Our Lions traveled to Ithaca the last Saturday of January and caught their third loss of the Ivy season, falling to the Big Red 65-60. Having been underwhelmed by the WKCR broadcast of the league opener against the Quakers, I decided to listen to the contest via the www.gocolumbialions.com audio feed and much enjoyed Dalen Cuffe (who captained the Columbia five captain a few years back) and Jerry Recco who provided clear, coherent play by play as well as helpful (and, happily, lion biased) color. Check ’em out. The Lions managed to trail most of the contest and fell behind by 14 some five minutes into second half. Riding Brian Barbour’s shooting and Mark Cisco’s continued excellence on the boards, they fought all the way back and tied the score at 53 with eight minutes remaining and again at 56 with about 5 minutes on clock. Both times John Daniels cashed the tying buckets. Cornell, however, managed to steady behind Chris Wroblewski’s 19 points and 7 boards. Reversing last week’s denouement at Levien, Big Red sank an adequate number of foul shots to seal the deal and move to .500 for the early season. No question the refs gave our boys a good screwing on a number of calls, but frankly, you never want the zebras to own your destiny. Steve Egee started and got a long run while Messrs. Staab and Osetkowski again saw limited time as Coach Smith chose to go small to match up with the untowering Big Red. Van Green contributed 16 energetic bench minutes grabbing 4 boards while snatching 4 steals. Unfortunately, like most of the rest of the squad, Van could not make a basket, tallying only a single point from the foul line where he went 1-4. Indeed, the Blue overall only shot .182 from beyond the arc, their second worst performance from three point land this season. The epitome of that ineptitude came in the last 30 seconds of the contest as the Lions missed 3 straight makeable treys, anyone of which would have tied the score. That sorry performance finally overcame the Lions’ 6 point and 9 shot advantage from the charity stripe. A couple more made jumpers and the Lions would sit at .500 rather than the Ithacans. Instead, the boys headed home 1-3 with a steep trail ahead.
Turned to the gocolumbialions.com crew of Cuffe and Recco again as February’s schedule opened to follow the Blue’s battle against Dartmouth’s Big Green up in Hanover. Paul Cormier’s boys are youngish and have struggled so far posting only a 4- 16 mark. They have also dropped 16 straight league games over the last year, more than enough for an entire winless Ivy season. Despite this record of futility and the Lions’ hunger for a second ivy win, the home squad refused to go quietly into the new hampshire night. In front of only 900 or so fans, the Hanoverians tallied a free throw to take a 1-0 lead but then trailed our visiting heros for most of the rest of the game. Though falling behind by six twice and indicating that they might be ready to call it an early night, the boys from New Hampshire rallied to take a late 2 point lead. With a tied score and about half a minute left on the clock, Mark Cisco gathered a failed free throw attempt and Coach Smith had an opportunity to outline the Lions’ last possession. Predictably, and thankfully, Brian Barbour was given responsibility for the bouncing ball. With about 7 ticks left in the contest, Number 10 drove and dished to master of the front court Mr. Cisco who laid the ball in for the winning deuce.
Marky C’s last bucket brought his game leading total to 18. Brian B fell short of his league leading 21 ppg average in cashing only 13. Fortunately, Van Green had his second straight effective game and this time contributed 10 points in 20 minutes while draining all three of his shots from the field (including a pair of treys) as well as both his free throws. VG brings terrific athleticism to the floor for the Blue and has plenty of bounce. Once again Cory Osetkowski saw less run than he had gotten through December and early January. We have high hopes for the big first year and expect Coach Smith has drawn up a comprehensive development program for the talented Californian. Blaise Staab played only briefly but cashed a couple of thrilling layups during his six minute stint.
Now, as the nation awaits the plebeian pleasures of the Super Bowl, we can turn our finer attentions to the Lion Five’s Saturday night tangle with Tommy Amaker’s highly accomplished Crimson squad. The 23rd ranked Cantabs are unblemished so far in Ivy play. Let’s hope Coach Smith and his crew give them with something to think about in what should be one of the toughest games of Columbia’s season.
Peace out and D up,
Paulie B