Career night for Brian Sortino leads Lakers past Bengals
A career high 48 points from Brian Sortino was barely enough for the top-seeded Oswego State Lakers to take down the fifth-seed Buffalo State Bengals, 84–83, in the SUNYAC semi-finals last night.
The Lakers (20-6, 15–3) had a chance to end the game in regulation, after Dom Grayer of the Bengals (17–9, 10–8) tied the game at 76 with 29 seconds left. Sortino put up a potential game-winning layup that rimmed out with 0.3 seconds, leading to another chance on a baseline lob, which the Lakers could not convert.
At the end of overtime, with the Lakers trailing 83–82, Sortino dribbled the ball up the court, and in the face of a triple-team just inside half court, Sortino found Jamir Ferebee underneath the rim, who converted the layup with the help of a goal-tend on the Bengals.
“Well, it’s great coaching right? Calling an isolation for your best player,” said Lakers coach Jason Leone, “That’s why I get paid the big bucks.”
With 7-seconds remaining in overtime, Jordan Glover brought the ball up the court for the Bengals and found Ryniek Holloway open on the elbow, but his shot hit the front of the rim.
Sortino, who’s previous career high was 39, added nine rebounds and six assists, while shooting 13–of-25 from the field and 17–of-19 from the free throw line. He ended the first half 3–0f-10 with 14 points and played all 45 minutes of game time.
“These guys trust me with the ball in my hands, and we just ran our offense, and the ball went in in the second half,” said Sortino.
The game featured a total of 14 ties and 25 lead changes, as every time Sortino or another Laker scored, the Bengals had an almost immediate answer, led by Lovell Smith’s 29 points and nine rebounds. The largest lead from either side was six points.
“You want to try and go into the huddle and give our guys as simplistic a plan as possible,” said Leone. “We don’t want them going out there thinking too much.”
The Bengals outscored the Lakers in the paint, 42- 20, and off the bench, 21–5. They also shot 33-of-61 from the floor, while Oswego State shot 26–of-71.
The Lakers held the rebounding edge, 41–36, while having more points-off-turnovers, 21–8.
The Lakers advance to the SUNYAC finals today, where they will face the third-seeded Oneonta Red Dragons in Max Ziel Gymnasium at 4 p.m. The winner will clinch their spot for the NCAA tournament.
“Anytime you get into thinking about at-large bids, unless anyone knows different, that involves you losing,” said Leone, “and we aren’t thinking about losing.”
Ian Schupp added 12 points for the Lakers, Ferebee added 14, while Keith Tyson brought in 11 rebounds.
Dom Grayer scored 15 points for the Bengals, Jordan Glover had 14 and Jordan Chateau added 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
