SELECT A NAME TO SEE INDIVIDUAL BIO
2019
Charles Sciandra
Steve Silsby
Aaron Wysko
Glenn Lendel
2018
Sal Sciandra
Ed Janulionis
David Short
Aaron Davis
Andrew Davis
2015
Greg Ross
Bob Kijowksi
Phil Puccia
2011
Norman “Doc” Roggow
Dave Wendt
2010
Richard “Dick” Kijowski
Mike Miranto
George “Red” Driscoll
2009
Dave Cavanaugh
Fred Wiechec
Don Fronczak
2008
William Koslowski
Erik O’Bryan
2007
Paul Szcepaniec
Kurt Hollasch
Tony Franc
2006
Al Ridge
Jim Maglisceau
Bill Strapko
2005
Varick Cutler
George Bancroft
Ted Moore
Tom Chester
Charles Sciandra
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2019
Charles Sciandra was one of the leaders of the NTHS Varsity Basketball Team from 1971 to 1973. Known for his smooth ball-handling and ability to find the open man, Sciandra was the team leader in assists for 2 years. He also scored a total of 222 points in 36 games played, an average of 12.3 points/game. Sciandra went on to co-invent the “Kan Jam”, which continues to be played worldwide
Steve Silsby
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2019
Steve Silsby played Varsity Basketball for NTHS from 1984 to 1987. Steve played 56 games during his playing career with the Lumberjacks scoring 477 points (8.5 points/game) and dishing out 261 assists (4.6 assists/game). Silsby’s 261 total assists were the NT school record by any player at the time.
Aaron Wysko
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2019
Aaron played NT Varsity Basketball from 1988-1993. Wysko got his first taste of being a Lumberjack when he made his debut on varsity tennis as a 7th grader in the spring of 1988. Wysko remained with the tennis program until the end if his freshman year to focus on football and basketball. In the winter of 1991, Wysko made his debut on the Varsity Basketball team & was a major contributor to coach Greg Ross’s consecutive 13-win seasons to start his coaching career. “Aaron was just a tough competitor and tough kid,” said Ross. “On many occasions, he would grab a rebound, kick it out to (point guard) Dave Cavanaugh and get the return pass for the layup.” Wysko’s best performance on the hardwood came when he scored 27 points against Cardinal O’Hara in the 1992-93 season. Wysko finished his two-year career with 574 points (14th all-time) and 341 rebounds (15th all-time). After sitting behind Traver Zayatz the year before, Wysko had a memorable senior year as the Lumberjack’s quarterback in the 1992 season. Wysko, who also played outside linebacker, was named 2nd-Team All-Western New York and 1st-Team All-NFL (Niagara Frontier League.) Against Tonawanda, Wysko threw for 173 yards and a touchdown in NT’s 28-7 victory.
Glenn Lendel
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2019
Glenn Lendel played Varsity Basketball for NTHS from 1988 to 1990. During his Lumberjack career, Glenn scored 344 points (9 points/game) & also had a total of 226 rebounds (6.1 rebounds/game). In one season, Lendel had 75 steals, which was a single season NT record for steals.
Sal Sciandra
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2018
Sal Sciandra played Varsity Basketball at NTHS from 1978 to 1980. He played a total of 43 Games. He scored 581 Points (13.5 points/game), had 173 Assists (4 Assists/Game). Sal’s Best Game was when he scored 26 Points vs. Niagara Falls
Ed Janulionis
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2008
Ed played Varsity Basketball at NTHS from1952-1954. He is 36th in Career Scoring with 443 Points. He is the “Legends Category” all-time Leading Scorer. From 1952-54, Ed was a member of the Niagara Frontier League (NFL) Championship teams. 1952-53, 15 games played 206 points (13.7 ppg). In 1953-54 he had16 games played and scored 237 points (14.8 ppg). That year he scored Career High 27 points vs. Trott (2/27/53). Ed’s Career Totals: 31 games played, 443 points (14.3 ppg). Miscellaneous: First player with a career average over 14.0 points per game. At the time of his graduation his 443 points were a school record. He was the 1st player with multiple 25+ point games. Ed’s Statistical Rankings as of September 2006: Career Points (443) – 35th; Best Single Season Point Total (237) – Tied 54th
David Short
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2008
Dave played Basketball & Football at NTHS from 1985-1988. He scored 621 Points (11.3 ppg) during his basketball career and he averaged 17.7 Points per Game as a Senior. A multi-sport great, Short made his varsity debut with NT Basketball his sophomore year. For the next three seasons, Short became a reliable forward for the Lumberjacks and finished 12th all-time in scoring (621 points, 11.3 per game.) Short scored a career-high 32 points against Kenmore West on February 9, 1988. On the gridiron, Short made his varsity debut his junior year and was named to the All-Division I team in 1987. A NT Football Hall of Fame member, Short continued his football career at the University at Buffalo.
Aaron Davis
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2018
Aaron Davis is the NTHS Basketball All-time scorer with 1,674 points and All-time assists leader with 325. Davis was at the time, the only 5-year letterman in basketball program history. Considered one of the best Lumberjack of this generation, Davis made Varsity Basketball debut as 8th grader 12/2005 & played w/ brother, Andrew, a senior. On 12/29/08, Davis became 4th player in program history to reach 1,000-point mark. Early in the 2009-10 season, Davis passed coach, Erik O’Bryan, to become the school’s all-time scoring leader. During Davis’ senior year on 1/9/10, the Lumberjacks hosted LewPort & won in triple-overtime, 75-70. Davis finished with 29 points and 15 rebounds. The Lumberjacks swept Niagara Falls for the first time in program history that year. They defeated Kenmore West & won a share of the NFL title, their first in over 50 years. Davis is one of the best shooters in NT history. He stands at the top of the list in scoring with 1,674 points (16.1/game) and assists with 325 (3.1/game) & finished with 805 rebounds (2nd all-time, 7.7/game). In basketball Aaron was a four-time All-NFL selection & 3rd-Team All-WNY selectee in 2010. Davis also made a name for himself in NT Football under head coach Eric Jantzi. Aaron was part of 2009 New York State Class AA Championship team. He had 35 career touchdowns & total of 261 points. Davis made his debut as a freshman in the 2006 season as a halfback and defensive back. “I remember him coming to summer workouts as a 7th grader and I told the coaches that he might be the best athlete that we have ever had,” Jantzi recalled. A two-time 2nd-Team All-WNY selection he made the 1st-Team All-WNY his senior year. Davis led the Lumberjacks to three consecutive Class AA North titles from 2007 to 2009. Davis still holds the program records in career touchdowns (35) and in points (261.) After his NT career ended, Davis played basketball at Daemen College and won a national championship his senior year.”
Andrew Davis
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2008
Andrew Davis excelled at multiple sports during his athletic career @ NTHS. Andrew played basketball for NT Lumberjacks Varsity team from 2003 to 2006. He scored 734 points during his career, averaging 11.7 points per game, and had 383 total rebounds. Was player of the week during the “Tip-off” opening weekend in 2004 and had 43 points and 20 rebounds in NT’s first two games. He had a career high 29 points and 12 rebounds versus Clarence and in the process, he attempted 21 free throws, a school record for a single game. Andrew was an outstanding football player as well as an Honor Student during his time at NTHS.
Greg Ross
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2015
Greg Ross Coached NTHS Varsity Basketball as Head Coach from 1991-2005. During that time, his record was 154 Wins & 145 losses. He is the All-Time Leader in Wins – 154 & the All-Time Leader in Games Coached – 299. Ross was a star player at Tonawanda High School in late 70’s. He played collegiately at the University of Buffalo. He became a Physical Education teacher at NTHS & was JV coach under Al Ridge in late 80’s and then moved up to varsity head coach from 1991 to 2005. Al Ridge brought the program back to its feet in the late 1980s and early 1990s with consecutive postseason appearances, but it was his successor, Ross, who established stability & a defensive mindset. Greg is the son of long-time Tonawanda basketball coach Bob Ross. In 1993, the Erik O’Bryan joined the NT basketball team. O’Bryan came to the Lumber City and led NT to a 13-win season in 1994-95, his senior year. O’Bryan returned to the program in the early 2000s as an assistant coach. “It was just really special that I got the opportunity to play under Greg, coach with him and I also got to coach against him. Surprisingly, Ross had a semifinals appearance, which came in the 1996-97 season. In the winter of 1997, Ross found his next top shooting guard, Mike Miranto. Miranto made plenty of noise in the Lumber City and finished third all-time in scoring. The 1999-2000 campaign was eventually Ross’ best season, a 15-6 finish. His favorite moment of his entire coaching career came that season when NT won over now-defunct LaSalle, 61-58. It was the Lumberjacks’ first win against the Explorers since 1985. On 12/1/2000, Ross recorded his 100th victory and he later passed Ted Moore for the most wins in program history with his 136th victory in February of 2003. His 154th and final victory fittingly came against Tonawanda on 2/11/05. After the season, Ross walked away as the leader in wins (154) and games coached (299.) In January of 2015, Ross was inducted into the NT Basketball Hall of Fame. At his induction, Ross told the NT Sun – “My philosophy was always to develop better people. Teach them personal skills that they can use the rest of their lives to make them better people. That was the real payoff.”
Bob Kijowksi
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2015
Bob Kijowski played Varsity Basketball for NT from 1964 to 1966, NT’s “golden era” of men’s athletics. Bob scored 449 points during his career an average of 11.8 points/game over a total of 38 games played. The Lumberjacks record during Bob’s playing time was 27 wins against only 12 losses. Kijowski’s single game high for points scored was 29 on December 17, 1965.
Phil Puccia
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2015
Puccia led the Jacks to back-to-back 14-8 seasons during his two years on the varsity team (2000-02). As the team’s point guard, he could score and find teammates for open shots as well. For his career, Puccia totaled 516 points (12.3 ppg) and 199 assists (4.7 apg) in 42 games played. As a senior, he tallied 334 points (15.2 ppg) on his way to 1st Team All-Niagara Frontier League honors.
Norman “Doc” Roggow
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2011
Coach Roggow was Boys Varsity Coach: 1942-1956; Inducted into “Legends Category”; Career Win/Loss Record: 86-120; Tied for longest tenure – 14 years; Retired with the most wins for a coach in NT Men’s Basketball team history (currently 4th all-time); 3rd all-time in games coached (206); 1942-43: Won the Niagara Frontier League (NFL) Championship; 1943-44: NT Men’s Basketball named: “WNY” Champions; Coached NT Basketball Hall of Famers Tony Franc, Don Fronczak & Ed Janulionis. Doc Roggow was also a long time NT Football Assistant Coach
Dave Wendt
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2011
Dave played Varsity Basketball for NTHS from 1983 – 85. He had 35 games played; 567 career points (6th all-time at time of graduation; currently 14th all-time); He Averaged 16.2 points/game; had 362 rebounds (5th all-time at time of graduation; currently 11th all-time); averaged 10.6 rebounds/game; During his Senior Year: Scored 361 points (17th all-time single season), Had 211 rebounds (9th all-time single season); Set School Record 8 blocked shots vs. Niagara-Wheatfield (Jan. 29, 1985); Had 12 games of 20+ points; Led team in scoring in 21 games; Scored career-high 29 points in 55-48 win vs. LaSalle (Jan. 15, 1985) One of the few star players during Joe Merlo’s tenure as NT Men’s Basketball coach, Wendt made an immediate impact on the program as he scored 20 points in his debut against Tonawanda. While he was only a part of just eight victories during his two-year career, Wendt still put-up impressive numbers with 12 games of 20 points or greater and led the team in scoring 21 times. On January 15, 1985, Wendt scored a career-high 29 points in NT’s 55-48 victory over LaSalle. At the end of his two-year career, Wendt held the record for most blocks in a single game with 8 (Niagara-Wheatfield on January 29, 1985) until Adam McNeill broke it when he recorded 10 (Sweet Home in March of 2015.)
Richard “Dick” Kijowski
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2010
Richard “Dick” Kijowski played from 1961-1964. Team Record was 33-21 when he played. Kijowski played in 44 varsity games during his career at NT, averaging 11.2 points per contest. He ranks 21st all-time at NT with 493 career points. He poured in a career-high 27 in a game against Lackawanna. “I was just flabbergasted when I got the call telling me I was inducted.” Kijowski, who now lives in the Rochester area, said of his reaction to being inducted. “It’s quite an honor, playing with the guys and being inducted into the Hall of Fame by my peers.” Kijowski played under coach George Bancroft and then Ted Moore, the latter of whom had a profound impact on Kijowski’s life. “He guided me as a kid, took me under his wing and really worked with me in basketball after hours,” Kijowski, 64, recalled. During his career, Kijowski said he had the honor of playing with other greats such as Bill Kozlowski, Jerry Staub and Al Kozen, as well as playing against Tonawanda legend Rick Cassata. “It was an honor playing for that school,” added Kijowski. Prior to his induction he was quoted to say, “I have a lot of emotion coming up Tuesday. It is going to hit me Tuesday when I accept the award. It truly is an honor.”
Mike Miranto
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2010
Played from 1997-2001. 1292 Career Points, 441 Career Rebound, 317 Assists, 1st Team ALL NFL 2000 & 01, Tonawanda News Player of the Year 2000 & 01. 1997-98 – 21 games played, 140 points (6.7 ppg) 63 rebounds (3.0 rpg) 73 assists (3.5 apg) 49 steals (2.3 spg), Team Record: 5-16 15 assists in 82-49 win vs. Grand Island (2/12/98). 1998-99 – 22 games played, 355 points (16.1 ppg) 128 rebounds (5.8 rpg) 51 assists (2.3 apg) 49 steals (2.2 spg) 45 blocked shots (2.1 bpg), Team Record: 7-15. Had 37 points in 70-57 win vs. Clarence (1/22/99) 36 points in 58-51 loss vs. Williamsville East (1/27/99). 2nd Team All-Niagara Frontier League (NFL). 1999-2000 – 21 games played 405 points (19.3 ppg) 111 rebounds (5.3 rpg) 64 assists (3.1 apg) 57 steals (2.7 spg) 26 blocked shots (1.2 bpg), Team Record: 15-6 10 assists in 72-36 win vs. Amherst (12/3/99). 31 points in 72-51 win vs. Lewiston-Porter (1/28/00), 30 points & school record 7 three-point baskets in 69-58 win vs. Nichols (2/22/00). NT Tip-Off Tournament MVP, 1st Team All-NFL, Honorable Mention Buffalo News All-WNY, Tonawanda News Area Player of the Year, Niagara P.A.L./Buffalo A.C.E. WNY All-Star Game 2000-01 – 22 games played 392 points (17.8 ppg) 139 rebounds (6.3 rpg) 129 assists (5.9 apg) 55 steals (2.5 spg) 30 blocked shots (1.4 bpg), Team Record: 14-8. 26 points & 1000th career point scored in 66-56 win vs. Clarence (12/21/00). Triple-Double (16 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) in 73-61 win vs. Tonawanda (2/10/01), Triple-Double (28 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in 73-72 win vs. Nichols (2/15/01), NT Tip-Off Tournament MVP 1st Team All-NFL Honorable Mention, Buffalo News All-WNY, Tonawanda News Area Player of the Year, Niagara P.A.L./Buffalo A.C.E. WNY All-Star Game. Career Totals – 86 games played,1292 points (15.0 ppg), 441 rebounds (5.1 rpg), 317 assists (3.7 apg), 210 steals (2.4 spg) 116 blocked shots (1.4 bpg). Miscellaneous -15 games of 25+ points, 4 games of 30+ points, Graduated as school record holder for career steals (210), three-point baskets (122), games played (86), assists (317), free throws made (310), free throws attempted (442). 1st player in team history with (3) seasons of 350+ points. Went on to play in college @ Buffalo State College
George “Red” Driscoll
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2010
George played from 1929-1932 and is a Legends Inductee. 3 Year Varsity Player. Was Captain & Leading Scorer Senior Year. Was First Player in N.T. history named 1st team All Star, was a Unanimous Choice as a Forward. “Red” was considered one of the Most Colorful Players in the League. At the height of his career, the guy was just a fabulous player,” Bill Strapko, an NTHS Basketball Hall of Famer who briefly played with Red, said of Driscoll. “He could dribble as well as anybody. He had a nice outside shot. He was just smooth,” said Strapko, age 90, an NT resident who became the first Legends inductee in 2006. “I don’t think you’ll ever see a player like him again, that could do everything. Players today are terrific, but when you want a complete player, Red Driscoll was it. He was worth the money just to go watch him play.” A three-year varsity player, Driscoll was the Lumberjacks’ captain and leading scorer during his senior season, after which he became the first NT player named as a first team all-star. He received the vote of every coach in the league. Like Strapko, Driscoll played during the Great Depression years, foregoing sure college scholarships in order to stay home and help the family. He got a job at Durez Corporation, eventually moving his way up to a managerial position. Driscoll also played in city leagues, and often competed against legendary Tonawanda High School football coach Clint Small as a player in those leagues. Strapko said – “I consider “Red” to be one of the very, very top players of all-time at North Tonawanda High School.”
Dave Cavanaugh
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2009
Dave Cavanaugh played NT Varsity Basketball from 1990 to 93. Dave is 8th All Time NTHS Basketball Scoring Leader with 760 Points – 11.9 points/game in 64 games. He is the 7th All-Time Rebounder – 435 totals, averaging 6.8/game. His high game = 36 points. 1990-91 – 20 games played 101 points (5.1 ppg) 60 rebounds (3.0 rpg) 46 assists (2.3 apg) 21 steals (1.0 spg) Team Record: 14-7. 1991-92 In Dave’s 22 games played, he had 260 points (11.8 ppg), 150 rebounds (6.8 rpg), 111 assists (5.1 apg), 47 steals (2.1 spg). The Lumberjacks Team Record: 13-9. In 1992-93 – 22 games played & 399 points (18.1 ppg), 225 rebounds (10.2 rpg), 108 assists (4.9 apg), 54 steals (2.5 spg), Team Record: 13-9. Dave had 36 points in 76-63 win vs. Lockport (2/9/93). 27 points in 69-54 sectional win vs. South Park (2/24/93). NT Record while Cavanaugh played for the Lumberjacks: 40-25 (.615). Miscellaneous: Ranks third amongst three-year lettermen with 760 career points. One of just 10 players to average a double-double for a season (18.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg). Only player with (2) 100+ assist seasons; One of just two players to appear in the Top 10 for career points, rebounds & assists; 2nd Team All-NFL (1992); 1st Team All-NFL & 3rd Team All-WNY (1993). Went on to play in college at Buffalo State College (Buffalo, NY). Statistical Rankings as of 9/06: Games Played (64) – Tied 3rd; Career Points (760) – 7th; Career Rebounds (435) – 7th; Career Assists (265) – 2nd; Best Single Season Point Total (399) – 6th; Best Single Game Point Total (36) – Tied 4th; Best Single Season Rebound Total (299) – 6th; Best Single Season Assist Total (111) – 5th. Looking back on his career, Cavanaugh said he has really taken to heart the devotion his former coaches — Greg Ross, Al Ridge and Andy Adcock had toward the sport. “What I would like to acknowledge most is the coaches that I had during my time at NT,” Cavanaugh said. “At the time, I never realized the amount of time, effort and sacrifice that goes into being a high school coach, and the impact that they can have on their players’ lives. I’d like to thank my coaches … for all the hard work and opportunities that they gave me and others during my time at NT.”
Fred Wiechec
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2009
Fred played Varsity Basketball at NTHS from 1963 to 1966. He is 23rd All-Time Leading Scorer – 491 Points – 10.0 points per game in 49 games. On the hardwood, Wiechec, who later went on to Princeton, played under George Bancroft his sophomore and junior years and made consecutive appearances in the Class AA semifinals. His senior year, Ted Moore became the man on the sidelines, and he continued to thrive. Wiechec scored a career-high 28 points in the Lumberjacks’ season opening victory over LaSalle on December 3, 1965. On Dec. 21, 1965 against Kenmore West, Fred poured in 27 points. Wiechec was inducted into the NT Basketball Hall of Fame in January of 2009. One of the best athletes from the “Golden Age” of NT Athletics, Wiechec made his varsity debut as a sophomore for George Vetter’s football team in 1963. After sitting behind Greg Zayatz for a year, Wiechec led the Lumberjacks at quarterback for the next two years. In his senior year, Wiechec led the Niagara Frontier Football League in scoring with 85 points and was named to the All-WNY team. “I feel very honored to be chosen to join the group of guys already in the Hall of Fame,” Wiechec said. “It means a lot to me to be recognized by my peers as one of the people deserving of this honor. I am proud of being selected to the Wall of Fame in North Tonawanda.
Don Fronczak
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2009
Don Fronczak played NT Varsity Basketball from 1946 to 1947 and ended up being the 3rd Leading Scorer in the Niagara Frontier League (NFL). Don was inducted in the 1947 Legends Category. He has been entertaining folks for the past two decades, singing Frank Sinatra songs under the moniker “Frankie Don.” The spotlight was on Don Fronczak once again, but this time it will be for the entertainment he provided Lumberjacks fans on the basketball court in the 1940s. Fronczak was inducted into the North Tonawanda Basketball Hall of Fame during a ceremony at halftime of the Lumberjacks game against Niagara-Wheatfield in 2009. Fronczak is being inducted into the Hall’s “Legends” category, reserved for Lumberjacks who played before 1960. Fronczak is noted for perfecting the jump shot in the Niagara Frontier League. It is a simple part of the game today, but in Fronczak’s era, players used set shots with two hands. Tom Jaccarino of the NTHS Basketball Hall of Fame added that although Fronczak’s points production was not outstanding, it came at a time when the final scores were only in the 20s or 30s. Fronczak said he picked up the jump shot from a teammate of his, Dick Heigl. “I can’t help but think of them accepting an award like this,” Fronczak said of his North Tonawanda teammates. Fronczak showed his potential in his very first game with the North Tonawanda “B” squad. He scored 23 points, prompting coach Norm Roggow, also in the NTHS Basketball Wall of Fame, to move Fronczak up to the varsity team. In his playing days, NT held its games in the NT High School which became Payne Junior High School and then Lowry school on Payne Avenue. “I can still remember listening to the roar of the crowd after scoring a basket,” Fronczak said of his fondest memory. “I feel honored to be celebrated like (this),” Fronczak said of his induction. “It seems like it was more worthwhile now than it was at the time because it was all about winning.”
William Koslowski
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2008
William Koslowski played Varsity Basketball at NTHS from 1963 to 1965. Koslowski, whose team had a 27-12 record in his 34 career games, helped NT reach the Section VI Class AA semifinals in both 1964 and 1965. He scored 430 career points, an average of 12.6 per game. William is 40th in career scoring at the time of his induction. The Grand Island resident was inducted by Jon Roth, the athletics director at Grand Island.
Erik O’Bryan
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2008
Erik was the North Tonawanda Varsity Basketball programs Career Scoring Leader with 1303 Points, until passed by Aaron Davis in 2009. Erik still stands as NT’s 2nd highest scorer in history! He played 77 Games & averaged 16.9 Points per Game. He was honored as a 1st Team Niagara Frontier League selection for 1994-95 He only spent two seasons playing basketball for NTHS. After playing his freshman & sophomore years under his father, Archie, at Iroquois Central, O’Bryan came to the NTHS in 1993. “Erik was the mentally toughest player I coached,” Greg Ross, Erik’s NT Coach said. “He demanded a lot out of himself and his teammates. He would do whatever it took to win games. He was the best leader I had ever coached.” Ross had a career-high 37 points on 12/14/93. O’Bryan & the Lumberjacks had a memorable senior year. With a supporting cast of younger brother Sean, fellow guard Luke Hodgson & senior forwards Jeff North & Ryan Mahoney, O’Bryan led NT to a 13-9 record in the 1994-95 campaign. In the season opener he converted 7 three-pointers. He had 56 – 3 pointers & 162 assists that year, and they are still single-season records. On 1/6/95, O’Bryan surpassed the 1,000-point mark. Today, he ranks 2nd all-time in scoring in program history with 6 games of 30 points or more. He led his NT team in scoring 29 times & is 5th all-time in assists with 260 (5.9 per game.) O’Bryan, who continued his career at Buffalo State College, also holds NT record for most assists in a single game (16 against Tonawanda, January ‘95.) After 4 years with Buff State, O’Bryan returned to NT & served as Ross’s assistant before becoming head coach in 2005. His penultimate season, 2009-10, the Lumberjacks won their first NFL title in 50 years.
Paul Szcepaniec
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2007
Paul Szcepaniec played Guard for the NT Lumberjacks Varsity Basketball Team from 1974 to 1976. He scored a total of 797 Points (20.4 Points Per Game average). He was also the Niagara Frontier League (NFL) Scoring Champion during the 1975-76 Season. From 1974-75, 19 games played, he scored 336 points (17.7 ppg) had 112 rebounds (5.9 rebound per game), 74 assists (3.9 assists per game), Lumberjacks Team Record: 14 wins -5 losses. 1975-76, 20 games played, 461 points (23.1 ppg), 120 rebounds (6.0 rpg), 114 assists (5.7 apg), Paul scored Career High & School Record 46 points vs. Tonawanda on 2/3/76. Team Record: 14-6; Career Totals: 39 games played, 797 points (20.4 ppg), 232 rebounds (5.9 rpg), 188 assists (4.8 apg), Team Record: 28-11 (.718). Miscellaneous: 7 Games with 25+ points, 1st Team All-NFL as a senior, NFL Scoring Champion 1975-76, One of just four players with 400+ points in a season, one of just five players with (2) 300+ point seasons, one of just two players with a career point per game average of 20+ ppg, most career points for 2-year lettermen, made a living on deadly perimeter shooting before the 3-point line was added. Paul’s Statistical Rankings as of Sept. 2006: Career Points (797) – 6th, Career Rebounds (232) – 25th. Career Assists (188) – 7th, Best Single Season, Point Total (461) – 4th, Best Single Game Point Total (46) – 1st, Best Single Season Assist Total (114) – 4th, Field Goals in a Game (21) – 1st
Kurt Hollasch
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2007
Kurt played Varsity Basketball at NTHS from 1961-63. During the 1961-62 season, Kurt had 18 games played; 175 points (9.7 points per game); He grabbed Career High 15 rebounds vs. LaSalle High School on February 23, 1962. In 1962-63, Kurt had 18 games played and scored 375 points (20.8 ppg). He scored a Career High 38 points vs. Lockport on January 4, 1963. Team Record: 11-7. His Career Totals: 36 games played; 550 points (15.3 ppg); Team Overall Record: 20-16. Miscellaneous: Led team in scoring in 16 of 18 games as a senior; had 5 games with 25+ points. One of just six players to average 20+ points per game for an entire season. Kurt went on to play in college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY. Kurt’s NT Statistical Rankings as of Sept. 2006 – Career Points (550) – 15th; Best Single Season Point Total (375) – Tied 12th; Best Single Game Point Total (38) – 2nd
Tony Franc
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2007
Tony played NT Varsity Basketball from 1939 to 1943. In 1939-40: the team record was 10 wins & 6 losses; In 1940-41: 11-4; 1941-42: 16-1 and they were *WNY Champions; In 1942-43: 9-1 and they were Niagara Frontier League (NFL) Champions. In 1940-41, Tony Led the team in scoring 5 times including a season-high 17 points vs. Lackawanna on March 1, 1941. In 1942-43, he scored in double figures in 7 of 10 games & led or shared team lead in scoring in 9 of 10 games; Tony scored career high 20 points in season-opening win at Nichols; He broke that career high with a 25-point outing again vs. Nichols later in the same season.
Al Ridge
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2006
Al Ridge played Forward for the Lumberjacks Varsity Basketball Team from 1971 to 1973. Ridge scored a career total of 626 Points (17.4 Points Per Game) and had 534 Rebounds (13.9 Rebounds Per Game). still incredible today. Ridge made his NT debut under Coach Ted Moore in December of 1971 and led the Lumberjacks to consecutive 12-6 campaigns. For his career, Ridge finished 11th all-time in scoring and 5th all-time in rebounding. On January 10, 1973, Ridge recorded a career-high 36 points and 23 rebounds in the team’s 82-64 victory over Lew-Port. Now the owner of Ridge Overhead Doors, Ridge still holds the records for most rebounds in a single season (325) and is one of three players in program history to average a double-double for two seasons. In 1987, Ridge revived the program as Men’s Varsity Basketball Head Coach, and he led the Lumberjacks to consecutive appearances before he stepped down after the 1990-91 campaign.
Jim Maglisceau
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2006
Jim was a Varsity Basketball Forward from 1957-61. Considered to be the best forward in program history, Maglisceau became the first four-year letterman for NT basketball when he made his debut in the winter of 1957, George Bancroft’s second season as head coach. The 6’8” forward made an immediate impact off the bench as the Lumberjacks reached the Class AA championship but lost to Amherst, 53-52. The following year, Maglisceau & the Lumberjacks had another 15-win campaign, won the league title, & reached the Class AA semifinals before being eliminated by Williamsville. In his junior year, Maglisceau recorded 23 rebounds against Kenmore West, a single-game record that he later broke three times (currents program record is 30 rebounds versus Lockport on January 13, 1961.) Today, Maglisceau is remembered for being a major contributor of the 1960-61 Class AA champion team, possibly the best team in program history. Maglisceau cemented himself as one of the best athletes in school history with his 21-point, 21-rebound performance to win the title over Frontier, 57-50. Over 50 years after he last wore the red and blue, Maglisceau’s Herculean achievements have only been surpassed by a few. He still holds the record for career rebounds (800 rebounds, 11.2 per game), & he is fourth all-time in scoring (964 points, 12.7 per game.) He is also one of two players to average a double-double for three consecutive seasons. With him in the lineup, the Lumberjacks had a 61-16 record, a .792 winning percentage. After his NT career, Maglisceau continued at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and led the Big Red to success in the early years of the reformed Ivy League. Maglisceau was a 1st-Team NFL selectee his senior year. He also played Tennis for both NTHS & Cornell University. He comes from a Family of successful athletes & his Father coached NT Football & Track. His brothers Ed & Richard were exceptional NT athletes in the 1950’s as well. His parents were both long-time teachers at NTHS.
Bill Strapko
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2006
Forward 1935-37. Legends Category St. Lawrence League All-Star 1936-37. Served in U.S. Air Force World War 2
Varick Cutler
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2005
Played Basketball from 1967 to 1971; Inducted into NT Basketball Wall of Fame in 2005. He was a 3-Year Letterman from 1968 to 1971. Was a 2-time All-WNY Basketball Team selection. Won the Niagara Frontier League (NFL) scoring title twice (22.6 PPG in ’69-70 and 27.4 PPG in ’70-71). Varick Averaged 21.5 Points Per Game over his career; He had 1,270 career points. Cutler was the first 1,000-point scorer in NT history (Erik O’Bryan, Mike Miranto, Aaron Davis only others in later years). Cutler had the School Record of 508 points in 1970-71. Had a 40-20 Won/Loss record with Lumberjacks Basketball. Lumberjacks 7 Cutler had Sectional semifinals appearance in 1968-69 and a Sectional finals appearance in 1969-70. Cutler is one of just two players to average 20+ Points Per Game for career (also Paul Szczepaniec, 1974-1976). Finished NT Basketball Career with 60% Field Goals made & 71% Free Throw %; Cutler had 8 – 30+ point games along with averaging 14 rebounds & 5 blocks per game. Named High School All-American & Top 100 Player in Sports Illustrated. Selected to play in the “Capital District School Classics” in Albany for the New York State team that took place over North-East NY State All-Stars. Varick was offered full basketball scholarships by 175 NCAA Division I Colleges. He played at both Maryland & LaSalle Universities. While at LaSalle, Cutler lead his team to the National College Basketball Playoffs, when only 16 teams were invited to the tournament.
George Bancroft
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2005
Coach Bancroft’s Career NTHS Men’s Varsity Basketball Record: 124-56. Section VI Class AA. Champions 1960-61. After winning the Western New York Champions banner in the winter of 1944, North Tonawanda basketball went through a dry spell. Over the next 12 years, the Lumberjacks had only four seasons with a .500 or better overall record. Bancroft, a long-time math teacher who won numerous NFL titles with NT Tennis in the 1950s and 1960s, took over a program that won five games combined the previous two seasons. After a rough 4-10 campaign in the 1956-57 season, Bancroft turned NT into a Western New York powerhouse. In 1957-58, the Lumberjacks, thanks to the strong play of NT Basketball Hall of Famer Tom Chester, recorded a 16-5 record and lost in a 53-52 nail-biter to Amherst in the title game held at “The Aud.” The following season, NT clinched the NFL Championship, but they came up short once again, a 20-point loss to Williamsville in the sectional semifinals. The season that Bancroft will forever be associated with is the 1960-61 campaign. When JFK was only two months into his presidency, “Bancroft’s Boys” capped off an 18-2 record and clinched the Section VI Class AA title over Frontier, 57-50, as NT Basketball Hall of Famer Jim Maglisceau led the way with a 21-point, 21-rebound performance. 56 years later, NT is still looking to return to the championship game. Bancroft led NT to another pair of semifinal appearances before he announced his retirement following the 1964-65 seasons. His 124 victories are third all-time in program history.
Ted Moore
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2005
Coach Moore was NT Varsity Boys’ Basketball Head Coach from 1965-76. His Career Record was 135 Wins with 75 losses. Coach Moore had 10 Seasons of Double-Digit Victories. George Bancroft did not have to look far to find his successor when he retired after the 1964-65 season. After a college basketball career at Alabama and UB, Moore became a long-time gym teacher in the NT school district in 1961 and was the junior varsity coach before he became the head of the program. Moore had a rare successful first season with a 13-6 record, led by the famous “Polish Connection” of Bob Kijowski, Len Piorkowski, Bill Kozlowski, and Fred Wiechec. Other than the 1967-68 campaign, the Jacks had 10-win seasons in his tenure. Then, in the fall of 1968, the Varick Cutler show began. The dynamic forward became the school’s first 1,000-point scorer, in an era where the three-point line did not exist. That year, the Lumberjacks reached the sectional semifinals before being eliminated by Niagara Falls. The following year, during the Brady Bunch’s first season, “Moore’s Men” reached the sectional finals. After a 50-48 upset over Amherst in the semifinals, the Lumberjacks lost in a heartbreaker to Hutch-Tech, 42-41. On January 8, 1974, Moore recorded his 100th victory with the program in a 64-60 road victory over Lockport. One memorable moment from his career came on the night of February 18, 1975 when the Lumberjacks upset the Lions on the road, 56-54, who were looking for back-to-back NFL titles, thanks to Paul “Shep” Szczepaniec’s game-winning free-throws. Moore’s 135th and final victory came against West Seneca East on February 28, 1976. When he retired after the 1975-76 season, Moore had the most wins in school history until Greg Ross broke the record nearly 30 years later. In 2005, Moore joined Cutler, Bancroft, and Tom Chester as the inaugural class of the NT Basketball Hall of Fame.
Tom Chester
Inducted Into the North Tonawanda Basketball Wall of Fame in 2005
Tom Chester made his varsity debut as a sophomore, a rarity during the “Golden Age” of NT sports. After a 4-10 finish in the 1956-57 season, Chester was a part of what is considered to be the program’s most successful run under George Bancroft. In the 1957-58 season, Chester and the Lumberjacks advanced to the Class AA championship game but lost to Amherst in a heartbreaker at “The Aud”, 53-52. That season, Chester finished in double-digit scoring in 17 of NT’s 21 games. Chester continued his greatness during his senior campaign and scored a career-high 36 points (at the time a school record) in NT’s 65-53 victory over LaSalle on 1/9/1959, on 16 of 26 shooting. On February 24th of that year, the Lumberjacks won over Trott Vocational, 60-51, to clinch the NFL Championship. Chester led the way that night with 26 points and 18 rebounds. Chester’s career ended when NT lost to Williamsville in the sectional semifinals but nearly 60 years later, his legacy still resonates. In 54 career games, Chester recorded 911 points (7th all-time, 17.2 per game) and 532 rebounds (6th all-time, 9.9 per game), is one of 6 to average 20 points or more per game for a season and just one of 10 to average a double-double for a season. In addition, he was named to the first All-WNY team (published by the Buffalo Courier-Express) his senior year. Chester continued his basketball career at Canisius, where he led the Golden Griffins to the 1963 NIT Championship held at Madison Square Garden but lost to Providence. In 2005, Chester became a member of the inaugural class of the NT Basketball Hall of Fame. He passed away in May of 2015 at the age of 73.