In the third quarter Cheektowaga guard Dominick Welch put himself atop the list of some of the greatest High School Basketball players in WNY history, but at the final horn it was the South Park Sparks who came out on top on the scoreboard.
The No. 3 seed Sparks defeated the No. 2 seed Cheektowaga Warriors 74-64 in the Section VI Class A-2 semifinals at Buffalo State on Tuesday night, spoiling an historic night for the Warriors.
The Warriors still believed they had chance to get the win late in the fourth quarter. Welch hit a 3-pointer falling away off of his left leg and Cheektowaga was within eight points, with 1:10 to go. However, on the next procession Raymund Mushat hit a 3-pointer of his own to put the game out of reach for the Warriors.
“When Dom made the 3-pointer off his left foot and then Ray made the 3-pointer to back that up, that was ice in their fire”, South Park head coach Peter Hudecki said.
It was supposed to Welch’s night. The Cheektowaga senior came into the game just 25 points shy of becoming the All-Time WNY Boys Basketball scoring leader.
Welch reached the mark with 6:12 to go in the third quarter. Teammate Alexander Bryant grabbed the rebound off the boards and sent the ball to Welch. The senior went streaking down the right side, went around three South Park defenders, was fouled and the ball bounced off the rim and in.
“I had no idea how close he was. The emotion of the moment was pretty amazing”, Cheektowaga Warriors head coach Pat Cullinan said. “Welch has had a great career and will go down as one of the best in WNY history.”
Welch scored 45 points in the loss the setting the new All-time scoring mark at 2,376 points.
The Sparks and the Warriors both got out to a fast start and the almost capacity crowd on hand knew they were going to see a good one. Welch scored the Warriors’ first six points and had a block as Cheektowaga took a 6-4 lead 3:30 into the game. Shakur Harris hit a fall-away jumper to give the Sparks the 8-6 lead halfway through the quarter. From then on, the two sides traded baskets. Harris hit a 3-pointer with 53.3 seconds left to give his team the 18-16 lead at the end of the first.
The back and forth play continued right into the second as Mushat and Warrior Rudy Bragg hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
The game started to turn after the Warriors were trying to get too fancy with the ball halfway through the second quarter. On the fast break, Bragg decided to throw the ball off the backboard so Welch could grab it and dunk it in. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Welch couldn’t convert and the Sparks went on a 14-2 run in the last three minutes of the half. The Sparks went to the locker room leading Cheektowaga 44-26.
Welch was seven points away as he came out on the floor for the second half. He took care of business quickly as the senior knocked down a 3-pointer.
After the breaking the record, the crowd cheered and Welch’s teammates and family members came out on the court to congratulate him as he received the celebratory ball.
The Warriors and Welch seemed to pick some momentum off of the wonderful moment. Cheektowaga went a 19-8 run to end the third quarter bringing them back within two points, 54-52.
The Cheektowaga momentum didn’t carry over to the fourth. That’s when Harris took the game over. The senior captain opened up the forth with a layup and lead his team as they outscored the Warriors 20-12 in the final quarter.
“We came out aggressive and played strong defense,” Harris said. “We finished strong.”
Harris ended the game with 28 points.
“Harris was excellent out there,” Hudecki said. “He provides great leadership.”
The Warriors liked their chances coming into the game, but they didn’t bring their ‘A’ game Tuesday night.
“I’m disappointed for these kids. We didn’t play our best. These things happen,” Cullinan said. “It stings a little more this time of the year.”
For South Park, the win was a long time coming and a by-product of hard work throughout the off-season.
“I’m just proud of our guys”, Hudecki said. “Last year we lost to McKinley in overtime in the semifinals and from that moment on all the kids have been thinking about getting through the semifinals and beyond.”
The Yale Cup champions currently are on a 12-game winning streak and are making their first trip to the Sectional final since they won it in 1985.
Harris, who was on the 2015 State Champion South Park football team, wants to get another ring before he graduates.
“It’s a great experience. I just don’t want to go home,” Harris said. “I want that ring.”
South Park advances to the Section VI Class A-2 final on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Sparks will face the winner of the semifinal game between No. 1 Amherst/No. 4 Olean tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. at Buffalo State.
代发外链 提权重点击找我;
游戏推广 游戏推广;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Slots Fortune…
谷歌马甲包/ 谷歌马甲包;
谷歌霸屏 谷歌霸屏;
מכונות ETPU מכונות ETPU;
;ماكينات اي تي بي…
آلات إي بي بي…
ETPU maşınları ETPU maşınları;
ETPUマシン ETPUマシン;
ETPU 기계 ETPU 기계;
google 优化 seo技术+jingcheng-seo.com+秒收录;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Slots Fortune…
站群/ 站群
gamesimes gamesimes;
03topgame 03topgame
EPS Machine EPS Cutting…
EPS Machine EPS and…
EPP Machine EPP Shape…
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
EPS Machine EPS and…
betwin betwin;
777 777;
slots slots;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
google seo…
03topgame 03topgame;
gamesimes gamesimes;
Fortune Tiger…
Fortune Tiger…
Fortune Tiger…
EPS Machine…
EPS Machine…
seo seo;
betwin betwin;
777 777;
slots slots;
Fortune Tiger…
seo优化 SEO优化;
bet bet;
google seo…
03topgame 03topgame;
gamesimes gamesimes;
Fortune Tiger…
Fortune Tiger…
Fortune Tiger…
EPS Machine…
EPS Machine…
seo seo;
betwin betwin;
777 777;
slots slots;
Fortune Tiger…
seo优化 SEO优化;
bet bet;
谷歌seo推广 游戏出海seo,引流,快排,蜘蛛池租售;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Slots Fortune Tiger Slots;