Boys Basketball: Billy Moran Tournament opening round

Spartans down Indians with big inside game

Talented Liberty is turned aside by Seward’s poise in the zone

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — As Liberty and S.S. Seward took their warm-ups prior to this year’s Billy Moran Tournament opener on December 10, there was palpable excitement in the air. This game would feature a multitude of talented players and exceptional athletes.

Liberty showed its athleticism by capturing the summer league title at Sullivan County Community College last July. Driven by standout guard Lakarri Byrd, and strengthened by Tyrone White and Rashawn Sellers, coach Dave Slater’s 2005 squad figures to come on strong this year. Liberty starts four juniors. They came into this game at 1-1, after beating Onteora and playing tough against Class A Saugerties. S.S. Seward entered the fray at 1-1, losing a close one to Class A Goshen and beating Class C Chester.

Despite the fact that Seward lost a ton of talent to graduation, including Joe Hoyt, Chris Dagele, Shane Meduski and Edin Sahmanovic and were pushed up to Class C, basketball pundits know that the Spartans will still be a factor with talented coach Rob Gravelle at the helm. Gravelle is now in his 11th season.

Basketball is a powerful tradition in Florida and with seniors Brenden Myers, Mickey Collins and Bryan Folkl anchoring the team, Seward will undoubtedly present match-up problems for teams inside. Sophomore point guard Sadam Sahmanovic has a wealth of talent, which he was quick to display against Liberty.

Liberty controlled the tip, but Seward’s zone defense caused a turnover on the Indians’ first possession. Folkl immediately established his inside presence with a put-back as Seward drew first blood. Liberty responded with a three by Sellers. Following a free-throw by Seward’s Collins, Byrd hit a three and the Indians were feeling it. Pete Panagakos dropped one in, and it was 8-3 Liberty in the early going.

Myers’ free-throws cut the lead to 8-5, but Liberty’s David Brown sliced down the lane to give Liberty some room at 10-5. A jumper by Byrd made it 12-5. Liberty was passing well and finding the open man.

Proving they could shoot from the perimeter as well as the interior, Seward got two quick threes from sophomore Jeremy Harter to pull within one. Liberty got baskets and a free-throw from Panagakos, along with a shot by Byrd. Seward closed out the quarter with buckets from Collins, Harter and Sahmanovic to knot the game at 17-all. Each team had four turnovers in the first frame.

Sahmanovic showed his passing flair as the second quarter opened with a nice dish to Myers.

Following a pair of Liberty turnovers, Seward began to rule the paint with shots by Folkl and Sahmanovic as the Spartans pulled ahead 23-17. Sellers hit a shot, but Collins followed it up with a driving shot and one to extend the lead to 26-19. Sahmanovic handled the ball well at the point. When he sensed an opening, he showed he could slash to the hoop. Byrd, who was forced to the perimeter, hit a pair of threes to cut the lead to 29-27. Liberty would get one more basket, but Seward got three, including a pair from Folkl to take a 35-29 lead into halftime.

From the moment Liberty inbounded the ball in the third quarter, certain things were immediately evident. A box-and-one defense on Byrd was key in denying him penetration and wide open looks. With their scoring engine turned off, Liberty began to settle for quick, low percentage shots, while Seward ruled the inside game and controlled the glass at both ends of the floor. Liberty’s André Brand got through the lane for a nice bucket, but Myers, Folkl and Sahmanovic penetrated the paint at will.

Holding Liberty to a mere six points in the third quarter, Seward catapulted ahead to lead 58-37 as the period expired. Liberty’s man defense couldn’t stop Seward’s quick swing of the ball to the open man, and Sahmanovic hit a three to ice the cake. Liberty got some late scoring from Brand and White.

The fourth quarter presented the same scenario. Seward got second and third shot opportunities as its big men boxed out the Indian defenders. Sahmanovic dropped in another trey, and while Liberty got a couple of deft scores from Byrd, Brand, Lavelle Finger and Lansford Richards, Seward continued to pour it in. The final score of 71-53 showed something about each team.

Seward had morphed from its guard-oriented set, which had catapulted the Spartans to a state title in 2003 and a 20-3 record in 2004. The Spartans easily won the Section 9 title last year but had their run end in a Capital Region quarterfinal loss to eventual state champions Martin Luther King.

As for Liberty, the Indians quickly learned that their talent and athleticism won’t be enough if they don’t practice patience, work the ball around to the open man and expect teams to follow Gravelle’s formula and try to take Byrd out of the flow. Byrd led all scorers with 19 points. White had 11 for the Indians. Folkl and Sahmanovic had 16 apiece for the Spartans, and Harter posted 15.

Gravelle was pleased with his team’s effort and sees opportunities to improve. “At times we showed our inexperience in the fourth quarter as we played hot potato with the ball. But this was a good effort for us today. We know we’re not the fastest team. We used to play that way, but we have to play to our strengths now,” he said. “We need to control the glass to do that.

“These kids (Myers, Collins, Folkl) waited a long time to get their touches because we always had a guard-oriented set and now they’re making the most of it,” he said.

Seward was scheduled to take on Sullivan West for the Billy Moran Tournament title on December 12. (See article on Billy Moran Tournament finals on page 48.) The Bulldogs easily handled Fallsburg 55-34 in the opening night’s second game.

Liberty coach Dave Slater sized things up this way: “When they shut Lakarri down, we didn’t know how to respond. Other guys are going to have to step up and tonight that didn’t happen. At the outset, I thought we passed the ball well, spread the floor and really didn’t dribble in our first five possessions. But they out-hustled us. He has three seniors, and I’m starting four juniors.” Slater said he felt some of his key players needed to boost their confidence. “We’re going to come on,” said Slater.

The Indians will take on Fallsburg in the consolation game on December 12.

For additional pictures of the S.S. Seward versus Liberty opener, visit www.riverreportersports.com.