Five spots across five classifications in the upcoming NYSPHSAA Girls’ Basketball semifinals will be up for grabs at Rush-Henrietta High School when the NYS Far West Regionals take place on Saturday. First game tips off at 11:00 AM. Here is the breakdown of each contest:
CLASS AA
BISHOP KEARNEY KINGS (19-3/Private-Parochial Division I)
vs.
LANCASTER LEGENDS (21-0/Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division I)
11:00 AM
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Bishop Kearney beat Rush-Henrietta (91-29), Victor (65-44) and Fairport (58-52) to win the Section V Class AA sectional title.
Top-seeded Lancaster beat Jamestown (63-30) and Clarence (67-43) to win the Section VI Class AA sectional title.
Tempo and Trends: Bishop Kearney averages 68.7 points per game while allowing 40.4. Lancaster averages 67.7 points per game while allowing 39.3. Bishop Kearney has won 15 straight. Lancaster has won 21 straight.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Corning-Painted Post (IV) vs. Warwick (IX).
History 101: Bishop Kearney is coming off its 12th consecutive sectional final appearance and eighth championship in that span. The Kings appeared in the most recent Far West Regional in 2019 when they defeated Frontier at Buffalo State College before falling in the state semifinals to Section III champion West Genesee. Bishop Kearney is No. 4 in the NYSSWA Class AA poll.
Lancaster is coming off its first sectional title since 1978 and making its first regionals appearance in program history. The Legends are No. 2 in the NYSSWA Class AA poll.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
Players to Watch for Bishop Kearney: Kaia Goode 5-foot-2 Sr. G 20.4 PPG, 4.2 SPG, 4.1 APG, 3.0 RPG; Klarissa Goode 5-foot-4 Fr. G 8.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 1.4 APG; Caydence Hadley 6-foot-1 Jr. F 9.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.1 BPG; Amaia Jackson 5-foot-8 Fr. G 14.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.9 SPG; Aniya Rowe 5-foot-9 So. G 12.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.9 SPG
Lancaster: Brooke Bauer Jr. G 9.2 PPG, 4.1 SPG, 4.0 APG, 2.9 RPG; Madison Francis Fr. G/F 16.7 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.9 SPG, 3.2 APG, 2.2 BPG; Kiley Harrington Sr. F 6.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG; Rachel Kamrowski Jr. G 15.8 PPG, 2.2 SPG, 2.1 APG, 1.5 RPG; Casey Mahony Jr. F 8.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 APG
Coaches: Kevan Sheppard (Bishop Kearney), Jayson Jaskier (Lancaster)
CLASS D
NOTRE DAME-BATAVIA FIGHTING IRISH (19-5/Genesee Region Division II)
vs.
SHERMAN WILDCATS (13-8/Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association West Division II)
1:00 PM
How they arrived here: No. 2 seed Notre Dame Batavia beat Honeoye (55-7), Genesee Valley (31-26) and Fillmore (39-25) to win the Section V Class D1 sectional title. The Fighting Irish defeated Class D2 champion Andover/Whitesville (38-34) in the regional qualifiers.
No. 3 seed Sherman beat Clymer (45-38), Panama (47-44) and Pine Valley (59-37) to win the Section VI Class D sectional title.
Tempo and Trends: Notre Dame Batavia averages 41.5 points per game while allowing 31.0. Sherman averages 44.3 points per game while allowing 38.0. Notre Dame Batavia has won seven straight. Sherman has won three straight.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Franklin Central (IV) vs. Smithtown Christian (XI).
History 101: Notre Dame Batavia is coming off back-to-back sectional titles. The Fighting Irish won both blocks as the No. 2 seed and took down the top seed in the championship game: South Seneca last year and Fillmore this season. Notre Dame Batavia is making its first regionals appearance since 2017 when it fell to eventual state finalist Panama. The Fighting Irish are No. 5 in the NYSSWA Class D poll.
Sherman is making its first regionals appearance since 2013 when it fell to Notre Dame Batavia, who would go on to win the Class D state title. The Wildcats are No. 8 in the NYSSWA Class D poll.
Players to Watch for Notre Dame Batavia: Maylee Green 5-foot-7 Jr. G/F; Emma Sisson 5-foot-4 So. G; Avelin Tomidy 5-foot-11 Jr. F/C; Lindsey Weidman 5-foot-9 Sr. C
Sherman: Paige Gratto Jr. G/SF 11.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 2.3 APG; Hayden Fisher Jr. G 10.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.5 APG; Jenna Fisher Sr. G 10.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 3.1 SPG
Coaches: Tom McCulley (Notre Dame Batavia), Emily Eckwahl (Sherman)
CLASS C
EAST ROCHESTER BOMBERS (23-1/Wayne County)
vs.
FREWSBURG BEARS (21-3/Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Central Division)
3:00 PM
How they arrived here: Top-seeded East Rochester beat Rochester Academy (81-19), Geneseo (53-35) and Alexander (61-37) to win the Section V Class C1 sectional title. The Bombers defeated Class C2 champion Pavilion (56-42) in the regional qualifiers.
No. 3 seed Frewsburg beat Brocton/Westfield (72-49), Holland (56-45) and Randolph (46-43) to win the Section VI Class C2 sectional title. The Bears defeated Class C1 champion Portville (59-35) in the regional qualifiers.
Tempo and Trends: East Rochester averages 67.3 points per game while allowing 35.8. Frewsburg averages 62.9 points per game while allowing 37.0. East Rochester has won five straight. Frewsburg has won seven straight.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Carle Place (VIII) vs. Millbrook (IX).
VIEW MORE CHRIS CECERE PHOTOS HERE.
History 101: East Rochester is coming off back-to-back sectional titles after a 29-year championship drought. The Bombers are No. 4 in the NYSSWA Class C poll.
Frewsburg is making its first regionals appearance since 2017 when it fell to South Seneca. The Bears are No. 14 in the NYSSWA Class C poll.
Players to Watch for East Rochester: Aniyah Eldridge 5-foot-1 8th-G. G 7.0 PPG, 3.5 SPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.5 APG; Zarriah Eldridge 5-foot-5 So. G 11.3 PPG, 4.0 SPG, 3.6 APG, 3.1 RPG; Lily Funk 6-foot Jr. G/F 14.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.5 BPG, 2.5 APG, 2.5 SPG; Lebria Hickman 5-foot-9 Jr. G/F 8.5 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 1.3 APG; Samantha Lewis 5-foot-9 Sr. G/F 18.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.5 SPG, 3.5 APG
Frewsburg: Tyra Clark Sr. PF/C 8.0 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 3.1 SPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 BPG; Ava Jimerson Fr. G/SF 11.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.4 SPG, 2.1 APG; Taytum Jimerson Fr. PG/SG 6.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.6 SPG; Elise Sposato Sr. PG/SG 18.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.8 SPG, 2.8 APG; Teghan Trocki Fr. PG/SG 14.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 2.3 APG
Coaches: Mack Florack (East Rochester), Jeffrey Collver (Frewsburg)
CLASS B
WATERLOO INDIANS (24-0/Finger Lakes East Division)
vs.
LEWISTON-PORTER LANCERS (21-3/Niagara-Frontier League)
5:00 PM
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Waterloo beat North Rose-Wolcott/Sodus (72-21), Palmyra-Macedon (61-51) and Hornell (59-38) to win the Section V Class B1 sectional title. The Indians defeated Class B2 champion Midlakes (43-30) in the regional qualifiers.
Top-seeded Lewiston-Porter beat Lake Shore (80-24), East Aurora (60-23) and Depew (60-57) to win the Section VI Class B1 sectional title. The Lancers defeated Class B2 champion Eden (55-42) in the regional qualifiers.
Tempo and Trends: Waterloo averages 60.0 points per game while allowing 31.7. Lewiston-Porter averages 65.3 points per game while allowing 33.3. Waterloo has won 38 consecutive contests dating back to last season and hasn’t lost a game since the 2020 Class B1 sectional semifinals to Palmyra-Macedon. Lewiston-Porter has won five straight.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS HERE.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Putnam Valley (I) vs. Locust Valley (VIII)
History 101: Waterloo is coming off back-to-back sectional titles and making its first regionals appearance since 2013 when it defeated Olean. The Indians advanced to the state championship, but came up short against Section I representative Irvington. Waterloo is No. 1 in the NYSSWA Class B poll.
Lewiston-Porter is coming off its fourth sectional title in program history and first since 2005. The Lancers are making their first regionals appearance since 1993. Lewiston-Porter is No. 5 in the NYSSWA Class B poll.
Players to Watch for Waterloo: Morgan Caraballo Jr. G 14 PPG, 4.3 SPG; Macy Carr Sr. G 8.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.7 SPG; Jazzmyn Lewis Jr. F 6.9 PPG, 6.5 SPG, 4.1 RPG; Giavanna White-Principio Sr. C/F 16.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.9 SPG
Lewiston-Porter: Sophie Auer Jr. G/F 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.5 SPG, 3.4 APG; Tessa Schuey Sr. G 15.2 PPG, 6.3 APG, 5.3 RPG, 3.5 SPG
Coaches: Michael Bree (Waterloo), Richard Lindamer (Lewiston-Porter)
CLASS A
PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS (23-1/Monroe County Division II)
vs.
WILLIAMSVILLE SOUTH BILLIES (16-7/Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division II)
7:00 PM
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Pittsford Mendon beat Gates-Chili (71-37), Brighton (68-48), Pittsford Sutherland (57-30) and Webster Schroeder (58-39) to win the Section V Class A sectional title.
No. 2 seed Williamsville South beat Kenmore East (58-34), West Seneca East (74-47), and Iroquois (71-58) to win the Section VI Class A2 sectional title. The Billies defeated Class A1 champion Hamburg (80-75) in the regional qualifiers.
Tempo and Trends: Pittsford Mendon averages 63.0 points per game while allowing 37.7. Williamsville South averages 69.6 points per game while allowing 53.3. Pittsford Mendon has won 20 straight. Williamsville South has won six straight.
VIEW MORE SUE KANE PHOTOS HERE.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinal against the winner of Tappan Zee (I) vs. Wallkill (IX).
History 101: Pittsford Mendon is coming off its sixth consecutive sectional title in what was its eighth straight championship appearance. It was the Vikings’ seventh block in that span as well. Pittsford Mendon appeared in the most recent Far West Regionals in 2019 when it defeated Lake Shore. The Vikings went on to claim both the Class A state title and Federation championship to finish with a 27-1 record. Pittsford Mendon is No. 1 in the NYSSWA Class A poll.
Williamsville South is making its first regionals appearance since 2018 when it defeated Pittsford Mendon. The Billies’ season ended six days later to Section VIII champion Elmont Memorial in the state semifinals at Hudson Valley Community College. Williamsville South is No. 11 in the NYSSWA Class A poll.
Players to Watch for Pittsford Mendon: Anaya Coleman 5-foot-6 Sr. G 14.3 PPG; Lily Kennedy 5-foot-10 Sr. G 15.3 PPG; Bridget Miller 6-foot Sr. F 9.4 PPG; Danielle Strauf 5-foot-10 Sr. G 11 PPG
Williamsville South: Gretchen Dolan Jr. PG/SG 35.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 4.7 SPG, 3.6 APG, 2.0 BPG; Leah Solomon Fr. G 9.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.1 SPG
Coaches: Todd Julien (Pittsford Mendon), Kristen Dolan (Williamsville South)
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