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2-14-2007

Milford goes for upset in T-V boys title game Saturday

By ERIC AHLQVIST

Editor

ONEONTA - A case could be made that the Milford boys basketball team backed into Saturday's Tri-Valley Championship Game against Laurens, but they won't be backing down from the challenge of playing the league's only undefeated team, said head coach Frank Spurchise.

"I don't want to hear any crap about backing in," Spurchise said with a laugh after his team lost its final three regular season games but won the T-V East anyway, when second place Worcester lost to Cherry Valley-Springfield Friday. "Hey, we finished 7-4 in the league and they were 6-5, so we earned our way here."

Spurchise said he doesn't expect his team to be affected by the way the regular season ended Saturday when they meet Laurens, who breezed through the T-V schedule with a perfect 12-0 record, on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. at Oneonta State.

"We have a whole week to prepare, and I think we'll be ready to play," Spurchise said. "I'm elated to be able to play for the championship, and my guys are too. We have a big task in front of us, and no one is going to give us a chance, but I think we'll be ready for the challenge." Laurens, 17-1 overall, won the teams' only regular season meeting handily, and have won most of their league games by double-digit margins. Junior center Aaron Laing averages 11 points and nearly nine rebounds- a-game, to go along with four blocks and three steals a contest. "He's had a phenomenal year for us," said Laurens head coach Andy Carr, who is looking for his second T-V title. "His stats are right up there in every category."

Senior guard Miguel Short leads the team with 12 points-a-game and a team-leading 16 three-pointers, while fellow senior Joel Tirado has played his best basketball late in the season, scoring in double digits the least three games. "He's also a good rebounder and defender and has developed into a key player for us," Carr said. Juniors Jordan Dilello and Ryan Carr will start at the guard positions. "Milford likes to press and trap, so those two are going to have to take care of the ball Saturday night," Carr said. "We like to press too, so I'm hoping for an up-tempo game."

Spurchise said the key for his team will be his defense.

"We can't beat them in a half court game," Spurchise said. "We're going to have to disrupt their offense before they can set up, and offensively we need to make some outside shots."

Milford junior Brian Edelstein is the team's leading scorer, and has had a couple of 30-point games this season.

Senior center Sean Huffstickler and junior forward Scott Seeley are second and third on the team in scoring, respectively, and senior Logan Griffiths is another possible source of offense for Spurchise. "We need to stay close through three quarters and give ourselves a shot at the end," Spurchise said. "We can't afford to fall way behind early."