The only game in the region on Friday featured the ECC schools from the two furthest outposts. And the game packed more thrills than the Darien Lake Great Adventure theme park just down the road:
DAEMEN 93 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 90 (OT)
Andrew Sischo delivered the tying basket with 1.3 seconds to play in regulation, as well as the go-ahead lay-up with 19 seconds left in overtime, helping Daemen avoid an upset at the hands of District of Columbia in Buffalo to inch within a half-game of second place. In a tale of two halves, the Wildcats dominated the opening 20 minutes, nailing 11 of 14 threes and sprinting out to a 34-16 lead on the way to a 53-40 halftime advantage. The Firebirds fought back after intermission, orchestrating a 29-15 upswing in taking their first lead – 69-68 – on an Aaren Smith basket with 6:44 remaining. That was the first of five lead changes down the stretch as neither side could provide more than a four-point separation over the final 9:23. UDC appeared poised for victory after Smith’s jumper made it 73-69 with 1:03 to go, but Jay Sarkis (seven points, six assists) wrested a key offensive rebound, was fouled and converted both tosses at the 49-second mark. Then – after a stop – the hosts missed two shots but maintained possession and cashed in when Sischo knocked down the tying baseline jumper while getting fouled. His free throw for the potential win was off the mark, however, necessitating the extra period. The lead changed hands five times in the OT, with District of Columbia nosing in front (90-89) on two foul shots by Cheyenne Nettleton (nine points off the bench) with 1:18 on the clock. Joey Wallace then missed two freebies for Daemen, but Sischo – who finished with 27 points (9-14 FG) and six boards in a reserve role due to a Senior Night lineup – grabbed the O-board, was whacked and split a pair at the stripe to even the score at 90-90 with 1:03 showing. After another empty trip for UDC, Jeff Redband made one of two at the line (at :04) to cap his 19-point outing (5-8 from 3). There was still a chance for a second overtime, but Zachary Olukanni’s running trey try was off the mark as time expired, cementing the Wildcats’ fourth consecutive win overall, eighth straight in the series and 36th in their last 39 home games. Wallace totaled 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the winners, who also landed Breon Harris in double figures with 15 points. Olukanni registered 17 of his 23 points in the first half, while snatching eight rebounds for the Firebirds. He was supported by Juanye Colon (22 points, 5-6 from long range) and Smith (18 of his 20 points after the break, 8-12 FG, seven rebounds). Both teams shot 48% from the floor, but Daemen made more trips to the foul line (23-34 to 13-16) and boasted the superior assist-turnover line (18/13 to 14/19), helping negate a 39-33 rebounding edge by the visitors. The Wildcats – who shot just 1-of-12 from beyond the arc after halftime – have now won 49 straight games in which they have scored at least 90 points – a streak dating back to a 98-93 overtime loss at Dominican on January 7, 2014. UDC drops into a tie with idle New York Tech for fifth place. Daemen is the region's westernmost team and UDC is the southernmost.