One team is looking to win its third sectional title in four years. The other is seeking a second in program history and first in 56 years. Crosstown rivals Irondequoit and Eastridge will meet Saturday to decide the 2020 Section V Class A1 Boys’ Basketball Championship. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed IRONDEQUOIT EAGLES (19-3/Monroe County I) vs. No. 3 seed EASTRIDGE LANCERS (18-4/Monroe County IV)
Scoring offense: Irondequoit (65.1 PPG), Eastridge (72.6 PPG)
Scoring defense: Irondequoit (51.6 PPG), Eastridge (61.8 PPG)
Current streak: Irondequoit has won 16 straight; Eastridge has won six of seven.
How they got here: Irondequoit (No. 18 NYSSWA) defeated No. 8 Churchville-Chili, 64-62, in the quarterfinals before downing fourth-seeded Pittsford Mendon, 53-51, in the semis.
Eastridge beat Greece Athena by a 63-56 score in the quarterfinals and took down Leadership Academy, 56-38, in the semis.
Last time they met: Irondequoit defeated Eastridge, 75-59, in the lone regular season matchup on January 29th.
Players to Watch for Irondequoit: Keenan Robertson Jr. F 18.7 PPG; Nick Leonardo Sr. G 10.0 PPG; Luke Melidona Sr. G 9.5 PPG; Connor Shafer Sr. G 9.0 PPG
Eastridge: Tony Arnold Sr. G 25.8 PPG, 1,541 career varsity points; Percy Robinson Sr. F 10.3 PPG; Jalen Rose Hannah Sr. G 10.3 PPG
Coaches: Chris Cardon (Irondequoit), Dan Roser (Eastridge)
History 101: Irondequoit won back-to-back Class A1 sectional titles in 2017 and 2018. Gerald Drumgoole earned Tournament MVP honors both times while leading the Eagles to 45 wins in 50 games over that span, including a 2017 state title. Eastridge is making its first sectional final appearance since 1990. As a No. 4 seed, the Lancers defeated Victor, Pittsford Sutherland and Pittsford Mendon before falling to Newark in the Class BB final.
What they’re saying: Melidona – “Irondequoit rivals, it’s gonna be loud and we’re ready to play.”
Rose Hannah – “It’s big for our school reputation, our family, yeah, it’s just big. We just want to go there, show what we can do and hopefully come out with the win.”
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Far West Regional Qualifier against the winner of the Section V Class A2 final between East High (No. 4 NYSSWA) and NE Douglass.
A 7 p.m. tip off is scheduled at Saturday at the Blue Cross Arena.
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