BY LAURA ALBANESE
Hello all – it’s early Saturday morning in Day 2 of the NYSPHSAA Championships. Today we've got the Class A Semifinal in dreary Glens Falls (which, in case anyone is interested, is very wet and very cold). It's a great matchup between East Hampton (22-1) and Buffalo East (19-6).
7:20 – Mike Russell kicks off the scoring early with a soaring three from the left to give the Bonackers the early lead. So far, the two teams look evenly matched and both are having trouble converting.
6:05 – Damien Goodwin just opened up the scoring for Buffalo East with a layup over the heads of about three EH defenders.
4:10 – Jerome Russell scored five straight points, two foul shots and an open three from the right to make it 13-4, East Hampton
3:10 – Mike Russell looks nearly unstoppable from three-point range and just sunk another jumper from the right – this time while being laid out by a Panthers defender. It’s 16-7 after a three from Buffalo East.
2:10 – Buffalo is not having a good time so far from three-point range. Goodwin has missed two attempts from the same spot – wide open from the left.
East Hampton comes with an entourage, by the way. For the first time in two days, a Long Island team has shown up with a considerable (and vocal) cheering section. They easily overmatch the considerably smaller Buffalo contingent.
Marcus Henry informs me that M. Russell, who is 3-for-4 from three-point range, has about five rebounds already in the game. There’s still 43 seconds left in the first. Especially impressive since Russell is “5’9” – as opposed to 5’9.
Time Expires – Jamal Webb closes off the scoring with a looooong-range three to close it out for Buffalo.
End of first: 19-10, East Hampton.
7:31 – Buffalo is getting sloppy. They opened up the second with three consecutive missed before the Bonackers could get the ball back in Mike Russell’s hands. You know the drill: Another three – from the right this time. 22-10.
6:08 – Panthers’ turnover puts the ball in Jamal Webb’s hands. He hits the layup and the foul (J. Russell) for a three-point play.
3:00 – Ronald Dixon’s steal sets up the fast break for East Hampton.
2:41 – Jamal Webb is simply on fire. He just hit a three from nearly mid-court to bring Buffalo East to within three, 28-25. At the rate he’s going, East Hampton is going to crack down on him if they don't want it to get away.
1:22 – There goes Webb again. He just jumped over two defenders for the layup and foul. Kim on Mr. Webb: He’s their Mikey Russell! He misses the foul shot and it’s 28-27.
Buffalo looks like its rushing it shots – it’s a little early to be so harried, but they’re worried and, when they miss, they miss badly.
37.7 – Webb just flat outran two East Hampton defenders from downcourt to give the Panthers their first lead of the day, 29-28. This kid is pretty amazing – at this point, he is the Buffalo offense. He’s got 15 so far.
4.3 – Mike Russell, original flavor, will not be outdone. He just squared up and hit a huge three with the clock running down. He's got 15, too. It looks like it'll come down to these two.
End of half: 31-29, East Hampton.
The third has started off pretty evenly matched. East Hampton has stepped up its defense and looks to be making a considerable effort to keep Webb tied up every which way.
6:15 – It’s been going back and forth for the opening seconds. Buffalo started off the quarter with a basket, and Marcus Edwards quickly responded with a short jumper of his own. The Panthers’ Domonique Jackson and M. Russell scored to make it 35-33, East Hampton.
2:30 – The Bonackers’ Hayden Ward just scored on the quick putback to stake out a mildly comfortable seven point lead, 46-39.
End of third – Buffalo East has scored six straight points and East Hampton is starting to look a little winded. The Bonackers are easily outsized but, so far, have been taking advantage of what seems to be Buffalo East’s inability to consistently score in the paint.
End of third: 50-48, East Hampton.
7:30 – Jerome Russell has not been having a good game from the floor. He’s made three shots in about a dozen attempts and he just flat out missed a jumper from the perimeter.
7:08 – Domonique Jackson’s quick layup ties the game at 50. Jarred Bowe’s steal just stopped another Buffalo threat, this one courtesy of Damien Goodwin.
He’s not going to make any headlines, but can I say how impressed I am with Hayden Ward? His been very consistent in the paint and has about 10 rebounds thus far. I thought I’d drop him a line since this is very, very clearly Mikey Russell’s game.
Some interesting commentary from Marcus Henry, who’s writing the game story: Buffalo East should be killing East Hampton. They’ve got the size and about two or three D1 caliber players, like Brandon Hall, Jackson and, from what I’ve seen, Webb. Good ball handling, too. What’s the deal, guys?
3:30 – Mikey Russell with the runner to make it 52-50. You read that right. No one’s scored in about a decade and a half.
2:51 – Mikey with the fadeaway. He’s scored every Bonackers point this quarter. All four of ‘em. 54-50.
46.3 – Buffalo East is losing it in alarming fashion. They simply cannot penetrate and are trying to play to their strengths in the perimeter. That’s not going to well, either. We have, in quick succession, Goodwin and Webb missing from three-point range and Webb falling short in the paint. Marcus: “They’ve got no point guard.”
Ah, that’s what was missing.
13.1 – Here come the fouls. Mikey Russell and Edwards both miss their shots.
5.7 – Hall’s short jumper from the left wing breathes some life into the Panthers. It’s not over quite yet, folks. 54-52.
4.9 – I’m starting to feel for Jerome Russell. Though he’s been iffy from the floor, he’s gone 5-for-5 from the line. He misses his first free throw…but hits the second.East Hampton gets the rebound. It’s not looking good for Buffalo East….it fouls Hayden Ward.
1.3 – He sinks the basket…Brandon Hall’s got the ball for BE.
BUZZER – Hall releases from downcourt….it hits the clock and bounces of the glass…East Hampton wins, 55-52.
Final: 55-52, East Hampton.
Comments (3)
Can i get some updates on how Mickael Mack is playing and the scoring leaders for east
With respect to east hampto being outmanned by buffalo and that buffalo should be killing them. The quiet secret about east hamoton is that they are a combined 8 inches from having 4 legit d-1 players. If Mikey was 5-11, marcus 6-4, hayden 6-8 and jerome 6-3 all four would be heavy recruits. marcus will be playing d-3 at babson and jerome and hayden have a year to go and my prediction is jerome will be a d-1 player, and if he can grow another 2 inches to about 6-8 hayden will be a legit lower d-1 school prospect (like stony brook or vermont) at power forward or even center. The talent and athletic ability of east hampton's top six players, because bowe and lee are also excellent athletes, is very underestimated. and don't forget the legend -- coach petrie.
GREAT STUFF LAURA BUT YOU'RE MISSING THE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF EAST HAMPTONS SUCCESS. COACH PETRIE... IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE TEAM WITH THE BEST PLAYERS WHO WINS, ITS GOING TO BE THE BEST TEAM, PERIOD.