03/16/06
Davenport may get a run for its money in semi
Unbeaten ’Cats face fast-paced Finney
CLASS D STATE SEMIFINAL PREVIEW
By P.J. Harmer
Staff Writer
Davenport has seen a team like state-semifinal opponent Charles G. Finney somewhere before.
Like in Davenport.
Two fast-paced teams with similar styles will meet at the Glens Falls Civic Center at 11:45 a.m. Friday, when the undefeated Wildcats meet Section Five champion Finney in a Class D boys basketball state semifinal.
"I know they are very versatile and very athletic," 30th-year Davenport coach Lee Fisher said of the Falcons (23-2), wh[an error occurred while processing this directive]o will make their first final four appearance Friday. "They have good size and good shooters. I know they are strong enough to do the running, but I’ve heard they are an all-around good team."
Davenport’s not so bad, either.
One of three remaining unbeatens in the state — Class AA Wings Academy and Class B Ogdensburg Free are the others — the Section Four champion Wildcats (24-0) return to the semifinals for the first time since 1987. That year, which marked their only other final four appearance, the Fisher-led Wildcats fell, 60-59, to Cuba in the semis.
Fisher retired three years after the loss to Cuba, but returned to Davenport four seasons ago. His 424-116 career mark includes a 72-17 record over the last four winters.
Davenport, ranked one spot ahead of Finney at No. 4 in the state, beat Copenhagen, 52-45, in a state quarterfinal at Cortland State last Saturday.
The Falcons beat Clymer, 61-34, in the state quarterfinals after winning the first boys sectional team championship of any kind in the 14-year history of the school.
The Falcons average 71 points and have scored more than 100 in a game twice this season. Davenport averages 63.5 points, with its highest offensive output coming in an 80-45 rout of Laurens on Dec. 23.
"We both like to push the pace a little bit, but we do things a little different," ninth-year Finney coach Joe Marchand said. "We’re both about getting the same end result. ... They do it with a lot of guard work and we do it with our big men. All five of our guys get up and down the floor."
Three of Finney’s starters average 12 points or better, led by 5-foot-8 junior point guard Andy Marchand (23 points per game), Joe Marchand’s son.
Chris Verosky, a 6-3 senior guard, scores 18 a game and junior forward Aaron Fischer (6-1) 12. Junior guard Gavin Spuck (6-0) and senior forward Mike Wielery (6-1) contribute close to 10 points per game apiece as well.
Davenport, which starts four juniors and a sophomore in its defend, rebound and run system, will counter with four double-digit scorers. Junior 5-10 guards Dan Toombs and Joe Ballard lead the team with 15.0 and 12.6 points per game, respectively. Sophomore guard Brandon Butts (6-1) averages 10.9 points, and junior forward Brandon Cuddy (6-2) scores 10.0 per game.
"I’m impressed with their speed, press and transition game," Joe Marchand said. "All three of those things could pose problems.
Cuddy also grabs around 10 rebounds a game for the Wildcats, whose starting five is rounded out by 6-1 junior forward Travis Mole (3.5 ppg).
All five starters have played in all 24 Davenport victories. Junior Matt Rap (5-11) has appeared in 21 games and averages 3.2 points.
"We have to get through their press and we have to shut down Toombs, Ballard and Butts," Marchand said. "The guards have to be stopped, and you can’t forget about the Cuddy kid down below.
"If you try and shut down someone and put your eggs in one basket, someone can come and bite you," he continued. "You can’t say they have four scorers and relax on Mole. Relax on him and he’ll dump 12 (points) on you. You can’t lose track of anybody."
Friday’s winner advances to the state championship game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against Section One’s Martin Luther King or Section Two’s Fort Edward.
MLK won the 2005 Class D state title by beating Fort Edward, 76-57, in the final. This winter MLK is ranked second in the state, behind Fort Edward. (See story on Page 18).
