-1-0 St. Mary’s .................. 4-6-0-0 Sweet Home .............. 3-7-0-2 Amherst..................... 2-8-0-1
ECIC IV Cleve Hill......................... 5-0 Lackawanna .................... 4-1 JFK................................... 3-2 Tonawanda ............ 3-2 Holland............................ 2-3 Alden ............................... 1-4 Eden ................................ 0-6
GIRLS BALL
BOYS FED HOCKEY Division I St. Joe’s ...................... 9-1-0-0 Nia.-Wheat .... 5-2-0-1 Orchard Park ............ 4-2-1-0 Lancaster .................. 4-6-0-0 Canisius .................... 3-2-1-0 Frontier ..................... 3-3-1-0 Will North ................. 2-4-0-0 Timon ........................ 1-5-2-0 Clarence .................... 1-5-1-1
JEFFREY T. BARNES
Jenna Faulkner and the Starpoint girls basketball team fell to 5-2 in ECIC II action this past week.
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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.