By JOHN LIKANJE
Justice Smith led Lyons to consecutive Section V Class C2 titles. The senior guard was named Wayne County Player of the Year as announced by league.
Smith tallied 19 regular season double-doubles, tied for the most in Section V, as the Lyons Lions surged to an 18-2 record, a Wayne County division title, the top seed in the class C2 sectional playoffs and No. 4 in the NYSSWA Class C poll. In his last three games of the season, the 6-foot-6 guard poured 28 in a semifinal victory over Perry, 30 in the sectional championship and amassed 44 points against Charles G. Finney. Smith completed his four-year varsity career with 1,986 points and paced a Lions squad which averaged 89 points per game.
Teammates Justin Smith, Aaron Romero and David Weaver joined Justice Smith on the Wayne County All-League team. Justin Smith, Justice’s younger brother, scored 28 in the semifinals against Perry and added 19 in the final against Red Jacket. Romero netted 27 points combined in the Lions’ last three games of the season. Weaver knocked down four long-range shots and had 18 points against C.G. Finney in the sub-regional.
Jayden Castrechini (Gananda), Camden Chance (Clyde-Savannah), Alex Rans (East Rochester) and Paul James (Sodus) rounded out the Wayne County All-League First Team.
Castrechini averaged 20.0 points per game, pulled down 6.0 rebounds, dished out 5.0 assists and swiped 4.5 steals. The senior guard scored his 1,000th varsity point on February 4 in a 99-58 victory over Destiny Christian. Castrechini completed his three-year career with 1,101 points and is the program’s all-time leading scorer. The 5-foot-7 guard earned a spot on the Section V Class C1 All-Tournament Team.
Castrechini and Justice Smith will represent Wayne County in the Ronald McDonald All-Star Game. Chance and the Golden Eagles defeated South Seneca, 59-48, in the first round of the Class C3 playoffs. Rans averaged 11 points per game, collected 3.8 rebounds and dished out 3.9 assists. The senior guard led the Bombers to 14 wins, the No. 6 seed in the C1 playoffs and a 66-50 first-round victory over Red Creek. James and the Spartans won 11 regular-season games to earn the No. 7 seed in the C1 playoffs and a 46-45 victory first-round victory over Warsaw. Chance averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for Clyde-Savannah. The sophomore added three steals and 1.7 assists per contest.
Gananda teammates Andrew Gabbard and Tim McClare made the Second Team All-League. Gabbard scored 23 points in a sectional quarterfinal victory over Sodus. McClare helped the Panthers reach an 18-2 regular season record and the No. 2 seed in the C1 playoffs. The sophomore guard was selected for the Wayne County All-Star Game.
Quinton Norris (North Rose-Wolcott), Jon Binou (Marion), Adam Fisk (Williamson), Austin Mack (East Rochester) and Dan Smith (Red Creek) rounded out the All-League Second Team.
Lyons’ Dean Schott II was named Wayne County Coach of the Year. The first-year coach, led the program to its second consecutive sectional title. Schott’s squad finished No. 7 in the NYSSWA Class C poll.
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