By Jonah Bronstein
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
For eight summers running, multitasking Niagara Falls basketball coach Sal Constantino has been able to send two local players to the New York State Fair All-Star Game, continuing a tradition started by former LaSalle coach Pat Monti.
Constantino’s selection criteria has focused on two factors.
“I always want a high-caliber player so that it will be a good game,” Constantino said, “and I always want it to be a high-character kid, because if something happens with one of the kids we send down there, they won’t want us back.”
This year, Wilson’s Brennan Moxham made it easy for Constantino.
“It’s a real big honor for me,” said Moxham, a 6-foot point guard who was a first-team all-Gazette pick after his junior season. “It should be fun to meet some new people, play some competitive basketball and hopefully have a good fair.”
Moxham ran the point for the East team in an 83-63 victory on the outdoor court on the fair grounds in Syracuse. He tallied four assists while taking just one shot.
Moxham traveled to Syracuse on Wednesday along with longtime AAU and Gus Macker teammate Aaron Nevins of Canisius.
“They’ve been friends since they were 8 years old,” said Moxham’s father, Wally, “so it’s kind of neat that they’re getting to play together.”
The players went through clinics with Division III coaches on Thursday and Friday.
“You’ll see a lot of Division III coaches there and you’ll also have some Division I guys,” Constantino said.
Prize recruits Brandon Triche (Syracuse) and Ben Cronin (Michigan) played in past years, as did Sylven Landesberg (Virginia), who recently played for the Sacramento Kings summer league team.
Local players who have participated in the game recently include Robby Seyler (Lewiston-Porter), Dyrell Dolson (Niagara Catholic), Eric Spanbauer (Niagara Falls) and Ryan Smith (Wilson).
