Newport – Ryan Schmadel scored 25 points, four of them at the foul line with the outcome hanging in the balance, to lead Oriskany’s boys basketball team to a 50-42 victory at West Canada Valley on Tuesday. The senior went 4-for-4 at the line with his team leading by just four to help Coach Chris Mahoney’s squad improve to 13-0.
Oriskany’s Ryan Schmadel (32) works hard down low against West Canada defender Matt Carney (34) during 2nd quarter action (Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Ga,e Imaging)
“We couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn,” Mahoney said of his team’s shooting woes. “But we’re 13-0 for a reason. Defense backed it up.”
Especially down the stretch. WCV (11-4) had numerous chances to make it a one-possession game in the final minutes but Schmadel and Company played well, especially inside, to prevail in the showdown between Class D powers.
“West Canada’s a very talented team,” Mahoney said.
The hosts have been all season, but this night their bid to hand Oriskany its first loss came up just short.
“Oriskany’s got five players who can shoot threes,” WCV coach Dustin Cool said. “That’s tough to defend. They hit back-to-back threes to start the third quarter.”
WCV guard Josh Chapin (33) looks for an opening from the top of the key, with time winding down in the first half (Photo By Jeff Pexton)
Marcus Smithling and Richard Phelps made those long shots for the visitors to start the second half, and that erased WCV’s 24-23 halftime lead. It was an odd lead for the hosts as they were outrebounded badly in the first half but closed with a flurry of shots by Josh Chapin to take just their second lead of the Center State Conference tilt. Oriskany’s fast start in the third period was countered by WCV as Chapin and Jacob Gorinshek scored to cut the visitors’ lead to 29-28.
Smithling hit another three to give Mahoney’s squad some breathing room before Matt Carney and and Michael Zaino made some free throws to get WCV back within one. That set up Schmadel’s 3-pointer then three-point play that gave Oriskany a 38-31 edge.
Gorinshek made a three for the hoists to get them back within four points before the horn sounded.
Oriskany guard Kyle Liddy (10) locks in on a long range jumper (Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
The fourth quarter was very methodical and defensive and Oriskany was not able to get a cushion Anthony Warcup made a three with 3:40 to play. Great defense by Oriskany made it hard on the WCV shooters the rest of the way and the hosts never again cut their deficit below four points.
“And we had Schmadel and (Kyle) Liddy with four fouls,” Cool lamented afterward. “(But) that’s as hard as we’ve played all season.”
Smithling’s nine points were second best for Oriskany. Chapin had 20 to pace the hosts and Gorinshek was next best with nine.
Oriskany 12 11 15 12 – 50
WCV 8 16 10 8 – 42
Oriskany (13-0): Ryan Schmadel 25, Marcus Smithling 9, Kyle Liddy 5, Richard Phelps 5, Anthony Warcup 4, Dean Mealy 2.
WCV (11-4): Josh Chapin 20, Jacob Gorinshek 9, Michael Zaino 6, Matt Carney 4, Kyle Butler 2, Mason Schloop 1.
