The Oswego State men’s basketball team went 2-0 this past weekend after defeating the Ithaca College Bombers 85-80 and the Keystone College Giants 92-81 to take home the Elmira College Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Tournament Championship.
Despite it only being the first two games of the season, the Lakers came out hot in both matchups. Oswego State led by double digits in the first half of the game versus the Bombers, as well as the first half of the championship game versus the Giants. The scores at the end of both of these games certainly ended much closer, but Oswego State maintained its composure and went on to win both games.
“Both games were similar in that we got up 18 in the first half on Friday and 22 in the first half Saturday,” head coach Jason Leone said. “We probably got a little tired, which is typical at this time of year. The other teams made significant runs at us, and when we had to buckle down and make plays to solidify the game result and we did just that.”
Early in the season, it is expected for teams to be streaky, as Oswego State was in both games. However, what matters is that the Lakers got the result they wanted in each game and came out strong in both games, which Leone spoke highly about.
“I thought we were very ready to play at the beginning of each game,” Leone said. “That might sound like a little thing, but I don’t think it is. I think it’s a big thing. Both days, when the ball got thrown up, I thought our enthusiasm, our togetherness and our energy level was at a very high level.”
The Lakers were led by their three returning starters in junior Liam Sanborn and seniors Brandan Gartland and Joe Sullivan. Gartland led the way against Ithaca College with 22 points, shooting 8-14 from the field to send Oswego State to the championship game. In the championship game versus Keystone College, all three players stepped up and helped guide the Lakers to victory. Sanborn finished the game with 18 points, Gartland finished with 17 points and Sullivan finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, capturing the tournament MVP. Together, they also shot an outstanding 19-20 from the free-throw line. Gartland shot the ball particularly well over the two-game stretch, but it is his teammates he credits for his offensive success.
“I think that we’re a really good passing team,” Gartland said. “Whenever I’m open, my teammates will find me, so I just have to keep making those shots.”
These three not only led the way for the Lakers offensively, but they also took on the leadership role for them throughout the weekend.
“Liam, Brandon and Joe really set a great tone in terms of setting an example for the guys on how to prepare and how to really play with composure,” Leone said.
Though the Lakers were led by their returning starters, it was a team effort all weekend that helped them win the championship.
“I thought we were very balanced in our scoring attack, which is good, Leone said. “Both days we had nearly five guys in double figures,” Leone said.
It was a question coming into the weekend which players taking on different roles would step up for the Lakers. According to Leone, it was a mix of everyone, something that is very good to see early on in the season.
“I would say both games Julien Crittendon came off the bench and gave us a really good scoring punch,” Leone said. “I thought Jamal Achille [who did not get a chance to play in the game Friday] came in Saturday and played well. He got six quick points in eight minutes in the first half. Kaleb Cook, our backup point guard made all four of his foul shots and made a big three that clinched the game with under a minute left on Saturday. Jordan Brown started for us and put up really good numbers, close to a double-double both games, and then Jeremiah Sparks had 15 points in game one and another eight points in game two.”
Crittendon, a sophomore, is a returning player from last year’s Sweet 16 team, where he had a much smaller role than he will be expected to have this year. His season high in points last season was 14. Just two games into the season, Crittendon has surpassed that. He scored 15 off the bench versus Ithaca College and another 10 off the bench against Keystone College in the championship game. It seems as if Crittendon will be taking on a very important six-man role for the Lakers this season, a role he is ready for.
“Every day in practice I have to be prepared and just know what I have to do so when coach calls my name, I can go out there and produce like I did these past two games,” Crittendon said.
A good start to the season is always important for a team, but the Lakers know there is a full season ahead of them, and they want to be right back where they were last season.
“It just puts us in the right mindset going forward,” Crittendon said. “We know we have further goals, we knocked out one goal, but we know we have more to achieve.”
The Oswegonian file photo from 2018
