By PAUL GOTHAM
With high school mid-term exams sitting in the rear view mirror, on-court tests come into focus when six teams with state implications convene Saturday for the Rochester Area Players (RAP) Showcase at Wegman-Napier Gymnasium on the campus of Aquinas Institute.
UPrep (13-2), ranked fifth Class AA New York State and No. 16-A Williamsville-South (VI), tip off the event at 2 pm. No. 6-A Irondequoit (13-1) and Jamestown (VI) will follow while No. 7-AA Fairport (13-1) and the host N0. 21-AA Li’l Irish (9-3) take the court at 7:30 pm.
Fairport and Aquinas features a rematch of the last two Section Five Class AA finals. Both games the Li’l Irish came out on top.
“Our team will come in a with a high level of motivation having lost to them in the last two finals,” said Fairport coach Scott Fitch. “It will be a great high school environment, a packed house.”
The Red Raiders have won seven straight. Their only blemish on the season thus far is a 67-63 setback to Irondequoit.
“Fairport presents all kinds of challenges to us,” said first-year Aquinas coach John McCauley. “First and foremost is the guru of a coach they have in Coach Fitch. His ability develop a system and get the most from his kids is extraordinary. Secondly, they are an experienced group that play physical and disciplined basketball. Another challenge they present, is their ability to shoot the three from four of five spots is remarkable considering the size of their lineup.”
Fairport is led by senior point guard and four-year performer Dan Masino.
“Danny Masino is a tremendous guard who can hurt you in many different ways and Coach Fitch does a great job at putting him in different spots to make plays for himself or his teammates,” McCauley added.
“No doubt we have our hands full against one of the best teams in our section.”
Jalen Pickett (22.2 ppg/9.4 rpg) leads the Li’l Irish which won eight of nine before last weekend’s setback to Liverpool (III). Fellow senior Jason Hawkes adds 13.4 points with 6.7 rebounds per game. Both Hawkes and Pickett started on last year’s state champion which finished a runner-up in the Federation.
“You’re looking at a couple of kids who have played and succeeded at high levels,” Fitch said. “They’re going to be a difficult matchup for us.”
Irondequoit’s lone loss this year came with senior point Zach Stenglein sidelined with an ankle injury. Stenglein’s status for Saturday is unknown.
“Jamestown is always one of the best teams in the Buffalo area,” Eagles coach Chris Cardon said. “Over the years we have played them on two occasions. Once in the finals of our Christmas Tournament (win) and in the 2011 state regionals (loss in overtime).”
Five different Eagles including Gerald Drumgoole, Alex Goldsberry, Tysean Sizer and Jeremiah Zitz, have taken turns as individual game leading scorer for Irondequoit this season.
Returning All-State performer James Rojas leads Jamestown (8-4/7-0). The 6-foot-6 guard/forward scores 28 a game while grabbing 11 rebounds.
“Irondequoit is a very good basketball team and presents quite a challenge to us,” said Jamestown head coach Ben Drake. “We have played a difficult non-league schedule this season, and Irondequoit is one of the best teams we will face all season. This is a game that will hopefully make us better in the end.”
Led by sophomore center Jabez Thomas and junior guard/forward Jeenathan Williams, UPrep has won six straight. Their last loss came to Irondequoit, 65-62.
“We had the opportunity to play them this summer at the UB Team Camp and they were a very well-coached team,” UPrep’s head coach James Reaves said Williamsville-South. “As long as we lock in defensively and stay disciplined we will be fine.”
Williamsville South was a a sectional champion a year ago. They are led by Greg Dolan.
Thomas grabbed 12 rebounds and netted a team-high 16 points when UPrep held on to beat Bishop Timon (VI) last weekend. Williams scored 16 and handed out five assists in the 60-55 win.
“Our goal is to be more consistent and play with a high intensity all four periods and more if needed,” Reaves added.
A $5 ticket is needed to attend the first two games of the day. The gym will be cleared and a separate $5 admission will be needed to attend the Fairport-Aquinas game.
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