NCN LAX/BASKETBALL BLOG

Somers senior All-American Joe Marasco avoids a Niskayuna defender in the Class B state quarters at SUNY Albany. 

Somers’ bid for a Class B state title ended yesterday evening.

Section 2’s Niskayuna (23-0) handily defeated the Tuskers (15-5), 14-5, in the state quarterfinals at SUNY Albany.

After a hotly contested first quarter that saw the teams tied at two apiece, the Silver Warriors shifted into another gear. They outscored the Tuskers 10-1 over the second and third quarters, grabbing a commanding 12-3 lead heading into the fourth.

Junior middie Colin Tullgren led the Tuskers with three goals. Junior attackman Greg Petre notched a goal and All-American attackman/middie JoJo Marasco registered an assist. Goalie Chris Longo recorded nine saves in the cage.

In the end, Somers’ demise was the result of three key factors:

1. The unreal play of Georgetown-bound middie Dan McKinney
2. Niskayuna’s stifling defense
3. Niskayuna dominating the time of possession

McKinney torments the Tuskers

The All-American middie  scored a surreal seven goals, which was also a career-high.

McKinney basically got his shot whenever he pleased. He combined quickness, field vision and some of the best stop-and-go speed I’ve seen from a high school player.

His shot — which was plenty fast — wasn’t overly impressive in terms of accuracy. But he got off so many that it didn’t really make a difference.

“He’s a stud,” Somers Head Coach Lew Janavey said. “He’s definitely one of the best middies in the state — there’s no doubt about that. We threw some things at him and they didn’t work out.”

“He was on my Jake Reed team over the summer,” Marasco said of McKinney. “He’s such a good player. He knows how to pass, his head’s always up and he can always shoot. I have always respected him as a player and as a person, too. He’s unbelievable. He’s a great player out there.”

McKinney really exploded in the third quarter, tallying three goals to put the game completely out of reach.

Nisky’s defense lives up to the hype

After giving up two goals in the first quarter, the Silver Warriors locked down like Fort Knox. Led by Army-bound defenseman Steve Abba, the unit was impenetrable, sliding with incredible speed, power and instincts.

There would be times that Marasco would beat one, two, even three Niskayuna players. But then another Silver Warrior would seemingly teleport into the play and close in. It was kind of like a worm regenerating.

“They slid and recovered very, very well,” Janavey said of Nisky’s defense.

“They locked or slid early,” Marasco said. “We tried to move the ball quickly, but they are a great defensive team.”

When things were working in the first quarter, Janavey said they were patient on offense and worked the matchups.

The ultimate game of keep away

Overall, the Silver Warriors controlled faceoffs to win the possession battle.

However, once they won the faceoffs, the magic really started in 6 on 6.

“In the second and third quarter, they were throwing the ball around two or three times and weren’t turning it over,” Marasco said. “They took a shot, missed and got it back again. They had possession for so long that it crushed us and we couldn’t get in a groove on offense.”

Marasco moves on

The Syracuse-bound Marasco leaves Somers as the most talented player in the history of the program.

And while he didn’t put up eye-popping stats in his final game, there’s no question that he did everything in his power to try and extend the season.

Seriously, Marasco must have ran 10 miles against Niskayuna — barely taking a possession off at midfield/attack — and taken 500 titanium shafts to the body.

“It has been a great run,” Marasco said of his time at Somers. “I’ve had great coaches, great friends and a great team every year. I’ve respected everybody that I’ve ever talked to and met here.”

Parting quote from Coach Janavey

“We went down with a fight and that’s all that I could ask for. I couldn’t be prouder.”