by TYLER HATHAWAY
Five spots across five classifications in the upcoming NYSPHSAA Girls’ Basketball semifinals will be up for grabs at Buffalo State College when Section VI hosts Section V on Saturday. First game tips off at 11:00 AM. Here is the breakdown of each contest:
CLASS AA
WEBSTER SCHROEDER WARRIORS (22-1/Monroe County I)
vs.
LANCASTER LEGENDS (20-1/Erie County Interscholastic Conference)
11 AM
How they arrived here: Webster Schroeder opened the postseason with a 56-39 win over Victor before beating Fairport 73-69 in the semifinals. The Warriors then defeated Penfield 58-46 in the Section V Class AA Championship. Lancaster advanced past Niagara Falls 81-45 in the Section VI quarterfinals, and then picked up a 59-51 semifinal win over Clarence in the semifinals. The Legends won in the Section VI Class AA Championship against Jamestown, 61-46.
Tempo and Trends: Webster Schroeder averages 63.5 points per game and allows 45.6 points. Lancaster scores 72.6 points per game and allows 50.9 points per game.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS state semifinals against the winner of Walt Whitman (XI) and Baldwin (VIII).
History 101: Webster Schroeder is making its first ever appearance in the Far West Regional, after winning a second sectional title in program history. Lancaster is making its second straight appearance in the Far West Regional.
Players to watch for Webster Schroeder: Ava Gallup Jr. C 6.5 PPG; Addison Morgan So. G 8.3 PPG; Bria Watkins So. G 11.7 PPG; Mariah Watkins Jr. G 24.4 PPG
Players to watch for Lancaster: Madison Francis So. 22.5 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 3.5 BPG; Rachel Kamrowski Sr. 17.3 PPG; Brooke Bauer Sr. 9.6 PPG, 4.5 APG
Coaches: Codi Mrozek (Webster Schroeder), Jayson Jaskier (Lancaster)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JEROME DAVIS.
CLASS D
KESHEQUA INDIANS (19-5/Livingston County Athletic Association III)
vs.
PANAMA PANTHERS(19-4/Chatauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association West)
1:00 PM
How they arrived here: Keshequa coasted past No. 9 Mount Morris, 60-26, in the Section V quarterfinals and followed it up by rolling No. 4 Genesee Valley/Belfast, 44-23, in the semis. The Indians went on to defeat Lyndonville, 58-41 to lift the Class D1 title, and beat Andover-Whitesville 46-32 in the Class D regional qualifier. Panama took down Maple Grove 56-49 in the Section VI quarterfinals. The Panthers followed it up with a 59-47 win over Franklinville in the semis before winning the sectional title against Sherman 38-33.
Tempo and Trends: Keshequa scored 55.0 points per game and allowed 34.6 points. Panama averaged 53.3 points on offense while giving up 42.2 points per game.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinals against the winner of Poland (III) and Hammond Central (X).
History 101: Keshequa lost to Pembroke in the 2020 Class C regional qualifier, and last went to the Far West Regional in 2014. This is Panama’s fifth trip to the Far West Regional since 2015, and in that span the Panthers have won four regional titles and one state championship.
Players to watch for Keshequa: Libby Benner 5-foot-6 Jr. G 14.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.0 SPG; Braelyn Isaman 5-foot-4 8th-G. G 10.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3 SPG; Ava Thayer 5-foot-4 So. G 8.4 PPG, 4.4 SPG; Ryley Benner 5-foot-4 8th-G. G 6.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG; Julia Wilkins 5-foot-9 Sr. F 5.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 SPG
Players to watch for Panama: Mandy Brink Sr. 23.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, 5.7 RPG; Kaitlyn Horton So. 9.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG
Coaches: Pete Piraino (Keshequa), Dennis Hinsdale (Panama)
CLASS C
PAVILION GOLDEN GOPHERS (22-3/Livingston County Athletic Association III)
vs.
RANDOLPH CARDINALS (19-4/Chatauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association East)
3:00 PM
How they arrived here: Pavilion opened the postseason with a 69-37 win over Red Jacket and proceeded to beat Byron-Bergen, 49-25 in the Section V quarterfinals. The Golden Gophers went on to defeat Notre Dame-Batavia, 51-42 in the semifinals and Dundee/Bradford, 45-36 to lift the Class C2 title. The Golden Gophers defeated Oakfield-Alabama in the regional qualifier 43-22. Randolph dispatched JFK 100-29 in the Section VI Class C quarterfinals before advancing past Portville in the semifinals, 58-38 and Wilson 54-46 to earn the Class C Section VI title.
Tempo and Trends: Pavilion averaged 51.6 points per game on offense and allowed 36.2 points. Randolph scored 59.7 points per game while giving up 39.5 points.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinals against the winner of Cooperstown (III) and Union Springs (IV).
History 101: Pavilion fell to eventual NYS semifinalist East Rochester in the 2022 Class C regional qualifier. The Golden Gophers are looking for their first regional appearance since 1981 when they eventually lost in the state finals to Wyandach, 43-40. Randolph last won the Far West Regional in 2012.
Players to watch for Pavilion: Kylie Conway 5-foot-4 So. G 5.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.4 SPG; Lauren Kingsley 6-foot-2 Sr. F 18.4 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.3 SPG; Ella Tillotson 5-foot-4 So. G 3.3 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.2 RPG, 3.3 SPG; Makayla Washburn 5-foot-6 Jr. F 3.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG; Karlee Zinkievich 5-foot-5 Sr. G 18.9 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.9 SPG.
Players to watch for Randolph: Skylar Herrington 8th 15.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG; Kyra Pence Sr. 14.0 PPG, 5.1 APG, 5.7 RPG, 3.7 SPG
Coaches: Ben Schwenebraten (Pavilion), David Pihlblad (Randolph)
CLASS B
WATERLOO TIGERS (23-1/Finger Lakes East)
vs.
DEPEW WILDCATS (23-2/Erie County Interscholastic Conference III)
5 PM
How they arrived here: Waterloo defeated North Rose-Wolcott/Sodus, 76-13 in the quarterfinals before knocking off Midlakes, 85-43 in the semifinals. The Tigers then beat seed Palmyra-Macedon, 65-47 to win the Class B1 title. Waterloo went on to defeat Hornell, 48-38 to reach the state quarterfinals. Depew beat Olean 61-44 in the Class B quarterfinals, before dispatching Iroquois 62-45 and Lewiston Porter 44-30 to win a sectional title. They then took down Southwestern 72-54 to clinch a spot in the Class B Far West Regional.
Tempo and Trends: Waterloo averages 70 points per game,while allowing 36.1. The Tigers have won 11 straight games. Depew averages 69.1 points, and allows 42.1.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinals against the winner of Newark Valley (IV) and Cortland (III).
History 101: Waterloo, a state finalist a year ago, brings a record of 81 wins and 5 losses over the past four seasons into Saturday’s game. The Tigers also reached the 2013 NYSPHSAA Girls’ Class B championship game before falling to top-seeded Irvington. After losing in the sectional championship in 2022, Depew won its first title since they went back-to-back in 1999 and 2000.
Players to watch for Waterloo: Addison Bree 5-for-6 Fr. G 11.6 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.8 SPG; Morgan Caraballo 5-foot-6 Sr. G 21.4 PPG, 2.5 APG, 4 RPG, 4.5 SPG; Natalie DiSanto 5-foot-2 Sr. G 11.5 PPG, 4.4 APG, 4.1 SPG; Jazzmyn Lewis 5-foot-5 Sr. F 13.4 PPG, 5 APG, 5.4 RPG, 5.9 SPG; Maci Mueller 5-foot-4 Fr. G 4.5 PPG, 1.6 SPG.
Players to watch for Depew: Kaylee Krysztof Sr. 22.9 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.3 RPG; Mia Vannelli Jr. 19.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG
Coaches: Michael Bree (Waterloo), McKenzie Bezon (Depew)
CLASS A
CANANDAIGUA BRAVES (19-5/Monroe County II)
vs.
HAMBURG BULLDOGS (15-8/Erie County Interscholastic Conference II)
7:00 PM
How they arrived here: Canandaigua beat Wilson Magnet by a 90-28 score in the first round, Brockport, 53-38, in the quarterfinals and Irondequoit, 63-40, in the semis. The Braves defeated Pittsford Sutherland 55-46 in the Section V Class A Championship. Hamburg started its run with a win over Williamsville East 49-32 in the quarterfinals then beat North Tonawanda 50-23 in the semifinals and edged Sweet Home 47-39 to win the A1 title. Hamburg defeated Williamsville South, 58-41 to advance to the Far West Regional.
Tempo and Trends: Canandaigua scores on average 53.8 PPG, and allows 39.6 PPG. The Braves have won eight straight contests. Hamburg averages 53.4 PPG on offense and allows 47.0 PPG on defense. The Bulldogs have won four consecutive games.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS semifinals against the winner of Shoreham-Wading River (XI) and Manhasset (VIII).
History 101: Canandaigua last won a sectional title in 2009, when the Braves advanced to the Class AA state semis before falling to Copiague (XI). Hamburg won sectional titles in 2020 and 2022. The Bulldogs lost in the ’22 Class A regional qualifier.
Players to watch for Canandaigua: Kyleigh Chapman Jr. F 13.0 PPG; Mya Herman Sr. G 17.1 PPG; Eily Hubler So. G 7.3 PPG; Liv Schorr Sr. F/G 5.0 PPG; Julia Geitner So. F 3.8 PPG.
Players to watch for Hamburg: Clara Strack 25.0 PPG, 14.1 RPG; Leah Khuu 5.9 PPG, 3.1 APG; Maddie Hoak 8.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.7 SPG.
Coaches: Michael Brennan (Canandaigua), Amy Steger (Hamburg)
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