High School Extra /News and notes
Swiatek delivers title in clutch for Quakers
Clarence’s box-and-one defense on Taylor Swiatek almost shackled the Orchard Park sophomore.
The emphasis there is on the word almost, as the Quakers’ leading scorer shook free of her defenders just long enough to sink the game-winning three-pointer with 1.6 seconds left to carry Orchard Park’s girls basketball team to the title in its own tournament, 43-40, over the Red Devils on Tuesday night.
Swiatek, the tournament MVP who averages 12.5 points per game, had four points and just four shots Tuesday due to the defensive attention that forced her to pass instead of shoot. She was fouled twice in the final 15 seconds with the game tied 40-40 as Clarence had four fouls to give. She managed to avoid being fouled a third time and fired a contested shot from beyond the arc to lift the Quakers to the title for the first time in more than five years, according to coach Josh Dannecker.
“Being the fact she’s an outside threat, she holds the school record for three-pointers in a season [43], she’s our go-to person when we need a big shot,” said Dannecker of Swiatek, who nailed four threes and scored 16 points in the first-round win over Gowanda.
Jaymie Druding had 13 points and 13 rebounds for OP.
Will North’s defense shuts down South
Defense and rebounding can lead to some unexpected blowouts. Take Tuesday’s village of Williamsville clash in the Williamsville Jolly boys’ basketball tournament for instance.
Williamsville North’s ‘D’ and domination of the boards enabled the Spartans to win the title with an 81-62 win over Williamsville South. The Spartans (7-1) had a 29-2 lead 12 minutes into the game and cruised in this matchup between the News’ sixth-and seventh-ranked large schools.
“The defense was the best I’ve ever seen,” North coach Chuck Swierski said. “Every shot they took was contested and it was one shot and out. . . . Everybody worked their tail off and it was gratifying as a coach to see.”
Alex Barth scored a career-high 30 points, grabbed 13 of North’s 51 rebounds and also had five assists to earn MVP honors, while teammate Jerome Fields had career highs of 23 points and 16 rebounds as North prevented South coach Al Monaco from notching his 300th career win.
Joe Licata had 21 points for the No. 7 Billies (5-3).
Sluberski makes history, again
Carlene Sluberski of Fredonia, the first female to win a Section VI wrestling title, became the first female to win a title at the Spencerport Tournament in suburban Rochester. Sluberski, the defending sectional 96-pound champ, won the weight class at Spencerport by pinning the host’s Geoff Brown in 3:26.
Nardin wins Holy Angels Tournament
Nardin foiled Holy Angels’ bid to win its own tournament, using defense to rally for a 37-32 triumph in a girls basketball clash between traditional Monsignor Martin Association rivals. Tournament MVP Laura Sciarrino had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Gators (3-4), who trailed 24-17 at halftime. Sarah O’Brien had 10 points and seven steals in the win. Katie Gibbins led the Angels (6-3) with 17 points.
Williamsville East Tournament: Corrine Genovese scored six of her 12 points in the fourth quarter as Williamsville North edged Williamsville East, 38-34, to win the tournament for the first time. The Spartans’ triumph ended the Flames’ five-year reign as tournament champions. North (7-3) trailed by two with three minutes left in this nip-and-tuck showdown before going on a brief run to take the lead for good.
Fredonia Tournament: Natalie Coppola earned MVP honors, finishing with 12 points and six assists, in leading Sacred Heart to the title with a 49-41 win over Frontier.
St. Mary’s wins Cheektowaga Tournament
St. Mary’s of Lancaster beat tournament host Cheektowaga, 46-39, for the boys basketball title behind MVP Vince Kazmierczak’s 19 points.
Bank of Holland Tournament: Holland gave up 26 points in the first quarter but tightened things up the rest of the way to win its own tournament, 71-58, over Buffalo Arts. Pat McNerney had 17 points and 11 rebounds to earn MVP. . . . Eric Hall followed up a 42-point game with a 39-point, 25-rebound effort for Seneca in a 59-54 win over Buffalo Science in the third-place game.
Rush-Henrietta Tournament: Dallas Gary had 31 points a day after pouring in 42, as East beat V-Edison Tech, 81-48, in the consolation game.
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