ALLEGANY — In its second and final game in the 7th Annual Joe DeCerbo Holiday Showcase, the Allegany-Limestone boys basketball team had no problem handling business against Bradford.
The Gators picked up their second win in just about 18 hours and, once again, found themselves executing at a high level.
“We were a lot better against the zone,” A-L coach Glenn Anderson said. “I thought ball movement was better against the zone, we hit the nail more, got looks down low, kick-outs for 3s. Beating the zone inside out is what we want to do. I thought our zone offense was a lot better tonight.”
A-L found itself on the winning end of a 53-51 win on Day 1 of the Showcase, having narrowly escaped a formidable challenge from Cuba-Rushford. Against Bradford, its lead was large enough to not worry about any sort of comeback. But still, Anderson was much happier with the way his side brought the result across the finish line.
“This is the first game we played, start to finish, at the same high level the whole way through,” Anderson said. “We’ve come in the locker room a lot with 15, 20-point leads, so it’s good to see us not let our foot off the gas in the second half.”
The Gators’ showed the first signs of running away with the contest in the second quarter, which they won by a 13-2 margin. That momentum carried over into the second half where they cruised, out-scoring the Owls 34-23.
Allegany-Limestone’s Collin Forrest (5) looks to drive into the lane against the Bradford defense. (Spencer Bates)
Carson Kwiatkowski was, yet again, the star of the show for A-L, finishing with a game-high 25 points. Not far behind him was Collin Forrest, who recorded 21 points and was the conductor in the Gators’ fast start offensively.
“That’s what we see in practice every day,” Anderson said of Forrest’s ability. “We know what Collin is capable of and his potential is through the roof. It was good to see him have some success early like that. That was big for him. I think that’ll get more consistent as we go.”
Another player for the Gators that proved heavily influential in the win, recording four assists, was Caleb Strade.
“He does all the dirty work, he’s going to do all the stuff that doesn’t get mentioned in the paper,” Anderson said. “But, you know, he sets great screens, he’s their communicator on defense, he’s a great leader on the floor, he knows where everyone’s supposed to be, he’s directing traffic, in the locker room he’s a great leader. … He does all the little things for us that go unnoticed.”
With the win, A-L’s win streak and unbeaten run to start the season extended to six games.
Bradford was led by Tarren Reese’s 12 points and Daniel Marasco’s 10.
The Gators next take the court on Jan. 3 when they host Fredonia. Tip-off for that game is set for 7:30 p.m.
Allegany-Limestone’s Evan Troisi (2) looks to drive against Allegany-Limestone’s Cooper Wilczewski (2). (Spencer Bates)
AT ALLEGANY
Bradford (38)
Tar. Reese 6 0-0 12, Marasco 4 2-4 10, Troisi 3 1-2 7, Sherk 2 0-0 4, Terwilliger 1 0-0 3, Roulo 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 3-6 38
Allegany-Limestone (69)
Kwiatkowski 8 6-7 25, Forrest 6 3-4 21, Callen 4 0-0 11, G. Straub 0 4-4 4, Amore 1 0-0 3, B. Straub 1 1-2 3, Wilczewski 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 14-17 69
Brad. 13 15 26 38
A-L 22 35 61 69Three-point goals: Brad. 1 (Terwilliger), A-L 13 (Forrest 6, Kwiatkowski 3, Callen 3, Amore); Total fouls: Brad. 12, A-L 11; fouled out: None.
