One team is looking to win its first sectional title in 43 years. The other is seeking its first in 12 years. Division rivals Victor and Gates-Chili will meet Saturday to decide the 2021 Section V Class AA Boys’ Basketball Championship. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed VICTOR BLUE DEVILS (11-1/Monroe County Division I) vs. No. 2 seed GATES-CHILI SPARTANS (11-2/Monroe County Division I)
Scoring offense: Victor (62.9 PPG), Gates-Chili (70.8 PPG)
Scoring defense: Victor (47.5 PPG), Gates-Chili (59.9 PPG)
Current streak: Victor has won eight straight. Gates-Chili has won back-to-back games.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
How they got here: Victor defeated No. 8 UPrep, 55-46, in the quarterfinals before downing fourth-seeded Rush-Henrietta, 67-49, in the semis.
Gates-Chili beat McQuaid by a 63-58 score in the quarterfinals and took down Aquinas, 79-68, in the semis.
Last time they met: Victor defeated Gates-Chili, 77-66, on March 4th for the regular season series split.
Players to Watch
Victor: Chase Dickens 6-foot-2 Sr. G; CJ James 6-foot-4 Sr. F; Phil Nwugwo 6-foot-6 Jr. F/G; Will Tehan 6-foot-2 Sr. G and Connor Williams 7-foot Sr. C.
Gates-Chili: Spencer Glenn 6-foot-8 Sr. C/F; Kobe McCray 5-foot-10 Sr. G; Andrew Newcombe 6-foot-3 Fr. F/G; Devon Payton 5-foot-9 Sr. G; Adam Williams 6-foot-4 Sr. F/G
Coaches: Tyler Roberts (Victor), Jeffrey LaFave (Gates-Chili)
History 101: This is the second straight season Victor has finished as the top seed in Class AA. Last year, the Blue Devils fell in the sectional semifinals to McQuaid, 61-60. This is the Blue Devils’ first sectional final appearance since 2012 when they fell to East High, 62-47, in Class AA2. The Blue Devils seek their first sectional title since 1978 when they won the Class A championship. Gates-Chili is the No. 2 seed in Class AA for the second time in three years. In 2019, the Spartans fell in the sectional semifinals to McQuaid, 82-75. The Spartans are making their first sectional final appearance since 2011 when they fell to Rush-Henrietta, 55-49, in Class AA1. The Spartans seek their first sectional title since winning the 2009 Class AA1 chip.
A 6 p.m. tip off is scheduled at Victor High School.
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