By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Dan Nally allowed himself to think of the best outcome from last Saturday’s Section V championship results. Now he gets to watch as his two sons compete to see which one will continue his season.
Class A1 champion Pittsford Mendon and A2 victor Pittsford Sutherland will meet Wednesday night at the Blue Cross Arena with a spot in the New York State Far West Regional at stake. Brothers Bob (Mendon) and John (Sutherland) Nally face off against each other for the first time in the post-season. Their dad and longtime Sutherland scorekeeper, Dan, will have his familiar front row seat.
“I’m just glad they both won a title,” said Dan referring to Saturday’s championship wins. “I’ll be fine with whoever wins (Wednesday night). They’ll be a great Section V representative.”
Mendon continued its undefeated season beating Greece Athena for the third time this season. Sutherland knocked off top-seeded East for its eighth win in the last nine games.
“There were a lot of emotions going,” Dan said when thinking about the days leading up to Saturday. “I allowed myself to think ‘wouldn’t it be nice if they both got a win.'”
In his fourth season as head coach at Mendon, Bob Nally, a former assistant under his brother at Sutherland, brought Mendon’s Vikings to the championship for the first time during his tenure. John Nally, whose Sutherland Knights won the 2016 A1 title, won his second title in his 19 years at the helm.
“The first thing you want is for Bob to win a sectional title,” the Nally patriarch stated. “Get that first one because you never know when you’re ever going to get back and have a chance again.
“Then I’m thinking there’s East, the first sectional winner in the history of Section V. They had been looking so tough all along, but like I tell a lot of people, after John’s first few games in the year 2000 when he started, I’m never going to bet against this kid. He knows what he’s doing. He gets the most out of his kids.”
Mendon (23-0/No. 3 NYSSWA) comes into Wednesday’s game tied for second longest win streak in New York State. Sutherland (16-8) didn’t win three straight games this season until February.
“There’s no one enjoying Bobby’s season as much as John,” the elder said of his sons. “Both of them are happy for their brother. They want to win that game, but will be happy knowing that their brother won.”
Daniel Cook, Michael Harrington, Connor Krapf and Jacob Shadders pace Mendon’s offense with all four scoring in double figures. Sutherland has endured an injury-riddled season to get to this point. Seven different players have started at some point with Ben DiGiovanni, John Messina and Kevin Ryan all missing time to recuperate.
Bob and John have faced each other eight times prior to the 2019 regional qualifier. Both have won four of the head-to-head meetings. Wednesday marks the first occurrence of the two brothers meeting in the postseason.
“Down at the Big House,” Dan Nally emphasized. “The kids will be back to where they are with a little pressure off having won the Section V title already. It’s just a great atmosphere all around. Playing in the Big House that was very nice that they were able to get it there.”
What: New York State Class A Regional Qualifier
When: Wednesday, March 6th 8:15 PM.
Where: Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial
How they got here: Pittsford Mendon defeated No. 8 Aquinas, 67-48, in the quarterfinals and pulled away for an 86-61 win over No. 4 Eastridge in the semifinals. Mendon beat Athena in the Class A1 finals. Sutherland defeated No. 11 Vertus, 76-45, in the first round, surged past No. 3 NE Douglass, 57-55, in the quarterfinals, and took down No. 10 Wilson Magnet, 60-45, in the semifinals. The Knights downed East in the Class A2 championship.
How they match up: Pittsford Mendon has won 20 of its 23 games this season by double-digits. The Vikings average 80.8 points per game while allowing 53.3. Sutherland scores 61.5 PPG while giving up 54.3.
Players to watch for Pittsford Mendon: Daniel Cook Sr. F 18.8 PPG, 22 double-doubles; Michael Harrington Sr. G 17.9 PPG; Jacob Shadders So. G 14.5 PPG; Connor Krapf Sr. G 10.8 PPG.
Pittsford Sutherland: Kevin Ryan Sr. F 19.5 PPG, 1,188 career varsity points, 13 double-doubles; John Luther Sr. G 10.2 PPG; Ben DiGiovanni Jr. G 9.5 PPG; Matt Panara Sr. G 7.3 PPG.
What’s at stake: The winner will meet Lewiston-Porter (VI) in Saturday’s NYS Class A Far West Regional.
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