By JOHN LIKANJE
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Pittsford Mendon (11-0/No. 4 NYSSWA Class A) is showing no signs of slowing their pace.
This past week, head coach Bob Nally’s squad played three games in four days-all on the road. Wednesday night, the Vikings took down Greece Odyssey (No. 14 NYSSWA Class B), 72-54, handing them their second loss of the season. Senior forward Dan Cook poured in 29 points, his second-highest scoring output of the season (40 on January 11 against Brockport). The Vikings traveled back to Greece on Friday night to play Arcadia and eclipsed the century mark in a 101-38 victory. Cook scored 22 points and hauled in 15 rebounds while senior guard Michael Harrington netted 21 of his own.
Finally, the Vikings capped off their week Saturday morning with a 10:00 AM matchup against Rush-Henrietta in the Rochester Area Players (RAP) Invitational at East High School. Nally’s squad barely showed any effects from playing the previous night and traveling through Winter Storm Harper, taking down the Rush-Henrietta Royal Comets, 94-62. Cook finished the week with 21 points and 10 rebounds, his 10th double-double of the season.
The Vikings have amassed 90 or more points in six games this season, including four of their last five. In those games, Nally’s squad is averaging 94.2 points, allowing 54.3, and have outscored their opponents by a total of 239 points. This upcoming week, the Vikings have a rematch with Pittsford Sutherland Saturday night at 7:00 PM. Game is set to take place at Pittsford Mendon High School after the first matchup was held in the Louis Alexander Palestra, on the campus of the University of Rochester.
WE DIDN’T FORGET ABOUT….
Gates-Chili Spartans – Gates-Chili (11-2) defended home court against Hilton Wednesday night, 77-68, and went on the road Friday to defeat Churchville-Chili, 74-64. With the victory against the Hilton Cadets, the Gates-Chili Spartans ascended to the top spot in the Class AA standings. The Spartans are on a five-game winning streak.
Greece Athena Trojans – Greece Athena (12-2/No. 22 NYSSWA Class A) emerged victorious at Irondequoit (No. 16 NYSSWA Class A) Wednesday night, 64-61, and held off Pittsford Sutherland at home Friday, 66-65. The Greece Athena Trojans have won five games in a row.
Batavia Blue Devils – Batavia (6-6) won both of their home games this past week, defeating Brighton Wednesday night, 67-51, and Eastridge Friday, 64-59. After starting the season 0-4, the Batavia Blue Devils have tallied six victories in their last eight games.
Prattsburgh Vikings – Prattsburgh (13-0/No. 1 NYSSWA Class D) held on for two victories against Avoca (No. 2 NYSSWA Class D) Tuesday night, 61-60, and Addison (Made the state rankings in the Class C poll three times and named honorable mention last week) Friday, 55-49.
Elba Lancers – Elba (12-2/No. 4 NYSSWA Class D) won at Alexander (No. 20 NYSSWA Class C) Wednesday night, 61-45, and Byron-Bergen Friday, 72-62. The Elba Lancers have now won eight in a row.
FINAL FOUR
Pittsford Mendon (11-0/No. 4 NYSSWA Class A), East (13-0/No. 9 NYSSWA Class A), Northstar Christian (13-0/No. 11 NYSSWA Class A), and Prattsburgh (13-0/No. 1 NYSSWA Class D) are Section V’s remaining undefeated teams with 25 days left in the regular season.
Pittsford Mendon Vikings – The Pittsford Mendon Vikings have a grueling three-game stretch during the beginning of February where they will play Wilson Magnet, Fairport, and Greece Athena in the span of five days. In their nine victories this season, the Red Raiders are allowing 49.8 points. The Trojans are led by Melvin Council, Jr. and Kelvin Reaves, Jr., who have combined to average 34.5 points per game.
East Eagles – The East Eagles have one of the toughest remaining schedules in Section V. Head coach Darrell Barley’s squad will play against Bishop Kearney, McQuaid (No. 15 NYSSWA Class AA), Wilson Magnet, NE Douglass (No. 23 NYSSWA Class A), School of the Arts and Leadership Academy. On October 12, the McQuaid Jesuit Knights handed the Eagles their first loss of the season on the football field. The same scenario may occur on the basketball court January 26 at East High School. The Knights have won three of their last four games and are averaging 67 points while allowing 54.7 in that span.
Northstar Christian Knights – Despite having a lighter schedule than Pittsford Mendon and East, the Northstar Christian Knights have five potentially difficult games left. This upcoming week, head coach JJ Garwood’s squad will take on Wilson Magnet and Hornell. Then the Knights have three games in late January and early February where they play Corning (IV), Bishop Kearney, and Charles G. Finney (No. 7 NYSSWA Class C). The Hornell Red Raiders are one of five teams in Class B with nine victories this season (Greece Odyssey, Newark, Geneva, and Wellsville). The Knights travel to Hornell Friday night. Game set to tip off at 6:30 PM.
Prattsburgh Vikings – The Prattsburgh Vikings’ last two games of the regular season are against York and Charles G. Finney (No. 7 NYSSWA Class C). The Charles G. Finney Falcons are led by eighth-grader Markus Robinson, who is averaging 22.5 points per game. The York Knights have won four in a row and are averaging 64.3 points during this stretch.
WHEN OPPOSITE FORCES MEET
Saturday morning at the RAP High School Invitational at East High School, Pittsford Sutherland matched up with Leadership. The Pittsford Sutherland Knights were allowing 54.3 points per game. The Leadership Academy Lions were scoring 80.1. One of these forces would have to give and it was the Knights who came out on top, holding the Lions to their lowest scoring output of the season in an 80-58 victory. Here are a few more upcoming matchups featuring opposing forces:
Rush-Henrietta vs. Hilton – Rush-Henrietta is allowing 61 points per game while Hilton scores 71.6. Game set to tip off Friday night at 7:15 PM at Hilton High School.
Rochester Academy vs. Charles G. Finney – Charles G. Finney (No. 7 NYSSWA Class C) is scoring 74.2 points per game and Rochester Academy allows 63.9. Game set to tip off Friday night at 7:30 PM at Charles G. Finney High School.
Sodus vs. Lyons – Lyons (No. 5 NYSSWA Class C) is averaging 87 points per game while Sodus allows 58.5. Game set to tip off Friday night at 7:30 PM at Lyons High School.
Lyndonville vs. Attica – Lyndonville is averaging 70.7 points per game while Attica allows 52.3. Game set to tip off Thursday night at 7:00 PM at Attica High School.
1,000 – POINT CLUB
Two more players reached 1,000 career varsity points this past week. Monroe’s Tyquil Glasgow achieved the milestone Wednesday night against Livonia. Pittsford Sutherland’s Kevin Ryan did the same Friday night at Greece Athena. See the complete list of active 1,000-point scorers in Section V.
.@Tyquil4 finishes layup off pass from @OffPaceJones for 1000 career Varsity points. @PickinSplinters @TrabsMatt @JMHSRedjackets @SecVBBasketball @NYS_Basketball pic.twitter.com/l8AhZXGDVM
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) January 16, 2019
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Perry’s sophomore forward Michael John Grover nails the buzzer-beating three-pointer in overtime to take down Avon.
Perry wins on a last-second three from Michael John Grover @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/Hlf8S1g9kQ
— Donnie Moffat (@donniemoffat) January 16, 2019
| Section V Career Active Scoring Leaders | School | Yr. | Career Points |
| Miles Brown | Northstar | Sr. | 2,681 |
| Adam Enders | Belfast | Sr. | 2,239 |
| Justice Smith | Lyons | Sr. | 1,661 |
| LaDre Stanford | Avoca | Sr. | 1,635 |
| Robert Davis | Wilson | Sr. | 1,483 |
| Keegan Ocorr | C.G. Finney | Sr. | 1,477 |
| Keith Slack | Gates-Chili | Sr. | 1,475 |
| Mason Putnam | Prattsburgh | Jr. | 1,390 |
| Jakhi Lucas | UPrep | Sr. | 1,293 |
| Daniel Ames | Addison | Sr. | 1,186 |
| Tah’Jae Hill | Hilton | Jr. | 1,120 |
| Jiahmere Mitchell | NE Douglass | Sr. | 1,105 |
| Chaz Washington | East | Sr. | 1,081 |
| Rondell Watson | Leadership | Sr. | 1,123 |
| Logan Blankenberg | Wayne | Sr. | 1,051 |
| Kevin Ryan | Sutherland | Sr. | 1,041 |
| Tyquil Glasgow | Monroe | Sr. | 1,010 |
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