Five spots across five classifications in the upcoming NYSPHSAA boys’ basketball semi-finals will be up for grabs at Buffalo State College when the Far West Regionals take place on Saturday. First game tips off at noon. Here is the breakdown of each contest:
CLASS AA
McQUAID JESUIT Section V (16-8/RCAC Upper Division)
vs.
NIAGARA FALLS HS Section VI (19-4/Niagara Frontier League)
8:30 PM
How they arrived here: No. 5 seed McQuaid beat Victor (84-58), Webster Schroeder (72-58), Fairport (81-73) and UPrep (70-54) in the Section V finals.
Tempo and Trends: McQuaid scored 70.6 points per game during the regular season while allowing 64.1. Niagara Falls averaged 71.8 and allowed 51.1. McQuaid has won 12 of its last 13 games. Niagara has taken six straight and 15 of 16.
Last time they met: Niagara Falls beat McQuaid, 76-54 when the two teams faced each other on December 8th.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semi-final against the Uniondale (VIII) vs. Half Hollow Hills East (XI) winner.
History 101: McQuaid won its eighth sectional title and is making its first regional appearance since 2003 – the year of the Knights’ most recent sectional championship. McQuaid beat Niagara Falls in the ’03 Class A regional, 48-44 on the way to the school’s third state title. The Jesuit Knights are 5-3 all-time in regional contests. Current McQuaid head coach Jack Leasure earned all-tournament honors during McQuaid’s ’03 sectional run. Assistant coach Marty O’Sullivan was named sectional tournament MVP and earned a spot on state final four all-tournament team.
Niagara Falls is making its third straight regional appearance. The Wolverines have won nine of the last 15 Section VI AA titles. Niagara Falls has made five appearances in the state finals. Led by former Syracuse Orange guards Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris as well as former Green Bay Packer James Starks, the Wolverines claimed the 2005 Class AA NYS and Federation titles. Rob Garrison, who went on to play at UConn and Niagara along with Greg Gamble who played UB also starred on the ’05 Niagara Falls team.
Players to Watch for McQuaid: Anthony Iglesia Sr. G, Kobe Long So. G, Josh Purcell Sr. G, Jermaine Taggart So. G and Connor Zamiara Jr. F.
For Niagara Falls: Roddy Gayle 8th G, Quaran Dubois Sr. G, Willie Lightfoot 8th PG, Syquan Ralands Sr. C and Tazaun Rose Sr. G.
Coaches: Sal Constantino (Niagara Falls) and Jack Leasure (McQuaid).
Section VI notes courtesy of Chad Andrews/ The View From Center Court.
CLASS A
IRONDEQUOIT HS Section V (21-3/MONROE COUNTY II)
vs.
WEST SENECA WEST HS Section VI (24-0/Erie County I)
7:00 PM
How they arrived here: No. 2 seed Irondequoit opened sectionals with a win over Spencerport (72-37) before beating Pittsford Sutherland (56-48) and Greece Athena (58-51) to take their second straight sectional title. Irondequoit beat Class A2 champion Wayne (69-41) in the regional qualifier.
Tempo and Trends: Irondequoit scored 65.2 points per game while limiting opponents to 48.7 during the regular season. The Eagles have won 18 of 19. West Seneca West score 82.7 per contest and holds opponents to 57.2. Along with their basketball team being undefeated, West Seneca West’s football team went without a loss and won the state title in the fall. The two programs have combined to win 37 straight games.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class A semi-final against the Garden City (VIII) vs. Amityville (XI) winner.
History 101: Irondequoit is making its second straight regional appearance. After winning a sectional title in 1945, the Eagles did not claim another championship until 2011. They have won three Section V crowns in eight years. Irondequoit went on to win the 2017 NYS Class A championship before falling in the Federation to Albany Academy, 54-45.
West Seneca West will be making its first regional appearance. The Indians won the 2000 Class A1 title and fell to Williamsville East in the qualifier.
Players to watch for Irondequoit: Gerald Drumgoole Jr. G 21.5 ppg, Robert Diaz-Judson Sr. F 6.7 ppg, Frederick June, Jr. Jr. G 8.9 ppg, Josh Stenglein Jr. G 9.6 ppg and Patrick Thomas Jr. F 12.3 ppg.
Players to watch for West Seneca West: Adrian Baugh Jr. F 17.8 ppg, Juston Johnson Jr. G 24.8 ppg, Nate Ryniec So. G 11.5 ppg and Alex Wayland Sr. G 15.9 ppg.
Coaches: Chris Cardon (Irondequoit) and Des Randall (West Seneca West).
Section VI notes courtesy of Chad Andrews/The View From Center Court.
CLASS B
GREECE ODYSSEY ACADEMY Section V (17-7/Monroe County IV)
vs.
HEALTH SCIENCES CHARTER Section VI (20-4/Charter Cup)
3:30 PM
How they arrived here: No. 5 seed Odyssey beat Bath-Haverling (81-31), Hornell (63-43) and top-seeded Mynderse, 62-57 before knocking off Livonia, 62-50 for the school’s first sectional title.
No. 4 seed Health Sciences beat Wilson (64-36), Middle College (62-42) and JFK (67-35) to claim the Section VI B2 title. The Falcons beat Olean, 36-34 in the regional qualifier.
Tempo and Trends: Odyssey scored 56.2 points per game and allowed 54.9. The Leopards have won four straight entering Saturday’s contest. Health Sciences scored 74 points per game during the season and allowed 47.9. The Falcons have won 29 straight against Class B schools in games played at Buffalo State. Of Health Sciences four losses, three have come against Class A schools: Canisius, Williamsville South and Park School.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class B semi-final against the Westhill (III) vs. Seton Catholic (IX) winner.
History 101: Odyssey is making its first regional appearance. Health Sciences will play in its second straight regional. The Falcons beat Mynderse, 50-47 a year ago before falling in the state semi-final game.
Players to Watch Greece Odyssey: DJ Billings Sr. F 12.9 ppg, Jaden Hartsfield 13.1 ppg So. F, Travon Harper Jr. G 10.0 ppg and Aric Williams Jr. F 6.5 ppg.
Players to Watch for Health Sciences: Kameron Briggs Jr. G 14.9 ppg, Davonte Gaines Sr. G 18.7 ppg (University of Tennessee commit/52-point game earlier in the season is single-game high in Buffalo area this year), Tysheen Lott Jr. G 8.95 ppg and Tayvion Nelson Sr. F 8.5 ppg.
Coaches: Jim Guzielek (Odyssey) and Ty Parker (Health Sciences).
Section VI notes courtesy of Chad Andrews/The View From Center Court.
CLASS C
NORTHSTAR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Section V (24-1/Independent)
vs.
TAPESTRY CHARTER Section VI (17-6/Charter Cup)
1:45 PM
How they arrived here: No. 1 seed Northstar Christian beat North Rose-Wolcott (89-24), East Rochester (99-69), Marcus Whitman (66-42) and Pembroke (80-72) in the C1 title game. The Knights defeated Lyons (85-63) in the regional qualifier.
No. 3 seed Tapestry Charter beat Holland (53-34), Allegany-Limestone (62-57) and Randolph (63-54).
Tempo and Trends: Northstar Christian scored 87.2 points per game this season and surrendered 59.1. The Knights have won 19 straight. Tapestry Charter averaged 72.5 and allowed 62.3 during the regular season. The Thunderhawks have won four straight.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class C semi-final game against the Tully (III) vs. Unadilla Valley (IV) winner.
History 101: Northstar Christian has won three straight sectional titles. The Knights are making their second straight regional appearance. NCA advanced to the state semis last year where they lost to Lake George (II), 65-49. Tapestry Charter won its second sectional title in four years. This is the first time the Thunderhawks have reached the state quarter-finals.
Players to Watch for Northstar Christian: Miles Brown Jr. G, Michael Brown Jr. G, Matthew Medeiros Sr. G and Tray Roberts Sr. G.
Players to Watch for Tapestry Charter: Tariq Eubanks Fr. PG, Dashawn Nance Sr. G, Dorian Plummer Jr. G/F, Mike Towns Sr. G, Emanuel Truehart Sr. C and Cameron Williams Sr. F.
Coaches: Mike Ester (Tapestry Charter) and JJ Garwood (Northstar Christian).
Section VI notes courtesy of Chad Andrews/The View From Center Court.
CLASS D
CLYDE-SAVANNAH Section V (21-4/Wayne County)
vs.
BUFFALO EAST Section VI (17-6/Yale Cup I)
12:00 PM
How they arrived here: No. 1 seed Clyde-Savannah beat Kendall (84-47), Fillmore (96-34), Mt. Morris (71-57) and Honeoye, 69-47 in the sectional championship game. The Golden Eagles advanced to regionals with a 76-69 win over Prattsburgh.
No. 1 seed Buffalo East beat Forestville (79-34), Ellicottville (62-61) and Fraknlinville (67-59).
Tempo and Trends: Clyde-Savannah has scored 77.5 points per game and allowed 59.9. The Golden Eagles have won six straight and 12 of 13. Buffalo East has scored 70.3 and given up 53.9 points. The Panthers have not lost to a Class D or Class C team this year.
Last time they met: Clyde-Savannah beat Buffalo East, 68-67 in December of 2016.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class D semi-final game against the McGraw (III) vs. Harrisville (X) winner.
History 101: Clyde-Savannah is making its fifth regional appearance. The Golden Eagles are 1-3 in the previous four trips. Clyde-Savannah has won 11 Section V titles including three in the last six years and claimed the 1993 Class D state title. Buffalo East has won eight Section VI titles over the 12 years. This will be their fourth trip to regionals during that period. If the Panthers win Saturday, it will the fourth different classification in which they have won a regional game under current coach Starling Bryant.
Players to Watch for Clyde-Savannah: Marcus Chance Jr. Sr G 26.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.0 apg and 3.5 spg, Derrick Chance Sr. G 20.5 ppg, 7.0 apg, 4.0 spg, Dru Carnevale Sr. G/F 19.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.0 apg and 4.0 apg and Camden Chance 8.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 3.5 spg Fr. F.
Players to Watch for Buffalo East: Justin Allen Sr. C/F 14.8 ppg, Willard Anderson Sr. G 25.6 ppg, Jahahd Maryon Sr. G/F 10.7 ppg and Waunya Shaw Sr. F 14.3 ppg.
Coaches: Starling Bryant (East) and Tim Jackson (Clyde-Savannah).
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