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Exceptional Seniors Basketball
Last night Seton Catholic Central hosted the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Exceptional Seniors basketball games. The games were close and well-played and it was obvious from watching from my midcourt seat that all the athletes were having a good time. What a great idea this night is! Now that the competition of the CVAC, the sectionals and, for some, the regionals is over, the seniors get one last chance to put on their uniform, show their talents and have some fun.
It was also obvious that the overflow crowd enjoyed the game as well. What was really nice is that I didn't hear one fan yelling at an official! I couldn't help but think how nice it would be if the games were always this relaxed, this much fun for the players and the fans. I realize that I'm wishing for the impossible. After all, there are titles to be won and headlines to make. It was nice to see coaches coaching instead of barking at the officials.
The game had plenty of interesting moments. Most fans had to do a double-take when they saw Northeastern Clinton Central's Darby Turner wearing a Seton Catholic uniform. Through a misunderstanding Darby, one of the unsung heroes of the great NCCS girls' teams over the last two years, left her uniform at home. The Seton Catholic staff came up with a uniform for her to wear, alebeit the one of the host school. So Darby played her final high school game in a Lady Knights uniform. It didn't look right, but it didn't affect her play, as she scored 8 points, dished out assists and hauled down rebounds just as she has done in the Maroon and White of NCCS.
In the girls' game Amanda Sorrell of Seton Catholic felt right at home, hitting a couple of three-pointers and it was nice to see my friend Katie Rostak of Seton Catholic have a great final game with 9 points. Leading all girls in scoring with 15 points was Nicole Dirolf of Ausable Valley, who had a great high school career without much fanfare. Tiffany Lamberton, another of the NCCS starters, who played part of the season with a bad ankle, quietly scored 14 points. And that was without Coach Landry taping her ankle!
Two other unifoms brought smiles to the fans and competitors. In the boys' game Alex "The A-Frame" Richardson and Justin "JC" Christian of Plattsburgh High School wore throwback uniforms from the 1970s. Did we really wear our shorts that short back then? The jerseys were tight, and both guys resembled Olympic bodybuilders. The only things missing were the knee pads. The guys withstood the good-natured remarks of their fellow seniors and the old-style uniform seemed to suit Christian especially well, as he led his team with 15 points. Christian's dad, Mark, had been a basketball scoring machine way back when those uniforms were in vogue. But his son outdid him, popping a three-pointer during the game, something the older Christian never had an opportunity to do.
The halftime competition every year gets the fans' attention: the three-point shot contest and, for the boys, the slam dunk contest. The girls' three-point winner was Courtney Coryea of Northeastern Clinton, who hit 8 of 15 in 45 seconds. Shooting last she beat out Moriah's Lee Ann Slattery, who had tossed in 6. The boys' winner was Kyle Brassard of Northern Adirondack with 9. Brassard won the faceoff against Coryea.
The slamdunk contest wasn't the usual highpoint since the competition lacked the usual array of guys six-foot-three and over. Evan Thompson's winning dunk was a good one, though, and he enjoyed the support of many Saranac females who screeched and applauded and waved signs, sealing the win for the popular Saranac senior.
The officials, George Dyer, Tim Leary, Tom Lacey and Andy Morelli, donated their services to referee. And they worked and sweated. In these games coaches seldom call time outs, so the helpful one-minute breaks for the officials was pretty much non-existant. Except at the end of the boys' game when Division 2 battled Division 1 for the victory and bragging rights. Division 2 coach Jamie Douglas of Ausable Valley borrowed my clipboard and paperwork twice to scribble out what he hoped would be the game-winning play. When the game ended in a tie CVAC officials decided on an unprecedented sudden-death overtime, next point wins! After each side missed opportunities Moriah's Seth Decker outjumped everyone and tipped in a shot giving Division 2 the victory 83-81.
Everyone owes Larry Converse, the CVAC boys' basketball chairperson, and the Seton Catholic staff a big thank you for hosting the event. The players and fans left with smiles!
My personal thanks to all the senior athletes for the many games of fun that we have videotaped over their years in high school. I've got some great souvenirs of their high school years. And while these seniors will indeed be missed, there's a whole group of juniors and sophomores who are already thinking about next year's CVAC baskeball season.
Comments
Foxy,
The game was originally played at A.V.C.S. in Clintonville. The first game was played in 1980 and originated for a cause. That cause was to help raise money for Fred Votraw, a Senior at A.V.C.S. Fred, a member of our great 1980 team, was critically involved in a car accident on March 6th, 1980 and was in ICU at CVPH for some time. The powers that be created this great event then, and it still continues today.......as for Fred, doing well living in the Forks today!
(Foxy's note: Thanks for clarifying this and giving us the background info.)
Posted by: Ed McCallister | March 24, 2006 1:27 PM
Foxy...great article...we laughed that JC's uniform was Tom Lacey's...but do you know who wore the "A-Frame"'s #44? It was none other than Kevin Daughery. If you don't believe me...head up to the 99 and check out the 1975 Hornets picture in the bar,(and since you are there, take Goose and have a Bloody). Thank you for all you do for the kids in the CVAC!
(Foxy's note: I will say this, Big Kev. The "A-Frame" filled out that #44 shirt a lot better than the Doc. The Doc was a great shooter, but was all arms and legs. The "A-Frame" has a lot more muscle!)
Posted by: Big Kev | March 16, 2006 9:48 PM
Foxy: Great column on the Senior Basketball competition. Wish we had that tradition when we played 45 years ago. Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and the 45th anniversary of Beekmantown beating Saranac Central for the Section VII Class A crown. The game was at the Peru gym. You mentioned Elmon Henry in your Feb 8 blog. Elmon was the star for Saranac along with Steve White and the Layhee brothers. Earl Burnell was our leader with Gary Wells and Gerald Ducatte crashing the boards. It was the very first Section VII Championship for Beekmantown in any sport. Keep up the great work with the blog--and come visit the sunny south in Virginia. Semper Fi! Jack
(Foxy's note: Great to hear from Jack Glasgow, a 1962 Beekmantown Central grad. My "Where Are They Now?" article featuring Jack appeared in the Press-Republican sports pages somewhere around November 1986.)
Posted by: Jack Glasgow | March 16, 2006 1:43 PM
Foxy,
Quick couple of questions. Do you know when, where and why the Senior game originated. Originally it did not have a 3 point contest, hint hint.........nor did it have a slam dunk contest and lastly, it had no girls game.
(Foxy's note: I do not know the answer to this, but I bet you do! Maybe a reader can take a guess. Perhaps Larry Converse has this in his archives. Or, Calvin Castine, who videotapes everything that moves, may have an idea.)
Posted by: Ed McCallister | March 16, 2006 1:57 AM