Five spots across five classifications in the upcoming NYSPHSAA boys’ basketball semifinals will be up for grabs at Buffalo State College when the NYS Far West Regionals take place on Saturday. First game tips off at noon. Here is the breakdown of each contest:
CLASS D
AVOCA/PRATTSBURGH VIKINGS (24-0/Steuben County)
vs.
WESTFIELD WOLVERINES (22-1/Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association West Division II)
12:00 PM
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Avoca/Prattsburgh beat Arkport/Canaseraga (114-24), Marion (82-34) and Wheatland-Chili (68-67) to win the Section V Class D1 sectional title. The Vikings defeated Class D2 champion Notre Dame Batavia (71-51) in the regional qualifier.
Top-seeded Westfield beat Franklinville (79-37), Pine Valley (64-50) and Sherman (49-30) to win the Section VI Class D sectional title.
Tempo and Trends: Avoca/Prattsburgh averages 86.1 points per game while allowing 48.6. Westfield averages 64 points per game while allowing 41.7. Dating back to last season, Avoca/Prattsburgh holds the longest active winning streak in the state at 35 games. Westfield holds the third-longest streak at 21 games.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Oppenheim-Ephratah/Saint Johnsville (II) vs. Seton Catholic (VII).
History 101: Avoca/Prattsburgh is coming off back-to-back sectional titles in the first two years of the schools merging their basketball teams. Before then, both schools had made three regionals appearances with the most recent coming in 2015 by Prattsburgh. The Vikings fell to International Prep, 83-79, at Rush-Henrietta High School. Avoca/Prattsburgh is No. 1 in the NYSSWA Class D poll.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
In Nolan Swanson’s first year at the helm, Westfield is coming off its first sectional title since 2003 and making its first regionals appearance in program history. The Wolverines are No. 2 in the NYSSWA Class D poll.
Players to Watch for Avoca/Prattsburgh: Hayden Abbott 6-foot Jr. F 11.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.2 SPG; Sawyer Devoe 5-foot-11 Jr. F/G 16.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.5 SPG, 3.2 SPG; Pacey Hopkins 5-foot-9 Sr. G 16.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.7 APG, 4.7 SPG; Caleb Johnson 6-foot Sr. F 9.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.2 SPG; Macoy Putnam 5-foot-9 So. G 16.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 7.7 APG, 4.8 SPG
Westfield: Cole Holland 5-foot-8 Sr. G 12.1 PPG, 3.6 SPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.1 APG; Carson Swanson 5-foot-10 Fr. G 15.4 PPG, 3.1 SPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.7 APG; Darien Swanson 6-foot Sr. G 19.1 PPG, 7.0 APG, 6.4 RPG, 4.0 SPG, 1.6 BPG; Ethan Weingart 6-foot-1 Sr. F 7.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG
Coaches: Brian Putnam (Avoca/Prattsburgh), Nolan Swanson (Westfield)
CLASS C
AVON BRAVES (22-3/Livingston County Division II)
vs.
SALAMANCA WARRIORS (16-7/Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association West Division I)
1:45 PM
How they arrived here: No. 2 seed Avon beat Letchworth (54-39), Geneseo (50-37) and Rochester Academy (68-43) to win the Section V Class C1 sectional title. The Braves defeated Class C3 champion York (58-48) and Class C2 champion Oakfield-Alabama (56-43) in the regional qualifiers.
No. 4 seed Salamanca beat Portville (86-29), Randolph (52-47) and Holland (70-51) to win the Section VI Class C sectional title.
Tempo and Trends: Avon averages 58.4 points per game while allowing 44.9. Salamanca averages 65.4 points per game while allowing 49.1. Avon has won nine straight. Salamanca has won four straight.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Stillwater (II) vs. Moriah (VII).
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM CAROLE VOLPE HERE.
History 101: Avon is coming off its third consecutive sectional title and making its first regionals appearance since 2009 when the Braves went the distance, defeating Randolph (VI), Oyster Bay (VIII) and Maple Hill (II) to win the Class C state title with a 27-1 record. Avon is No. 8 in the NYSSWA Class C poll.
In Adam Bennett’s sixth year at the helm, Salamanca is coming off its first sectional title since 1966 and making its first regionals appearance in program history. The Warriors are No. 7 in the NYSSWA Class C poll.
Players to Watch for Avon: Jack Browne Sr. F 7.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG; Zach Colvin Sr. F 17.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.0 APG; Andrew Rowland Sr. G 7.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG; Michael Rowland So. G 8.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG; Hudson Volpe Jr. F 6.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG
Salamanca: Lucas Brown 6-foot-1 So. G 20.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.7 SPG, 1.9 APG; Cole Hedlund 6-foot-1 Sr. G 6.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG; Andy Herrick 6-foot-3 Jr. G 12.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.6 SPG; Harley Hoag 6-foot-1 Sr. G/F 13.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 2.3 APG; RJ McLarney 6-foot-5 Sr. F 7.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG
Coaches: Rob Fries (Avon), Adam Bennett (Salamanca)
SECTION VI NOTES AND HISTORY COURTESY OF CHAD ANDREWS/CENTER COURT
SECTION VI STATS COURTESY OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORT STATS
CLASS AA
AQUINAS LI’L IRISH (19-3/Private-Parochial Division I)
vs.
JAMESTOWN RED RAIDERS (19-3/Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division I)
3:30 PM
How they arrived here: No. 2 seed Aquinas beat Fairport (75-52), Edison Tech (84-66) and Rush-Henrietta (77-43) to win the Section V Class AA sectional title.
Top-seeded Jamestown beat Lancaster (59-43) and Niagara Falls (59-34) to win the Section VI Class AA sectional title.
Tempo and Trends: Aquinas averages 76.9 points per game while allowing 55.2. Jamestown averages 63.3 points per game while allowing 49.7. Aquinas has won seven straight. Jamestown has won three straight.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Green Tech (II) vs. Liverpool (III).
History 101: Aquinas is coming off its ninth sectional title in 10 championship appearances since 1975. The Li’l Irish are making their ninth regionals appearance in program history as well, tying East High and Newark for the second-most by a Section V school since the state tournament’s inception in 1978. Last time the Li’l Irish won sectionals (2016), they went the distance, defeating Niagara Falls (VI), Shenendehowa (II) and Middletown (IX) to win the Class AA state title with a 24-3 record. Aquinas is No. 10 in the NYSSWA Class AA poll.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS HERE.
Jamestown is making its sixth regionals appearance in the last 12 years with the others coming in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2011 and 2014, the Red Raiders advanced to the state championship only to come up short. In the other three appearances, they didn’t advance past regionals, including against Aquinas in 2015. Head coach Ben Drake is in his 24th year at the helm. Jamestown is No. 11 in the NYSSWA Class AA poll.
Players to Watch for Aquinas: Mason Blackwood So. F 17.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.6 BPG; Myles Blackwood Sr. G 12.6 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.0 RPG; Jack Bleier Sr. G 13.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.6 SPG; Jordan Jordan Sr. F 5.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG; Robert McCullough Sr. G 11.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.4 APG; Mykel White Jr. G 4.8 PPG
Jamestown: Jaylen Butera 6-foot-2 Sr. F 11.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 1.3 APG; Trey Drake 6-foot-3 Jr. G 12.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 SPG; Jaral Farmer 6-foot-7 Sr. F 10.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.3 BPG; Andre Maple 6-foot-1 Sr. G 7.1 PPG, 3.7 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG; Sean Paige 6-foot-1 Jr. G 6.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG
Coaches: Jeffrey LaFave (Aquinas), Ben Drake (Jamestown)
CLASS B
NEWARK REDS (18-6/Finger Lakes East Division)
vs.
ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE GATORS (18-7/Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association West Division I)
7:00 PM
How they arrived here: No. 2 seed Newark beat Geneva (60-40), Greece Olympia (46-43) and Palmyra-Macedon (40-37) to win the Section V Class B1 sectional title. The Reds defeated Class B2 champion Wellsville (45-41) in the regional qualifiers.
No. 6 seed Allegany-Limestone beat Lewis J. Bennett (75-45), Olmstead (70-19), Newfane (49-36) and Tapestry (66-44) to win the Section VI Class B2 sectional title. The Gators defeated Class B1 champion Olean (67-56) in the regional qualifiers.
Tempo and Trends: Newark averages 55.3 points per game while allowing 46.9. Allegany-Limestone averages 55.9 while allowing 46.7. Newark has won 10 straight. Allegany-Limestone has won eight straight.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Ichabod Crane (II) vs. Plattsburgh (VII).
VIEW MORE JENNIFER LAEMLEIN PHOTOS HERE.
History 101: Newark is coming off its 13th sectional title in program history and making its ninth regionals appearance, tying Aquinas and East High for the second-most by a Section V school since the state tournament’s inception in 1978. This is the Reds’ first appearance in the state quarterfinals since 2010 when they advanced to the title game in Glens Falls and fell to Section III champion Jamesville-DeWitt.
Allegany-Limestone is making its first regionals appearance since the schools merged their basketball teams in 1999. Before then, the previous state quarterfinals appearance by either school was Allegany in 1979. Allegany fell to Caledonia-Mumford, 55-53, at the Rochester War Memorial. Head coach Glenn Anderson is in his 12th year at the helm.
Players to Watch for Newark: Isaiah Camp 6-foot-6 Sr. C 11.0 PPG, 12.0 RPG; Gabriel Caraballo 5-foot-10 Sr. G 6.0 PPG, 4.0 APG; Raeshawn Howard 6-foot-4 Jr. F 13.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG; Brayden Steve 6-foot-5 Jr. F 15.0 PPG
Allegany-Limestone: Tyler Curran 6-foot-2 Sr. 17.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.4 SPG; Anothony DeCapua 6-foot-2 Jr. 8.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.4 SPG; Maddox Delong 6-foot Sr. 7.3 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 1.1 APG; Andrew Giardini 6-foot-1 Jr. 8.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.0 APG; Hudson Kwiatkowski 6-foot-4 Sr. 9.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Coaches: Henry Kuperus (Newark), Glenn Anderson (Allegany-Limestone).
CLASS A
PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS (23-1/Monroe County Division III)
vs.
AMHERST TIGERS (22-2/Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division II)
8:30 PM
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Pittsford Mendon beat Churchville-Chili (84-53), Irondequoit (62-47) and Webster Schroeder (63-49) to win the Section V Class A1 sectional title. The Vikings defeated Class A2 champion East High (51-37) in the regional qualifiers.
Top-seeded Amherst beat Kenmore East (88-48), Charter School for Applied Technologies (53-48) and Health Sciences (50-45) to win the Section VI Class A2 sectional title. The Tigers defeated Class A1 champion Niagara-Wheatfield (50-40) in the regional qualifiers.
Tempo and Trends: Pittsford Mendon averages 70.7 points per game while allowing 48.9. Amherst averages 66.3 points per game while allowing 43.3. Pittsford Mendon has won 11 straight. Amherst has won 15 straight.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Mekeel Christian Academy (II) vs. New Hartford (III).
History 101: Pittsford Mendon is coming off its second straight sectional title and making its fourth regional appearance in program history. The Vikings appeared in the most recent Far West Regional in 2019 when, after taking down their crosstown rival Pittsford Sutherland in the regional qualifiers, accounted for Section V’s lone victory with an 87-55 win over Section VI champion Lewiston-Porter. The Vikings advanced to the state championship in Binghamton before falling to Section I champion Poughkeepsie. Pittsford Mendon is No. 2 in the NYSSWA Class A poll.
Amherst is coming off its first sectional title since 2017 and making its first regionals appearance in program history. Head coach Chris Kensy is in his 13th year at the helm. The Tigers are No. 13 in the NYSSWA Class A poll.
Players to Watch for Pittsford Mendon: Ryan Deuel So. G 4.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG; Jackson Green Jr. G 17 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.8 SPG; London Hoyser Jr. G 6.1 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.1 RPG; Eric Krowl Sr. F 6.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.4 APG; Caleb Lewis Jr. G 15.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.4 SPG; Kidder Lindley Sr. G 12 PPG, 6.0 RPG; Matthew Woods Jr. G 7.5 PPG, 2.9 APG, 2.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG
Amherst: Josh Bugiera 5-foot-10 Jr. G7.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 1.8 APG; Ahmir Dunn 6-foot So. G 7.7 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.2 RPG, 2.3 SPG; Gary Johnson 6-foot-9 Sr. F/C 9.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG; Teddy McDuffie 6-foot-4 Jr. G/F 13.2 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 2.9 SPG, 1.6 APG; Nick Moore 6-foot-3 Jr. PG/SG 17.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.9 SPG
Coaches: Robert Nally (Pittsford Mendon), Chris Kensy (Amherst)
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