The 6th Annual Dan Barkley Showcase: A brief glimpse at all seven games beginning Friday at Alfred State
ALFRED — For the past six years, the Dan Barkley Showcase has, in all actuality, showcased new rivalries between Allegany County and Steuben County. Some of those rivalries, including the well-known battle across the Southern Tier between Wellsville and Hornell, as well as Genesee Valley and Prattsburgh, have kept re-kindling their fire through the yearly event.
The Showcase also provides a chance for all 14 teams in attendance to gain a bit of college basketball playing experience on a much wider, and roomier basketball court, allowing them to carry that special type of pedigree all through the rest of their athletic career, whether it be on the high school level or one step above that, at college.
For the coaches embarking their teams into the event, it gives their players a chance to create even more memories alongside the teammates they’ve known to share the court with during their time donning their school colors. For most seniors, it’s their last chance to showcase their skills on a college floor with their team. But for younger players, it will mark only the beginning.
All of the action comes to a boiling point Friday night inside the Orvis Activities Center at Alfred State College. Here now is a brief look at all seven games on the slate for this year’s edition of the Barkley Showcase:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Wellsville Lions (7-6) vs. Hornell Red Raiders (11-2)
When: 8 p.m. on Friday (1.24) at Alfred State College
Last meeting: December 13 in Hornell, Red Raiders defeated Lions, 63-51
Other notes: Red Raiders received 16th overall spot in Class B New York State rankings
Head coaches: Raymie Auman (Wellsville), Kirk Scholes (Hornell)
Players to Watch:
WLSV — Max Jusianiec (Sr. G), Aidan Hart (Jr. F), Liam McKinley (Jr. G)
HHS — Chase Freeland (Sr. G), Jackson White (Jr. G), Tanner Stutzman (Sr. F)
Coaches Corner:
“The Barkley Showcase is a great event for a great cause, and really has become one of the premier sporting events in Western New York. Along with very impactful life lessons given by Fairport coach Scott Fitch, the games themselves give these young athletes the chance to feel what it’s like to play at the highest level in front of a packed college gym. It’s a mid-season, pre-Sectional showcase, if you will.” — Lions coach Raymie Auman
Fillmore Eagles (9-1) vs. Canisteo-Greenwood Redskins (6-6)
When: 2 p.m. on Saturday (1.25) at Alfred State College
Last meeting: No recent matchup
Other notes: Fillmore received Honorable Mention in Class D New York State rankings
Head coaches: Randy Crouch (Fillmore), Brad Hoyt (Canisteo-Greenwood)
Players to Watch:
FIL — Luke Cole (Sr. G), Will Valentine (Sr. F), Levi Webb (Sr. G)
C-G — Roque Santiago (Jr. G), Hunter McCaffery (So. F), Blake Updyke (Sr. F)
Coaches Corner:
“We are excited to be a part of this great event again this year. Canisteo-Greenwood has a good program, and they should be a tough matchup for us to go up against. Brad (Hoyt) always has his teams ready to go. They play hard, and they understand how the game is meant to be played. I don’t know much about them at first glance, but our team will be looking forward to the challenge that they bring.” — Eagles coach Randy Crouch
Bolivar-Richburg Wolverines (4-9) vs. Avoca Tigers (12-1)
When: 4 p.m. on Saturday (1.25) at Alfred State College
Last meeting: No recent matchup
Other notes: Avoca received 5th overall spot in Class D New York State Rankings
Head coaches: Jeff Margeson (Bolivar-Richburg), Mike Stowe (Avoca)
Players to Watch:
B-R — Landon Danaher (Jr. G), Riley Danaher (Sr. G), Camdyn MacDonell (So. F)
AVO — Pacey Hopkins (So. G), Tristian Stark (Sr. F), Devin Stowe (Sr. G)
Coaches Corner:
“We may run into a buzz saw with Avoca, and I’ve talked to the kids about it. We’re taking a perspective on this game like it’s the first round of Sectionals. We’re not hiding the fact of how good they are. This will be a great test for us coming down the stretch. It’s guard-oriented, and we have to learn how to play that. There’s not a lot of bigs inside our bracket, so with this game, it’s Sectional basketball for us. I want them to focus on getting ready for the big show. I like this kind of basketball, and we’ve been in a few bangers as of late. I’m confident that the kids will give it their all. The fans provide a great atmosphere, and it’s one of those things the boys will take away from this event five, even 10 years from now. I’m looking forward to getting on that court.” — Wolverines coach Jeff Margeson
Scio Tigers (9-1) vs. Jasper-Troupsburg Wildcats (9-4)
When: 6 p.m. on Saturday (1.25) at Alfred State College
Last meeting: January 3, 2019 in Scio, Wildcats defeated Tigers, 76-62 in overtime
Other notes: Scio received Honorable Mention in Class D New York State Rankings
Head coaches: Dillon McFall (Scio), Tom Price (Jasper-Troupsburg)
Players to Watch:
SCIO — Cam Loucks (Jr. F), Brendan Graves (Sr. G), Jake D’Arcy (Sr. G)
J-T — Brayden Hill (Sr. G), Noah Price (Jr. G), Josh Flint (Jr. F)
Coaches Corner:
“I anticipate it being a great game. Both teams are pretty even across the board, and they will be ready to play. Tom Price does a great job with those guys at Jasper-Troupsburg. They have a couple kids back from last year that really caused us fits in our game last January, including Brayden Hill who hit all those three-pointers. If we give up 12 three-pointers , we’ll be in trouble again. They have kids that can shoot the ball, and they’re quick on the perimeter to make that happen. We have to keep them in front of us, and not give up any open looks. It’s a great day of basketball for both counties, and everyone that puts this all together, put in a lot of work. We’ve been a part of great games, no matter the venue. The kids strive off this great success at the tournament. We’re used to playing in big gyms, and it shouldn’t bother our core.” — Tigers coach Dillon McFall.
Genesee Valley Jaguars (9-3) vs. Prattsburgh Vikings (11-2)
When: 8 p.m. on Saturday (1.25) at Alfred State College
Last meeting: December 28 in Prattsburgh, Vikings defeated Jaguars, 82-60
Other notes: Genesee Valley received Honorable Mention, Prattsburgh garnered 17th overall spot in Class D New York State rankings
Head coaches: Lintz Bliven (Genesee Valley), Brian Putnam (Prattsburgh)
Players to Watch:
GV — Cody Schneider (Sr. F), Evan Windus (Sr. F), Brock Ellsessor (Jr. F)
PRA — Mason Putnam (Sr. G), Kris Johnson (Jr. F), Chris Hively (Sr. G)
Coaches Corner:
“ We have to have a little bit better defense. We will have a bigger court to work with, and it will help us tremendously. We’ll have to come up with a defensive scheme to get our feet moving. We were at a standstill in the third quarter in our last game against them. Now the kids are really looking forward to this game. We tried a few things in our game with Campbell-Savona that we want to try in this game. You won’t stop Mason Putnam, regardless of what you do. They like going through the high post, and into their wings. I’m hoping we can come up with something to counter that to at least help up out in the long run. This game should be a crowd pleaser. It’s a grudge match for us, and these are two programs that have built up a great rivalry in basketball. We’ll lock horns, that’s for sure.” — Jaguars coach Lintz Bliven
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wellsville Lady Lions (11-3) vs. Hornell Lady Red Raiders (8-5)
When: 6:15 p.m. on Friday (1.24) at Alfred State College
Last meeting: January 3 in Wellsville, Lady Lions defeated Lady Red Raiders, 51-48
Head coaches: Michelle Alvord (Wellsville), Brian Dyring (Hornell)
Players to Watch:
WLSV — Marley Adams (So. G), Emily Costello (So. G), Regan Marsh (Sr. F)
HHS — Leah Harkenrider (Sr. G), Jaden Sciotti (Sr. G), Dezi Mount (Jr. G)
Coaches Corner:
“We have to limit our live-ball turnovers, we can’t give them that many opportunities to score very many points. To be able to do the things we did well the first time, we just want to build off of it while knowing where we have to clean things up. We really kept Jaden Sciotti in check, and to be able to do it twice in a season, will be tough. Brian Dyring is a great coach, and he will make those adjustments. We’ll be ready to go. The Barkley Showcase is a fantastic event for us to be a part of. It really creates that atmosphere playing on that college floor. It’s our second time with Wellsville and Hornell falling on the same night, and so far, it’s been really fun.” — Lady Lions coach Michelle Alvord
Fillmore Lady Eagles (10-1) vs. Canisteo-Greenwood Lady Redskins (14-0)
When: 12 p.m. on Saturday (1.25) at Alfred State College
Last meeting: No recent matchup
Other notes: Fillmore received 6th overall spot in Class D New York State rankings, Canisteo-Greenwood garnered 4th overall spot in Class C New York State rankings
Head coaches: Tom Parks (Fillmore), Les York (Canisteo-Greenwood)
Players to Watch:
FIL — Hannah Roeske (Sr. G), Carlee Miller (Sr. F), Emma Cole (So. F)
C-G — Lillian Mullen (8th, G), Elizabeth Roach (Sr. F), Savannah Ambuski (Jr. G)
Coaches Corner:
“The win against Cuba-Rushford was a big confidence booster for us. Canisteo-Greenwood is a tough, fantastic team. I’ve known Les York for a long time, and he is a brilliant head coach. We’ve had some great battles over the years when he was still in Canaseraga, and it’s nice to have this one here at the Showcase. If I know anything about him, he will get the most out of his kids. They will have a great game plan, and we’ll be well-prepared for it. Facing a team like them, it will be a tough challenge but the girls are up for it. Although we haven’t gotten a chance to play them, Lillian Mullen is a kid on everyone’s radar as an eighth grader. What she’s doing is phenomenal.” — Lady Eagles coach Tom Parks
You can follow all the coverage across the two-day Showcase on the Barkley Showcase’s official Facebook page. Log on to www.facebook.com/BarkleyShowcase to drop the page a follow!
