Pittsford boys close in on perfection

By RJ Walters / Daily News Sports Editor

As published in the Hillsdale Daily News on March 6, 2009

The idea of a perfect season for the Pittsford Wildcats is no longer a premature one, because by 10 p.m. tonight the boys basketball team will either be 20-0 or they won't — no room left for a debate.

The Wildcats made that prospect increasingly possible with a 71-35 home win over North Adams-Jerome Thursday, a contest in which they jumped out to a 21-5 lead and never looked back.

"We focused on deflections on defense and carried some momentum over from Tuesday's game (against Battle Creek St. Phil). I thought we played well," Pittsford head coach Mike Burger said.

Garet Lee led the Wildcats with 15 points, Zac Vanlerberg pitched in 11 and Brandon Williams was good for 10 points and five rebounds. Seth Weber added five points and eight assists.

Patrick Humphrey and Logan Longman both scored 11 for North Adams-Jerome in a game the Rams trailed the entire way.

Thursday's game may have been just another contest, but even Burger can't deny the opportunity his team has tonight when the Wildcats host Hudson at 7:30 p.m.

"It is what it is and I'll be honest, I'm excited about this. I'm pumped about the opportunity and the challenge," he said. "My boys have taken it one game at a time all season long and even though the pressure has built they've always played hard and done what it takes. If we get beat it will be because the other team is better for one night."

Burger said he know the Tigers have several good athletes who can bang bodies down low and Taylor Milligan is a threat all over the floor, but he thinks his team stacks up well against them.

The Tigers have had somewhat of a tumultuous season, with head coach Wayne Perry having brain surgery earlier this year, and Burger said he's just glad Perry is recovering steadily and he knows the Tiger players have been playing hard for him ever since he left the sidelines.

If Pittsford can pull it out though, it will be the first recorded undefeated regular season in school history, for a program that has won just six district titles.

"The guys want it real bad and they will show that I think. If they get it done it will be something real special they will always have."