Empire State Games: Former Falls standout and Niagara transfer returns to action for Western
Garrison happy to be holding court again
VESTAL — It was the pregame shootaround, but Robert Garrison was already encouraging and boosting up his teammates as if they’d been playing together for years.
This is the Empire State Games, where temporary teams hit the court for four days. But for Garrison, it’s paradise. That’s because it’s the first time he’s been playing on an organized basketball court in more than a year.
Garrison played sparingly for two seasons with the Big East’s University of Connecticut before transferring to Niagara. That meant he had to sit out last season.
“I haven’t played in a real game in a while, with a real crowd and real scores, so this is like a tuneup for the season,” Garrison said after scoring 14 points as the Western men’s open team beat New York City, 97-83, Thursday night at the Binghamton University Events Center. “It’s been too long for me. I was ready [to play for Niagara] last year. It’s been a long year sitting out and I just can’t wait to get back to business, because this is what I do.”
So when Niagara coach Joe Mihalich asked if Garrison would like to try out for the team, he got a quick answer.
“He definitely wanted me to get this experience, because playing under the whistle is a skill within itself,“ said Garrison, a first-team All-Western New York selection in 2005 at Niagara Falls, after he was part of the Wolverines’ Federation state championship team. “You almost have to relearn how to do it, because it’s different from playing just regular pickup ball. Hopefully I can get some experience to help me get used to it again.”
Garrison, who started alongside former Falls teammate and University at Buffalo senior Greg Gamble, didn’t have to wait for action. Garrison pounced on a loose ball in the Western end, pushed the ball upcourt and dropped it off to Fairport native and Nazareth player Corey McAdam, who hit a three-pointer for the first basket of the game.
Garrison ran the point for Western for the first half, and was perhaps too restrained early on. He made strong drives to the lane — with a sculpted upper body which surely has been the product of working out during his transfer year — but would then kick the ball out.
With the score tied, 29-29, with about seven minutes to play in the first half, Garrison scored seven straight points to push Western ahead. His tough defense forced a New York City player out of control, and Garrison stole a desperation pass and went in alone for a layup. On the next possession he hit a three-pointer two steps beyond the line from the right side of the key, and he made a great fast-break push through four players for another basket.
Garrison had some key plays in the second half as Western, which had a 45-43 halftime lead, broke the game open. Western won the game with defense. With the score tied at 64-64 with about 12 minutes remaining, Western went on a 23-1 run to go up, 87-65.
Garrison had a slick finish on a fast break for a three-point play, drawing a foul and giving the ball a nice spin off the backboard and in to give Western a 71-65 lead. He added a layup and then had the assist on a three-pointer by former Canisius College standout Kevin Downey. Downey scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half.
Garrison described his performance as a “roller coaster.”
Gamble had 23 points to lead Western, which had five players in double figures. Former Roberts Wesleyan standout and ESG veteran Joe Rebisz had 14 while McAdam added 13.
“A lot of people sleep on the Empire Games — they don’t think it’s that good of competition,” said Gamble. “But it’s all college players, whether its Division I or II or junior colleges. It gets pretty competitive.
“It’s definitely going to give [Garrison] a rhythm for the season. We’ve got four games back-to-back. For him to be out there, having the ball in his hands and having good players play defense on him, and having to check other good players, is definitely a good thing for him.”
In the scholastic game, a pair of current Niagara Falls teammates led Western past New York City, 101-77. Davon Marshall, a sophomore sharpshooter for the Wolverines, scored 20 points while Kelvin Agee, a second-team All-Western New York selection as a junior last year, had 13.
Both Western teams try to go 2-0 against Long Island today. In the first two games at the Events Center, the scholastic men play at 10 a. m. with the open team following at noon.
