Redband leads the Blue Devils, while Johnson leads the Irish
| BataviasBest.org
Monday, December 22, 2014
Thirty two years ago, the Batavia Lions Club started what has turned into perhaps the most exciting, highly-attended, intense basketball tournament in all of Section V. With three of the tournament’s original members (Batavia, Albion, and Notre Dame) returning to compete for the title once again, University Prep out of Rochester will participate for the second-straight year after a loss to Batavia in the opening round a season ago. Following their victory in 2013, Batavia overcame Notre Dame in the final game last year by a score of 46-36 as Jeff Redband finished with a game-high 22 points for the Blue Devils. With plenty of new faces set to take the court this year, however, it will be interesting to see who takes home the crown.
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 runner-up Albion, 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 said game, ND handled the Batavia 65-52 behind an MVP performance from 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 currently hold a streak of eight-straight championships (tournament didn’t take place twice during that span). 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: Batavia vs U Prep – Tuesday, 6:30 pm @ Genesee Community College
Facing off in Game 1 of this year’s tournament, Batavia will take on University Prep out of Rochester in a rematch from last year’s first-round contest. In 2013, the Blue Devils defeated the Griffins 54-36 behind a strong performance from then-Senior Justice Fagan, as the former Blue Devils’ point guard dropped 22 points to go with 6 assists and 6 rebounds. For U Prep in the loss, Quillian Leach-Alexander (now a Junior) scored 22 points and will likely be a force from beyond the arc for the Griffins once again this year.
Along with Leach-Alexander, U Prep will also bring several other talented players to the table tomorrow night.
Perhaps their best player, Cameron Myles stands at 6’3″ tall and will provide the Griffins with the ability to get to the basket against the Blue Devils. Along with Myles, who was hurt early on during last year’s game against BHS, Jordan Marshall returns to the team as a Senior with hopes of emerging from the first round of this year’s tournament. Rounding out the list of top players for U Prep is their leading-scorer, Freshman Jeenathan Williams, who stands 6’3″, 165 pounds.
All in all, it should be a tough game for Batavia – which a few of their players acknowledged.
“We will have to be careful in limiting our turnovers and their fast break points,” said Redband. “We need to get back on defense and value the ball offensively.”
In addition to Redband’s comments, the Blue Devils’ secondary scoring option Jerrett Laskett also had plenty to say about the Griffins.
“They are a good team,” he began. “It’s going to be a tough game but if we commit to our defense we will do fine.”
Greg Mruczek, Batavia’s defensive stalwart, also had a bit to say about his team’s chances in this one.
“(U Prep) is the toughest test we have seen yet I think,” he said to begin his comments. “They are a very fast and athletic team and will likely be very good offensively. We really want to win this game, not only for a possible shot at Notre Dame (in the finals), but just to have a chance to win the tournament is an even better feeling.”
Along with the challenges U Prep presents as a squad, the chance of playing against Notre Dame has really motivated this Batavia team heading into their opening round game – which is to be expected. However, the Blue Devils are taking it one game at a time.
“Right now our team isn’t really thinking about ND because we have to face U Prep in the first round,” said Redband. “But one of our goals is always to win the Christmas Tournament, and it’s always important to us when we are able to show our school pride against our cross-town rivals.”
In order to have the chance to face Notre Dame, Redband’s performance against the Griffins will be of the utmost importance for the Blue Devils. Finishing with only 13 points against U Prep during the 2013 opening round, the then-Junior forward must improve upon that total this year as a Senior if his team is to overcome their opponent’s high-powered offensive attack. The Griffs come into this game having topped 80 points at least twice this season, while averaging just about 70 points overall per contest.
However, despite both sides showing the ability to light up the scoreboard this year, I believe defense will be of the utmost importance in this one. Whoever can hold the other to under 55, in my mind, will win the game. Either way it should be a great game.
GAME 2: Notre Dame vs Albion – Tuesday, 8:45 pm @ Genesee Community College
In Game 2 Notre Dame will once again face Albion, as the Purple Eagles will attempt to avenge their 55-40 loss from a year ago. The Eagles have almost everyone back from their 2013 lineup, and will look to contain the Irish tomorrow night. For ND a year ago, Josh Johnson scored 7 points to go with 5 rebounds and 3 assists against Albion, and will likely add to that total during this year’s tournament.
In contrast to the Eagles, the Irish have several fresh faces in their lineup this season. While Johnson and fellow Senior Caleb Nellis each return as key contributors, new additions such as CJ Suozzi, Tyler Prospero, Casey Midwick, Luca Zambito, and Jack Sutherland have each found their way into supporting roles this year. While ND certainly relies on Johnson to drive the train offensively, Nellis, Suozzi, and Prospero have all come up with big buckets for their squad throughout their first few games.
On the other side of the court, Albion will be striving to overcome such a deep Notre Dame team behind Austin Lloyd and Clayton Stanton who have both averaged double-figures in points thus far during 2014. While Lloyd leads the team with a 14 point per game average, Stanton is right behind him averaging 11 points per his team’s first 3 games, and Desmond Blackmon rounds out an impressive trio with a 9.3 ppg average of his own. The Eagles – much like the Irish – have also shown depth on offense throughout the early going, as three other players have averaged over 5 per game. Alex Bison, Gary Moore II, and Emmanuel Thompson have scored 7.3, 7.3, and 5.7 respectively per contest thus far.
Even more impressive than their offensive depth that has been displayed this season, is the Eagles’ overall experience as a team. With each of their top six scorers enduring their Senior season, this Albion team is no joke and will have to be reckoned with come tomorrow night.
“They are a good team,” said ND’s Josh Johnson about the Purple Eagles. “It will make for a good game for the tournament.”
In addition to Johnson’s comments, Junior forward CJ Suozzi showed an immense amount of respect for their first round opponent.
“Albion is a very good team,” he began. “They have some real quick players on their team that we are going to have to stop. We also need to out-rebound them and keep playing good defense.”
Adding to the challenge that the Eagles will likely bring tomorrow is the excitement that comes with the atmosphere during the Lions Club Tournament. With a chance to play their friends and rivals on the line, the Irish admittedly have been amped about the opportunity to face the Blue Devils in the finals.
“This tournament was always something I had looked forward to ever since I was a kid,” added Suozzi. “Everyone loves the Batavia-Notre Dame rivalry, but first we both need to win in order to get to that point. In the end it’s just another game and we just want to go out and play our best.”
All in all the matchup between the Irish and the Eagles should be an interesting one, and I see it being competitive up until the very end. Different from the other first round matchup, though, I think this one will hover around 40-50 points, with the winner holding their opponent to under that 50-point barrier.
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Through the years, names such as Phil Santiago, Mike Chmielowiec, Jeff Weaver, Tim Wescott, PJ Leavy, Ron Nenni, and many more have graced the floor at the Batavia Lions Club Basketball Tournament. With four fantastic teams set to participate, and two fantastic matchups scheduled for the opening round, an exciting championship game undoubtedly awaits us next Monday.
While we await tip-off at 6:30 pm tomorrow night, only one question remains:
Like the many great players who have come before them, who will leave their mark this year?
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