Special to The Citizen

CORTLAND - Even though West Canada Valley escaped with a 51-46 win over the Union Springs boys basketball team in Saturday's Class C Central Region championship, Indians coach Steve Porter admitted that there was one part of his game plan that went awry.

Porter counted on center Jeff Yaworski, the Section III Class C MVP, to handle Wolves' IAC all-star Julius McClary.

He didn't.

McClary blocked four of Yaworski's first seven shots, but he didn't stop there. The senior went on to block eight shots, pull down 12 boards, score 14 points and even snare two steals.

“It's the first time that's happened to Jeff all year,” Porter said. “We knew he was a very good shot-blocker, but I didn't think he'd have that much success on Jeff.”

Yaworski admitted he was out-matched.

“He has unbelievable jumping ability, it seemed like every shot I put up he was putting right back in my face,” said the senior, who was held to eight points.

“Coach told us to go one-on-one with everybody in there,” McClary said. “I knew I had no help so I just did what I do.”

McClary, the IAC Division III MVP, has had a stellar career with the Wolves. For his hard work, he has been rewarded by being double- and triple-teamed throughout the playoffs.

The senior can block, score and rebound - Union Springs coach Tim Darnell remarked that he averages a double-double every night. Saturday, he was even pivotal as Union Springs' press-breaker.

“We needed to use our big men because they put tremendous pressure on everybody,” Darnell said. “We wanted to take some pressure off our point guard so we needed our big men to help bring the ball up.”

McClary hopes to play at St. John Fisher next season. The Wolves graduate four other senior starters, and McClary will be missed as much as the rest.

“He's been the eraser,” Darnell said. “He's been back there to erase mistakes, he rebounds and he changes things in the back. You can't replace that. He is a major force in the lane.”

McClary has no regrets, except for maybe the fact that he didn't start playing for the Wolves sooner than his freshman year.

As far as this season goes, there will be no second guessing.

“We had a great year this year, I would have never thought that we'd get this far,” he said. “But it paid off.”