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for December 2009
 It wasn’t easy, and certainly a lot closer than the final score indicated, but if there were any doubt before it can be put to rest, at least for now. Nichols is the new king of boy’s high school basketball in Western New York. In a clash of WNY co-No 1’s, Nichols defeated Niagara Falls, 68-53 to take over the top spot by themselves.
The match up had the feel in a packed St. Marys of Lancaster gym of a heavyweight title fight. Both teams traded punches early, with Niagara Falls landing early jabs before Nichols connected ona few devastating punches before halftime. Niagara Falls opened up a six-point lead before the game was three minutes old, but Nichols did their damage in the second quarter, going on a14-1 run to close out the first half and take a 34-21 lead, with Niagara Falls failing to score a field goal over the last 5:40.
Continue reading ‘H.S. Game of the Year: Nichols Knocks Off Niagara Falls’
 After four consecutive losses to start the nine-game Monsignor Martin Association vs. ECIC Challenge, a non-catholic school can finally claim a victory. Holland brought a fundamentally sound game to the gym, not to mention plenty of height, and both traits were on display as they defeated Christian Central, 52-38.
Holland (1-1) raced out to a 32-16 halftime lead paced by point guard Jordan Farrant’s 12 points.
They made sure there would be no second half Crusaders comeback by starting the third quarter on a 9-2 run and led after three, 45-23.
Continue reading ‘H.S. Hoops: Holland Rips Christian Central, 52-38′
 Niagara Catholic came into their Monsignor Martin Association vs ECIC Challenge game against Cheektowaga undefeated (4-0). They made sure they come out of the locker room at the start of each half ready to pounce. They did just that, outscoring the Warriors 14-8 in the first and 20-6 in the third en route to easily defeating Cheektowaga (1-4), 59-42.
The game was barely five minutes old before the Patriots raced out to a 10-0 lead. Frustrated with his starters play, Cheektowaga head coach Patrick Cullinan removed the entire unit and looked for more energy from his second team. The move panned out as Cheektowaga got back into the game, trailing just 28-26 at halftime.
Continue reading ‘H.S. Hoops: Niagara Catholic pounds Cheektowaga’
 In early November we wondered how the Buffalo Sabres (now 19-9-2) would look at the end of the month. After their fall from grace last year at about that time, one couldn’t help but worry that the same fate might be in store for Sabres fans, especially after losing two of their first three games that month.
Never you fear, Buffalonians near and far, the Sabres appear here to stay. Since those two losses, they have won 11 of s17 games, and have held fairly consistent at first place in the Northeast. Most importantly, they’ve found a way of breaking slumps before they became a serious problem.
Continue reading ‘Defense Keys Sabres Latest Run’
 If the opening night of the Monsignor Martin Association vs. ECIC Challenge is any indication, it could be a long Wednesday night for Cheektowaga, Holland and even top ranked Niagara Falls.
Canisius high school ended the first night of the challenge with a 68-64 victory over sixth-ranked large school Williamsville South. With the win the Catholic schools swept all three of the opening Tuesday night showdowns. Earlier Timon defeated Lackawanna while St. Marys/Lancaster upended Maple Grove.
Continue reading ‘Canisius Holds Off Williamsville South’
 It was anything but easy, but Monsignor Martin Association vs. ECIC Challenge host St. Mary’s Lancaster found a way to get it done against visiting Maple Grove and two-time All-WNY superstar Chris Secky.
St. Mary’s used balance scoring, timely rebounding and a suffocating defense to hold off a late charge and defeat Maple Grove, 60-54.
After holding a seemingly insurmountable 57-48 lead with 2:16 to play, Maple Grove went on a 6-0 run over the next 1:14 to climb within three with a minute to play. But a pair of clutch plays by sophomore guard Nathan Meyers helped seal the St. Mary’s win. First after breaking free down court on an errand inbounds pass, Meyers managed to corral the basketball long enough to call timeout before his momentum carried out of bounds. Then with 21.8 seconds left and the game still in doubt, he stepped up to the free throw line and calmly sunk both to end any last second Maple Grove comeback threat.
Continue reading ‘Balanced St. Mary’s Attack Beats Maple Grove’
 The 2009-10 Western New York high school basketball season may just be in its infancy stages, but Timon St. Jude is wasting little time throwing their name in the hat among the area’s elite teams.
The seventh-ranked large school in WNY used the three pointer as its weapon of choice, hitting seven of them in the second half after just two in the first, and held off Lackawanna, 74-67 to improve to 4-0 in the first game of the Mon signor Martin Association vs ECIC Challenge at St. Mary’s of Lancaster high school.
Tigers’ senior big man Dut Dour continued his early scoring onslaught, dropping a team-high 22 points, including eight straight in the second quarter as the Tigers blew open a tight game early and raced out to a 35-22 a lead. Dour also had 13 rebounds.
Continue reading ‘Timon Rolls On With Win Over Lackawanna’
 So did you hear the one about the Buffalo Bills capturing the AFC East over the last three weeks and ending their playoff drought? Just like Lloyd Christmas famously muttered in Dumb and Dumber, “So you’re saying there’s a chance.” Hilarity ensues.
Comical… yes. Practical.. uh, scarcely. But by the time I finished playing mathematician, I’ve learned the Bills are still alive to win their division and reach the playoffs for the first time this decade. Granted, Tiger Woods has a better chance of getting remarried with Jasper Parnevik serving as best man than seeing the Bills in the post season, but hey it’s still doable.
In the three-plus months Buffalo Sports Daily has been on the internet, I’ve possibly desecrated mine and your time more than any previous article (debatable of course). The research was draining, nearly as arduous as watching 13 weeks’ worth of Buffalo offense. Then again, what else do I have to do?”Listen to Skip Bayless get his universal hate on every team and athlete on an ESPN’s “First Take” telecast?
Continue reading ‘How the Buffalo Bills can still win the division’
 The Buffalo Bills improved to 2-2 under interim head coach Perry Fewell and 5-8 on the season in defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 16-10, in Week 14. The win featured the Bills’ best rushing effort of the season (200 yards on the ground) and another four turnovers forced by the defense, all on interceptions.
As usual, we’ve got some quick thoughts and observations after reviewing the film from the win.
Continue reading ‘Bills 16, Chiefs 10: Week 14 Film Session’
 It’s going to be a busy week of high school basketball in Western New York, and it’s going to be an equally hectic week for us at Buffalo Sports Daily. Beginning tonight, over the next three nights I’m embarking on an adventure that will see me cover 18 of Western New York’s best basketball teams, highlighted by the top two teams in the region squaring off on Wednesday night.
The three-night slate is full of highly ranked teams, intriguing match ups and some of the best talent the region has to offer.
Continue reading ‘Preparing For High School Hoops Marathon’
 With the holiday season in full swing, the Buffalo Stampede of the Premier Basketball League (PBL) has a great holiday special for season tickets that are attractive to any local sports lover on your Christmas shopping list.
The Stampede is offering a pair of general admission season tickets for only $75.00, or two Courtside Reserved season tickets for just $150.00
That’s good for all 10 Stampede home games played at the Canisius College Koessler Athletic Center. The first two home games are Sat. Jan. 9th 7:30pm against Rochester (League Champion) and Sun Jan.10th 2pm against Maryland (Kids Day).
Continue reading ‘Holiday Season Ticket Special For Stampede’
 The Buffalo Bills have struggled to run the ball this season. Amidst massive offensive line changes and a three-game suspension to former starting running back Marshawn Lynch at the outset of the season, the Bills have surpassed 100 rushing yards as a team in just 6 of 13 games this season, to the team’s overall offensive detriment.
Things are turning around for this unit, however. Interim head coach Perry Fewell has re-established the importance of the running game into his offensive game plans, and as a result, the Bills have rushed for over 100 yards as a team in three of Fewell’s first four games as the head man, all in the last three contests. Buffalo’s 200-yard rushing effort in yesterday’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs may have been their most dominant ground performance of the season.
Continue reading ‘Bills need to keep pounding the rock’
 This was one of the more entertaining hockey games I have watched all season and with the full slate of games on Center Ice, that is saying a lot. Both teams battled from the opening whistle until the final whistle, even if they had no idea the game was over (more on this later). It was a back and forth game that had power play goals, shorthanded goals, a fight to start the second period and of course for Sabres fans…it was a 4-3 victory.
The Sabres were prepared to see a different Canadiens team than they seen on December 3 at the HSBC Arena. There was no way the Habs would be embarrassed a second time by the Sabres. The Sabres weathered the storm and actually controlled play at times, especially with the fourth line.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Win Streak Reaches Four At Montreal’
 The Buffalo Bills needed a playmaker. Well, to be fair, they needed more than one playmaker back in late April during the NFL Draft, but for a franchise in the midst of a decade’s worth of bad luck, one playmaker is what they got. Buffalo got said playmaker with pick No. 42 overall, when, much to the chagrin of its fan base, the team selected Oregon DB Jairus Byrd.
All these months later, Byrd – who intercepted his ninth pass of the season in the Bills’ 16-10 road victory in Kansas City – re-established himself as the NFL’s interception leader. His nine picks set a Bills franchise record for most interceptions by rookie in a season. Much more importantly, his presence has helped spark a stagnant playmaking Bills defensive unit, transforming it from one of the league’s worst units into the NFL’s best play-making secondary.
Continue reading ‘Byrd making case for Defensive ROY honors’
 So I’ve been sitting here, trying to figure out what to write about the Sabres. Call it writer’s block (Or deciding how to eat crow). I decided to go back to my season preview logs. I wrote that the Sabres were a 7th seed, at best. However, I did write that the only way they could go from the bottom of the playoff picture to the top four of the conference, was if Ryan Miller became an elite goalie. Mission accomplished.
Miller has been a world beater and the biggest reason the Sabres are in 1st place in the Northeast division. The reason I picked Miller as the X-factor was because I didn’t think we had seen his full potential. But that is something that I really can’t say for the top 2 lines for the team.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Are Real, But Still Not The Happy Camper’
 Last week Buffalo Sports Daily was graced by the Buffalo Bills’ All-Decade Team.
But it’s been such a decade of shame that their story may be better told by their screw-ups. So to follow up the All-Decade Team, here is the Bills’ All-Decay Team.
Every franchise has its busts, but few can put together a complete lineup of failures who came with so much promise. These aren’t just any scrubs; they’re guys who, based on what was invested in them, were counted on to make the team respectable at least. The All-Decay Team includes five first-round draft picks, four second-rounders and four third-rounders — not including picks used to trade up for a couple of them. Add in the free agents, and there’s enough money down the drain to feed some countries for a year.
You’ve seen the good, but there’s much more bad and ugly:
Continue reading ‘Buffalo Bills’ All-Decay Team’
 The Niagara men’s basketball team (7-4, 2-0 MAAC) picked up its biggest win of the season, handing Illinois State (7-1) its first loss of the season, 76-68, at Redbird Arena on Sunday. Senior Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) connected on five 3-pointers en route to a game-high 26 points in the victory.
Niagara shot 46.3 percent from the floor and 47.6 percent from behind the arc to counter the rebounding deficit. The Redbirds dominated the glass, 49-28, but the Purple Eagles owned the perimeter, shooting 10-of-21 from outside. ISU was a dismal 5-for-23 from long range.
Continue reading ‘NU Men Hang First Loss On Illinois State’
 The following quote is from former UB head football coach Turner Gill in regards to his time at Buffalo:
“I will be forever grateful to President John Simpson and Athletic Director Warde Manuel for giving me the opportunity to be a head coach. More importantly, I appreciate the support and encouragement they gave me which allowed my staff and I to change the culture in UB¹s football program.”
“I am also extremely appreciative of the players, staff, alumni and community for their support they are as much a part of our success as anything I did. I am extremely proud of what we accomplished as a program and, along with my family, will cherish the time we spent in Western New York.”
Lou Saban and Hank Straham must be rolling over in their graves right now. That was as bad of a game as you can see in the NFL today. What didn’t both these teams accomplish in the futility department; bad play-calling, bad throws, bad tackling, bad turnovers, bad announcers, just bad everything. The season needs to end so the Bills can fire their front office and bring in some quality players and coaches. By the way, the Bills won 16-10.
-You want to know why the Bills won this game? The KC Chiefs coaching staff decided to put the game in Matt Cassel’s hands. BIG mistake. Cassel was awful today, completing 26 of 43 passes for 224 yards and 4 interceptions. It makes no sense for the opposition to pass the ball 43 times against the Bills. If you want to beat the Bills, pound the ball inside-
Continue reading ‘Bills/Chiefs Postgame Thoughts’
 In the wake of University at Buffalo head football coach Turner Gill accepting the head coaching job at Kansas, Director of Athletics Warde Manuel has named Danny Barrett interim head coach while a national search process commences.
“Today is a day that creates many mixed feelings,” said Manuel. “I am saddened to see Turner leave us as he has done an absolutely fantastic job of building our football program to unprecedented success upon a value system that we can all be proud of. That being said, I am extremely happy for Turner and his family that they have been granted this opportunity.”
Continue reading ‘Barrett Named Interim Head Coach As Gill Departs’
In the history of professional football broadcasting, CBS analyst Steve Beurlein can now be renowned for having one of the grossest misstatements you’ll ever hear. During the second half of the Buffalo, Kansas City game he said “If you didn’t already know coming in these were 3-9 (Chiefs) and 4-8 (Bills) teams playing, you would never know it now.”
After questioning his sanity, you must wonder what game he was watching. In a contest plagued with turnovers (seven total), sacks, untimely penalties, crucial drops, missed opportunities, poor play calling and even worse execution, the Buffalo Bills managed to hold on for a 16-10 victory.
At 5-8, the Bills’ magical march towards a fourth straight 7-9 season is back in play.
Continue reading ‘Bills Stink Less Than Chiefs In 16-10 Win’
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Over the next several days, Buffalo Sports Daily/Bull Run blogger Tim Riordan is running a series on potential head coaching replacements for Turner Gill at UB. Today features Joe Moorhead, UConn offensive coordinator.
Over the next several days, Buffalo Sports Daily/
(Over the next several days, Buffalo Sports Daily/
Over the next several days, Buffalo Sports Daily/
