By SPENCER BATES
BUFFALO — The No. 1 seed Salamanca boys basketball team has become synonymous with its ability to fight with its back against the wall.
Look no further back than its Section 6 Class B2 Quarterfinal game against Falconer, in which it came back from an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter alone to win.
However, in its B2 semifinal game against No. 4 seed Wilson, the mountain that it found itself staring down after a difficult first quarter, was just too much to climb as it fell 63-60. But that did not stop it from giving its best effort.
For the grand majority of the opening frame, the Warriors struggled to get their offense going at the rate they would have liked, seeing just one shot fall until two crucial 3-pointers from Maddox Isaac and Jacob Herrick late in the quarter salvaged some points. And Wilson, unforgivingly, took advantage, grabbing a 15-point lead in the opening minutes.
Salamanca found its legs in the second quarter, but Wilson’s offense remained relentless, and managed to do just enough through the second and third frames to keep the Warriors at an arm’s length. The Lakemen were powered by the interior presence of Shamus George, who finished with a game-high 23 points, and Aidan Neumann, who tallied 16 points.
“(George) was huge for them, and same with (Neumann),” Salamanca coach Adam Bennett said of the Wilson duo. “We play against really good players every game … and (Neumann) is up there with anybody that we played. The quality of shots that he hit, the way he controls the ball, knives through our press, they’re just really good.”
Salamanca’s Maddox Isaac (11) floats to the rim during the Warriors’ season-ending loss to Wilson in the Section VI Class B2 semifinals. (Hunter O. Lyle)
It was in the fourth quarter when the Warriors’ back-against-the wall confidence took over. But they did more than just throw punches, they connected on some haymakers with their season on the line.
With a 13-0 run that took just about no time at all, Salamanca stormed back, managed to swipe a narrow lead and forced Wilson to take its final timeout of the game with about four minutes still left in the contest.
And as much as Salamanca’s offensive resurgence was key in giving it a chance at the end of the game, its defense was just as pivotal.
“That’s our identity, and really how we have to play,” Bennett said. “Every year, when we get in the spring with workouts and in summer league, we have our players create our identity. Who we feel like we are, that’s all driven by them. … We weren’t a great jump shooting team this year, but we went a long way, we went 18-4, with our ability to fight and defend. That’s, again, the work ethic and how hard these guys play. As a coach, it makes it really fun to be a part of.”
Unfortunately, after that timeout, the Warriors offense stumbled one final time, scoring just two baskets in the final minutes, once again, a 3-pointer apiece from Isaac and Herrick. And as the Lakemen closed out the game with free throws, the final buzzer brought the Warriors’ season to a close.
Specifically, Bennett heaped a significant amount of praise onto his seniors, Isaac, Herrick, Cory Holleran and Avery Brown — who were all pivotal in the late-game surge — after their final game in a Salamanca uniform.
“They just have no doubt, they’ve got a lot of confidence in their ability and the work that they put in,” Bennett said. “It hurts to lose, but it hurts even more to lose guys like that. If you coach for a long time, you get those (kinds of) guys maybe once or twice. We’re blessed to have great players, great kids. You put it in their hands and they made shots like they’ve always done. They did their absolute best to give us a chance to win this game and, again, that just shows their character and their resilience.”
Avery Brown (20) takes contact on his way through the paint amidst the Warriors’ semifinal matchup with Wilson in the Class B2 semifinals. (Hunter O. Lyle)
Each of the Warriors’ seniors made it onto the scoresheet, all of whom were led by Isaac who finished the game with 14 points. But the leading scorer on the night for Salamanca was not a senior, but instead one of the key pieces that Bennett is glad will be returning to the roster next season in Jaxon Crouse, who netted himself 20 points.
“His demeanor, his coachability, he stepped up in a huge way for us tonight, and he’s so unselfish,” Bennett said. “Sometimes we have to beg him to shoot because he wants to get his teammates involved. He always wants to do the right thing. I can’t say enough about Crouse. Great kid, great athlete.”
And while the result ultimately did not go his team’s way, Bennett made it a point to hand over an immense amount of credit to his players for the resolve and fight they showed on the biggest stage of the season.
“They’re tough kids, in every aspect of life, and they’re great athletes because of it,” Bennett said. “They’re never going to fold. They always, since they’ve been little kids, have played their best when their backs are against the wall, and we’ve had them against the wall for three or four weeks now. But they kept battling. I’m so proud to be their coach. I’m so proud of the comeback. There’s some things I wish I could go back and change. … But you got to give Wilson credit. They made some huge shots. (Aidan Neumann) is a great player. (Shamus George) had a great game, they get all the credit. We gave it everything that we had and I’m proud of that.”
AT BUFFALO
Wilson (63)
George 9 5-6 23, Neumann 7 0-0 16, Frerichs 4 0-0 10, Hough 3 1-2 9, Martin 1 0-0 3, Lawrence 1 0-0 2. Totals: 25 6-8 63
Salamanca (60)
Crouse 8 0-0 20, Isaac 5 1-2 14, Herrick 3 3-4 12, Brown 5 0-3 10, Holleran 1 2-2 4. Totals: 22 6-11 60
Wil. 20 30 45 63
Sala. 8 23 36 60Three-point goals: Wil. 7 (Neumann 2, Hough 2, Frerichs 2, Martin), Sala. 10 (Crouse 4, Isaac 3, Herrick 3); Total fouls: Wil. 12, Sala. 13; fouled out: None.
