Published: December 01, 2008 09:29 pm      

H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL: LHS Rotary Tournament is this weekend

LOCKPORT — One of the most competitive high school boys basketball tournaments in Western New York each year returns this weekend at Lockport High School with two fresh faces.

The 2008 Lockport Rotary Club Kickoff Tournament will feature boys varsity and junior varsity teams from Lockport, St. Joe’s and two schools making their first-ever appearances at the event, Buffalo Middle College, a charter school; and from across the border, Georgetown Prep of Toronto.

The JV portion of the Rotary Tournament opens on Thursday and the varsity teams open on Friday. Both the varsity and JV championship and consolation games are slated for Saturday at LHS (see breakout box below for complete tournament schedule).

The junior varsity portion of the tourney opens on Thursday with St. Joe’s taking on Georgetown Prep at 5 p.m. and Lockport hosting Middle College of Buffalo at 6:30 p.m. The varsity tournament gets underway at 6 p.m. on Friday with St. Joe’s-Georgetown, followed by Lockport’s varsity opener at 7:45 p.m. against Middle College.

The J.V. consolation game is at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed immediately by the J.V. title game. The varsity consolation game is 6 p.m. Saturday with the championship game to follow.

Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for students. A refreshment stand will be available throughout the tourney.

Head coach Wayne Ginty’s Lions finished 10-11 overall a year ago. Leading the Lions is senior forward Justin Guyton, a Third Team All-NFL pick last year; and promising high-flying junior Shannon Haynes.

St. Joe’s head coach Mark Simon’s team returns with a youthful Marauders line-up this season. Cecilio Matias, Dave Fortman and Evan King are returning seniors on a 13-player roster that features eight juniors.

“They don’t have that one superstar player that they’ve had in the past, but they’re always well coached and disciplined,” Ginty said.

Not much is known about the two new tournament entries. Ginty met the Georgetown coach at UB over the summer and invited him to the tournament.

“I know that they’re a program that’s held in very high regard. We’ve heard that Middle College has attracted some talent this year and they should be very good as well,” Ginty said.

“This tournament has been going on for more than 30 years. It’s the premier tournament in Western New York, it’s a bargain and we guarantee you’ll see some good basketball.”



Rotary Tournament schedule

Pairings this week for the 2008 Lockport Rotary Club Boys High School Basketball Kickoff Tournament at Lockport High School:

• THURSDAY: Junior Varsity — St. Joe’s vs. Georgetown Prep (5 p.m.); Lockport vs. Middle College (6:30 p.m.).

• FRIDAY: Varsity — St. Joe’s vs. Georgetown Prep (6 p.m.); Lockport vs. Middle College (7:45 p.m.).

• SATURDAY: J.V. — Consolation Game (1 p.m.), Championship Game (2:30 p.m.); Varsity — Consolation Game (6 p.m.), Championship Game (7:45 p.m.)

• TICKETS: $3 for adults, $2 for students