Section V Boys’ Basketball gets into full action with 33 games on Friday. Here are season previews for Brighton, Fairport, Hilton, Penfield, Rush-Henrietta and Victor…
BRIGHTON BRUINS (Class AA)
Last season record and finish: 13-9, lost in class A1 sectional quarterfinals to Webster Thomas
Coach: David Tisa (12th season, including seventh at Brighton)
Top returners: Andrew Kotrides Sr. G (5.0 PPG); Jack Scott Sr. C/F; Reggie Smith Jr. G (17.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, All-County First Team); Trygve Watkins Sr. G (4.0 PPG)
Top newcomers: Troy McPherson Sr. G, started as a sophomore before spending a year at Rabun Gap School in Georgia.
First game: December 2nd at Fairport at 7 p.m.
FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS (Class AA)
Last season record and finish: 11-10, lost in class AA sectional quarterfinals to Aquinas
Coach: Scott Fitch (329-120 career record)
Top returners: Zac Ditzel Sr. G/F (8.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG); Hayden McCue Sr. G; Andrew Miller Sr. G; Trevor Shooshan Sr. G; Wallace Rahmaan Sr. G (5.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG); Aidan White Jr. F/C (5.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG)
Top newcomers: LaShard Lowery So. G
First game: December 2nd vs. Brighton at 7 p.m.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM DENNIS JOYCE HERE.
HILTON CADETS (Class AA)
Last season record and finish: 13-9, lost in class AA sectional semifinals to Rush-Henrietta
Coach: Troy Prince (18th season, 188-172 career record)
Top returners: Johnny Bianchi Jr. PG (5.0 PPG, 2.3 APG); Ben Cronk Sr. F; Mac Emrich Sr. F; Luke Pisani Sr. G; Luke Simonelli Sr. F; Michael Whelehan Sr. G (10.4 PPG)
Top newcomers: Brady Gerig Jr. G; Timmy Graziano Jr. G; Ben Sneddon Jr. F
Outlook: “Hilton returns two starters as the Cadets graduated two and lost another to prep school. Those were the Cadets three biggest kids. We’re small, but can really shoot it. We need to defend full court and push the tempo. We need to rebound as a team, score in transition and also make the extra pass. I think we can be competitive in our league. I expect Victor to be good as well as all our teams usually reload.”
First game: December 2nd at Rush-Henrietta at 7:15 p.m.
PENFIELD PATRIOTS (Class AA)
Last season record and finish: 8-13, lost in first round of class AA sectionals to Rush-Henrietta
Coach: Jason Ellis (10th season, including eighth at Penfield; 80-97 career record)
Top returners: Jack Beganny Sr. G; Aiden Cook Sr. G (back-to-back All-County First Team); Caden Harrington Sr. G; Derek Torres Sr. F
Top newcomers: Joe Coyle Sr. F; Trevor Hofer Jr. G; Scott Petre Sr. F
Outlook: “It is a very hungry and ready-to-eat type group of guys. We’ll be an exciting team to watch with the potential to beat anyone. We have a handful of guys returning that learned how to battle last season. This is the group that is looking to bring back our pre-Covid mentality. This is the group looking to re-instill the frameworks of that hard-nosed, gritty culture we call Penfield Basketball.”
First game: December 2nd vs. Victor at 7:15 p.m.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS HERE.
RUSH-HENRIETTA ROYAL COMETS (Class AA)
Last season record and finish: 11-13, lost in class AA sectional final to Aquinas
Coach: Christopher Reed (31st season, including 23rd season at Rush-Henrietta; 425-226 career record)
Top returners: Myles Collin-Howard Jr. G; Caleb Koehler Sr. F; Jahmir Phillips-Smith Sr. G; Isaiah Santiago-Washington Sr. G/F; Adareus Smith Sr. F
Top newcomers: Jason Buonaugurio Jr. F; TyJae Frazier Sr. G/F; Josiah Jones Sr. G; Jacob Luc Jr. G; Graylin Strong Jr. G/F; Kobey Weeks Jr. G
First game: December 2nd vs. Hilton at 7:15 p.m.
VICTOR BLUE DEVILS (Class AA)
Last season record and finish: 19-2, lost in class AA sectional quarterfinals to Rush-Henrietta
Coach: Tyler Roberts (96 career victories)
Top returners: Garrett Clar Jr. G/F (9.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 35 percent 3P); Ryan Dodge Sr. G/F (4.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 37 percent 3P); Brennan Hopkins Sr. G/F (2.7 PPG); Nick Leonard Jr. G/F (10.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 36 percent 3P); AJ Queri Sr. G/F (8.0 PPG, 36 percent 3P); Cam Ryan Jr. G/F (7.7 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.0 RPG, 42 percent 3P)
Top newcomers: Owen Dake So. G/F; Griffen Hopkins So. G/F; Colin Kubrich Jr. G/F; Jack Lucchesi Jr. G/F; Hayden Nearpass Jr. G/F; Justine Rosello Jr. G/F
First game: December 2nd at Penfield at 7:15 p.m.
Leave a Reply