Holiday Hoops: Batavia, Notre Dame, Albion, and U Prep preparing for Batavia Lions Club Basketball Tournament

Posted By on Dec 27, 2015 | 0 comments


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| BataviasBest.org
Sunday, December 27, 2015

 

The Batavia Lions Club Basketball Tournament has been the premier holiday tournament within Section V/VI since its inception 33 years ago. Featuring two cross-town rivals in Batavia and Notre Dame, along with various high-profile out of town opponents throughout the years, the competition level and quality of play presented in the Batavia Lions Club Basketball Tournament rarely disappoints year-in, and year-out.

This season BHS and ND welcome Albion and U Prep to Genesee Community College Monday night for what will be each team’s third-straight year as a tournament participant. Last season, it was U Prep taking home the tournament title after two convincing victories over Batavia in the opening round, and Notre Dame in the Finals. This year, with the the opening round matchups being swapped, ND will take on U Prep in a rematch of the 2014 Championship game, while Batavia will look to get past Albion in their first round contest.

 

Tournament History

 

In 1982, the first annual Lions Club Tournament was held, as Byron-Bergen joined ND, BHS, and Albion as its original members. While neither the Irish nor the Blue Devils made it out of the first round that year, the Bees went on to win the first-ever title over Albion in a tight 35-30 ballgame. Batavia was crushed by 17 in the first round by the runner-up Purple Eagles, while the Irish were edged-out by eventual champ B-B by a score of 54-53 in their opening game.

The Bees would go on to win the tournament’s championship each of it’s first three years of existence, and it took until 1985 for the Blue Devils to meet the Irish in the final game. During that game, ND handled Batavia 65-52 behind an MVP performance from then star player Ron Nenni. A few years after their first meeting, ND and Batavia would meet once again in the title game (1988), with the Devils failing to get revenge as they fell 69-58 – this time with ND’s Scott Klester earning Most Valuable Player honors.

The following year, however, Batavia would finally break through.

Behind a sound performance from Mark Shulte in 1989, the Devils edged the Irish in an overtime game by the score of 61-53. Not only was it their first-ever victory in the Lions Club Tournament, it would also be the first of back-to-back titles for Batavia, as Frank Pontillo earned MVP in 1990 to give his team it’s second-ever tournament crown.

After their consecutive titles, the Blue Devils would go on to win 15 of the next 21 tournaments and held a streak of eight-straight championships until their first round loss to U Prep in 2014. Prior to that loss, Batavia last lost a tournament game in 2003 when Bishop Timon beat them 61-58 in overtime.

The Irish last won the title in 1996, when Mike Redick earned MVP honors.

 

GAME 1: Notre Dame vs U Prep – 6:30 pm @ GCC

 

Key Players

Notre Dame

CJ Suozzi

Suozzi is the best all-around player on the ND roster and must assert himself on both ends in this game in order for his team to compete with a tough Griffins squad.

Luca Zambito

The primary ball handler for Notre Dame, Zambito mustn’t turn the ball over against a fast and furious U Prep team on Monday night if the Irish hope to keep the game close going into the second half.

U Prep

Isaiah Brinkley

Brinkley helps lead the Griffins from his point guard position. A very quick player, he will likely cause problems for the Irish throughout the night. He is also an excellent three-point shooter who should be able to succeed against the ND zone. 

Jeenathan Williams

Williams is regarded as one of the top players in Section V as a left handed 6’5″sophomore. He is a quality inside scorer and rebounder who already has a 30-point game this season.

Game Outlook

In all honesty, it would be very surprising if Notre Dame is to go on and win their opening round game vs the Griffins. Severely outmanned, and outathletlcismed (I made that word up), the Irish must get big-time contributions from their guards, as well as a strong combined effort from their big men inside if they hope to carry a manageable score into the later stages of this contest.

Prediction

U Prep 80 Notre Dame 70 – The Irish and Griffins have each lit up the scoreboard this season. I see this one being a shootout.

 

 

GAME 2: Batavia vs Albion – 8:15 pm (tentatively) @ GCC

 

Key Players

Batavia

Malachi Chenault

Chenault is the Blue Devils’ inside force on both ends of the floor and will likely prove to have a major impact on the outcome of this game. If Batavia is to win, they must receive a high-energy effort from Chenault.

Tesean Ayala

Ayala is Batavia’s top threat from beyond the three-point arc and will be a major key to his team’s success throughout the tournament. In order to maximize the full potential of the Blue Devils offense, Ayala will have to get hot from the outside.

Albion

Tommy Mattison

Mattison averages about 13 points per game for the Purple Eagles and will be their primary threat offensively on Monday night. A good shooter from beyond three-point range, the strong and quick Mattison is also very difficult to stop off the dribble and will be one of the Devils’ primary focuses defensively.

Kory Reynolds

The 6’2″ Reynolds is the Eagles’ second-leading scorer averaging 8 points per game. He can also shoot the three.

Game Outlook 

Although the Blue Devils certainly have a more manageable matchup this season than last, Albion is no slouch. They have faced some tough competition this season and will certainly be ready for the Blue Devils come tomorrow night. That being said, with a senior-laden group who have gone unbeaten to this point in the season, Batavia should be able to work their way through the Purple Eagles and find themselves in a matchup with U Prep in the Finals – a rematch of last season’s first round matchup.

Prediction

Batavia 54 Albion 46 – The Blue Devils haven’t scored as much as they would like as of late but regardless, I believe they will win this game.

 

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Stay tuned throughout the tournament for live updates of all the action @BB_Scores on Twitter.

Good luck to all four teams.

 

 

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