By HUNTER O. LYLE
lyleoleanstar@gmail.com
ALLEGANY, NY – Tallying yet another standout scoring performance, Carson Kwiatkoswki helped carry Allegany-Limestone to their fourth-consecutive win to start the season, surging late to beat Dunkirk 56-33.
The Gators came into the season ready to go. In their first three contests, they have come away with three wins and averaged a margin of 21.3 points on the scoreboard. In his senior season, Kwiatkoswki has carried the offensive load as he averaged 29 points a game thus far.
“He’s gotten a lot stronger, he’s gotten a lot quicker. He’s getting to the rim a lot now. He even said in the locker room, he hasn’t shot well yet,” said Allegany-Limestone head coach Glenn Anderson. “When that shot comes around, he’s going to be even tougher to guard.”
Early on against the Marauders, A-L looked for Kwiatkoswki to work an inside-out game with Gavin Straub. Facing a full-court-press, the Gators used fluid outlet passes to burst through traffic before feeding Straub underneath for easy and open looks at the rim. Attacking underneath, Straub scored six of the Gators’ 13 first-quarter points as they jumped out to a nine-point lead.
In the second quarter, however, points would not come as easily. Knocking off the rust, Dunkirk retaliated with a renewed aggression on all fronts. After giving up three points to the Gators in the opening minutes, the Marauders’ defense smothered ball handlers on the perimeter and collapsed in the paint, sending shots back or forcing misses. Coming away with a few steals as well, Dunkirk sparked a 6-0 run that brought them to within four. Meanwhile, the Gators were held scoreless for close to five minutes.
After a late second-chance score from Kwiatkoswki and a successful trip to the free throw line from Caleb Strade, the Gators entered halftime up 22-16.
“We were just dealing with their ball pressure. They were up in our shirts and we just have to tough with the ball. We have to rip through and get down hill,” said Anderson. “We missed some layups and missed quite a few free throws too. I think we had to settle in a little bit and that’s been the story every game so far. We’ve had a stretch where we struggle a little bit and we figure it out.”
Facing an inability to crash the paint, A-L’s offense went in a different direction entering the third. Instead of forcing the issue inside, they looked to space the halfcourt floor with a barrage of shots from beyond the arc. After hitting a handful of long-range shots, their strategy worked. Confronted with a threat from the outside, the Marauders were forced to step up, opening lanes into the paint which A-L took advantage of.
Gavin Straub gets a clean look at the rim during the Gators’ fourth consecutive win to start the season. Straub recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
While Dunkirk was able to respond with shots on the other end, scoring tick-for-tack, they were unable to close the gap on the scoreboard to less than six. Then, in the final three minutes of the quarter, the Gators would spark another run, scoring six unanswered points to increase their lead to 10 heading into the final eight minutes.
With the Marauders still within striking distance, A-L unleashed the full force of their offense. Starting with back-to-back press-breaking scores from Straub and followed by a 3-pointer from Cooper Wilczewski, the Gators built a 17-point advantage. Ripping the game away from Dunkirk with another 7-0 run late, A-L outscored the Marauders 19-6 in the final period of play, cruising to win No. 4.
“I think with our senior-led team and our resiliency, we’re not rattled by a 10-point lead and holding onto it. I think we did a really good job and we just keep leaning on our defense,” said Anderson. “This is at least the second game in a row where we’re holding teams to within the 30s. Defensively we’re doing a fantastic job. I can’t ask for anything more.”
Kwiatkoswki once again led the Gators in scoring, finishing with 24 points. Straub finished with a double-double, recording 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Strade tallied six points and nine rebounds.
The Gators will stay at home for the foreseeable future, playing the next three games in front of their home crowd, including the annual IAABO Tournament on Friday, Dec. 27 and Saturday, Dec. 28.
“I’m happy with where we’re at. Offensively, I think we turned the corner. We saw some really good things, we pitched the ball ahead, got some easy buckets, and a couple shots went down,” said Anderson. “The thing I’m most proud of is the way we’re defending.”
AT ALLEGANY
Dunkirk (33)
Tell 6 0-0 13, Orcutt Jr. 5 1-1 11, Krystofiak 2 0-0 4, McQuiggan 1 0-0 2, McCall 0 2-2 2, Martucci 0 1-2 1. Totals: 14 4-5 33
Allegany-Limestone (56)
Kwiatkoswki 8 6-12 24, Straub 6 1-2 13, Strade 1 4-6 6, Forrest 1 3-4 5, Callen 1 2-2 4, Wilczewski 1 0-2 3. Totals: 18 16-28 56
Dunkirk 4 16 27 33
Allegany-Limestone 13 22 37 56
Three-point goals: DK (1) McQuiggan, A-L (4) Kwiatkoswki 2, Wilczewski, Forrest; Total fouls: DK 23, A-L 8; fouled out: McCall (DK)
JV: Allegany-Limestone 53, Dunkirk 45
