Yellowjackets Sting Dawgs 56-48

TED WADDELL
Posted 3/8/17

ELDRED, NY — The #1 “Rule of Bugs” is never stick your hand into a yellow jackets’ nest. But that’s exactly what happened to the Bulldogs of Sullivan West as they …

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Yellowjackets Sting Dawgs 56-48

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ELDRED, NY — The #1 “Rule of Bugs” is never stick your hand into a yellow jackets’ nest.

But that’s exactly what happened to the Bulldogs of Sullivan West as they tangled with the Eldred Yellowjackets on February 16 at the home team’s William “Coach” Werneke Gym, as the visitors got stung by 8 points at the final buzzer.

It was senior recognition night at Eldred for the varsity cheerleaders and boys varsity hoopsters.

Senior cheerleaders: Amanda Margarum and Braelynn Kolvenbach.

Senior basketball players: Christian Benke, Jake McKean, Anthony Strasser, Allen Kanoff, Erek Binkowski and Garrett Kolvenbach.

“This group of student athletes have put in hard work and dedication into their programs throughout their time here at Eldred,” said athletic director J.J. Gass.

“It has also paved the way for future athletes to have an opportunity to play varsity sports and be successful.”

Then it was game time in the ‘Bee Hive’.

The Yellowjackets (5-11) outpaced the Bulldogs in the first two periods (16-7 and 15-13) to take an 11-point lead at the half (31-20).

Sullivan West (7-11) attempted a comeback in the third frame, and while they scored 16 points to the home team’s 14, their rally was short-lived as the Yellowjackets aced four threes.

The Dawgs edged Eldred 12-11 in the final quarter.

“We just missed too many shots in the beginning… when we get down, it takes so much energy to get back into it,” said Sullivan West coach John Meyer.

“We made a run at ‘em in the third quarter,” he added. “We started coming back, and then they hit those threes… and put it out of reach.”

Brandon Dailey is a 17-year-old junior shooting guard for the Bulldogs.

His take on the game?

“I think we could have done a lot of things better… We didn’t let our offense set up tonight. Everybody’s down in the dumps right now.

“But tomorrow’s a new day… We’re looking toward the future.”

David Binkowski, coach of the Yellowjackets, said his team has “struggled all year” to put complete games together from start to finish, slowing the ball down when needed and executing on offense.

“We have work to do, but we’re starting to put it together and getting better, which is good,” he said.

ErekBinkowski, a 17-year senior co-captain, takes to the court for Eldred as a point guard.

“We came in here fired up because it was senior [recognition] night,” he said. “We took an early lead, and managed to hold on… the guys stepped it up tonight.”

Sullivan West’s top scorers: Austin Melchick (17 points including three threes), Kyle Reimer (12 including two threes), while Collin Hauschild andBrandon Daily each contributed a shot from outside the arc.

Eldred: ErekBinkowski (17 points including 2 threes), Jake McKean (15 including a trio of threes), Garrett Kolvenbach (12 including a couple of threes), and Anthony Strasser chipped in a pair from the outside.

Stats from the FTL: SW 5/12 (42%), ELD 3/6 (50%).

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