What: Section V Class B Final
Who: No. 3 seed LIVONIA (18-5/Livingston County) vs. No. 5 seed GREECE ODYSSEY (16-7/Monroe County)
When: Monday March 5, 9 PM
Where: Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial
How they got here: Livonia defeated No. 14 seed Waterloo, 56-47 in the opening round. The Bulldogs followed with a 55-52 victory over No.11 Midlakes and a 70-65 win in the semi-finals against No. 2 Penn Yan.
Odyssey beat No. 12 Bath-Haverling, 81-31 before knocking off No. 4 Hornell, 63-43 and top-seeded Mynderse, 62-57.
What’s at stake: The Section V Class B championship and a spot in the NYSPHSSA Far West Regional against the Section VI champion either Olean or Health Sciences.
History 101: The two teams most recently met in the post-season when Livonia beat Odyssey, 67-60 in the 2016 Class B1 quarter-finals. Livonia is making its first finals appearance since falling to Leadership Academy in the 2015 B1 title game. Kevin Downey led Livonia to its last championship in 2001. Odyssey reached the finals for the first time since 2001 when the Leopards fell to Lyons, 76-63 in the Class CC title game. At the time that was Odyssey’s second straight championship game appearance. The Leopards are looking to win the program’s first title.
Da’Vieque Naulls drills a triple to give Livonia a 65-55 lead with 1:16 remaining. pic.twitter.com/9FpZjHDonb
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 28, 2018
Trends: After dropping three straight, Livonia closed its regular season with a victory. The Bulldogs scored 61.3 points prior to the post-season while holding opponents under 48 points per game. Odyssey lost two of four including its final game of the regular season. The Leopards scored 56.2 and allowed 54.9 points per game.
Romell. Griffin. Hurt. Harm @ODYbball 59-53 with 32.2 to go. pic.twitter.com/EmpOOqoYG9
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 28, 2018
Players to Watch for Livonia: Devante Gwyn Sr. F 11.4 ppg/7.3 rpg, Barrett Lowe Sr. F/C 11.5 ppg/8.1 rpg, Alex Minnehan Fr. G 10.7 ppg/3.3 apg and Da’Vieque Naulls Sr. G 11.8 ppg/2.5 apg.
Players to Watch Greece Odyssey: DJ Billings Sr. F 12.9 ppg, Jaden Hartsfield 13.1 ppg So. F and Travon Harper Jr. G 10.0 ppg.
Coaches: Jim Guzielek (Greece Odyssey) and Matt Young (Livonia).
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