New England Presence Felt at First Ever Buffalo Clinic
The weekend of April 10th and 11th marked the first ever New Era Elite Basketball Showcase in Buffalo, New York. The event, which was put on by Don Marsh, president of the North East Basketball Club (NEBC), and sponsored in part by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, gave players 7-19 the chance to improve their basketball skills and knowledge. It was held at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center at Erie Community College.
“Our purpose is develop young men and women to be great student athletes through the collaboration with local colleges and the City of Buffalo with the support of Mayor Brown’s office,” explained Marsh. “And this was one more way we could do that.”
The event featured renowned shooting instructor Tim “The Target” Sullivan as well Claude Pritchard, director of E-Skillz Academy.
Players were treated to a hands-on shooting clinic by Sullivan, who has worked with beginning athletes as well as current NBA players, to kick things off Friday. The instruction combined lectures and demonstrations as well as practice skills in order to work with players on-one-on.
Following Sullivan’s teachings, four teams – Buffalo Hoops, the WNY All-Stars, NEBC and Elite Academy squared off in a showcase format. Buffalo Hoops opened the two game nightcap against Elite Academy with Elite coming out on top 66-50. The following game saw WNY All-Stars win in a nail bitter, 60-48. The score, however, was not indicative of how the rest of the game was played out as both teams went back and forth until the final minute of the contest.
The weekend’s events continued early the next morning as the fundamentals of the game were again the main focus. Starting at 8:30 until 12:30, players ages 7 to 13 worked on everything from their ball handling and passing skills to shooting and game situation drills. The following four hours 1:30-5:30 featured the next age group (14-19) and included intense instruction and demonstration as all 55 players in attendance certainly had the opportunity to get better.
The day’s instruction was followed by the consolation and championship games from the night before. In the game to decide third place, NEBC seemed to wake up from the previous day on their way to first game victory, 62-54 led by 6-9 sophomore center Chris Coleman. Coleman, who is from the area, attends Mt. Zion Academy in North Carolina. The championship game came down to the wire, but the WNY All-Stars tipped Philadelphia’s Elite Academy, 74-73 in a hard fought battle the spectators didn’t want to see end. In the final two minutes alone, the lead changed hands five times.
To end the event, players from the four teams were selected to participate in the all-star game. For those in the stands who stuck around to catch the final action of the day, the game did not disappoint. Filled with highlight reel worthy dunks and dribble drives, the contest wooed those young and old alike. Jonathon Marsh, the senior point guard who will return to Lee Academy for a post-grad year, took home MVP honors after connecting on four late three pointers to add to his already impressive game resume to seal the game for the Blue squad over the White, 88-85. Marsh also took seven charges during NEBC’s two showcase games.
“I thought it was a success,” said Don Marsh after the event had wrapped up Saturday night. “It was the first of its kind in the area and the kids got a chance to be exposed to some of the teaching that they previously would not have been. We hope for even bigger things next year.”