For the second time since New York State expanded its Boys’ Basketball championships in 2004 to five classifications, Section V will send four teams to the semifinals. One squad is looking to repeat, while two others go for a first title in program history. Another school will have a chance for a second championship. Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls is the setting this Friday through Sunday. Here’s a breakdown of each matchup:
CLASS AA
VICTOR BLUE DEVILS (21-3/ Monroe County I)
vs.
BRENTWOOD INDIANS (19-7/ Section XI)
How they arrived here: Victor defeated McQuaid (51-44), Webster Schroeder (66-51) and Fairport (66-54) to win the Section V Class AA title. The Blue Devils then knocked off Niagara Falls 66-59 to win the program’s first regional title.
Brentwood worked its way through the ropes beating Smithtown East, Bay Shore, Bellport and Commack en route to the Section XI AA championship. Brentwood then topped Section VIII champion Baldwin by a 62-53 score.
Tempo and Trends: Victor averages 64.9 points per game and allows 51.1. Brentwood scores 63.4 points per game while giving up 53. Victor and Brentwood have both won eight straight.
What’s at Stake: Winner reaches the state championship and faces either Liverpool (III) or North Rockland (I).
History 101: After winning its first sectional title in 45 years, Victor is making its first appearance in the state semifinals.
Brentwood is also looking for a first state championship in boys’ basketball program history. The Indians’ last state tournament appearance was in 2019 when they lost in the final to West Genesee (III).
Players to watch for Victor: Garrett Clar Jr. F 17.4 PPG; Ryan Dodge Sr. F 4.2 PPG; Griffen Hopkins So. F 9.0 PPG; Nick Leonard Jr. F 8.7 PPG; Cam Ryan Jr. F 9.8 PPG
Brentwood: Marquese Dennis 14.7 PPG; Jeremiah Webb 13.5 PPG; Freddy Diogene 10.0 PPG; Tyrell Davender 7.9 PPG; Devon Snell 7.0 PPG
Coaches: Tyler Roberts (Victor) Anthony Jiminez (Brentwood)
A 2:45 p.m. tip-off is scheduled on Friday at Cool Insuring Arena.
CLASS A
IRONDEQUOIT EAGLES (21-4/ Monroe County III)
vs.
SOUTH SIDE CYCLONES (23-1/ Section VIII)
How they arrived here: No. 2 seeded Irondequoit topped Canandaigua (60-37), Webster Thomas (67-52) and top-seeded Greece Athena (76-59) to win its third Section V title in seven years. Following sectionals, the Eagles beat Pittsford Sutherland (69-51) in the regional qualifier and Section VI champion Amherst (51-48) to advance to the state semifinals.
South Side downed Jericho (44-39), Great Neck South (62-52), Elmont Memorial (49-35) and Manhasset (57-46) to be crowned Section VIII Class A champion. The Cyclones advanced to the semifinals with a 45-31 win over Kings Park (XI).
Tempo and Trends: Irondequoit is averaging 65.1 points per game and allowing 48.2. South Side averages 62.2 points per game and allows 45.4. Irondequoit has won five straight. South Side has won 23 straight after losing its season opener.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN HERE.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the Class A NYS finals against the winner of New Hartford (III) and Tappan Zee (I).
History 101: The Eagles have made the state semifinals the last three times they won the Section V Class A championship, including a state championship in 2017. Irondequoit fell short of repeating the following year.
South Side is looking for its first state championship in school history. South Side won the Section VIII championship in 2020 against Manhasset (73-53) but did not advance any further due to the state tournament being canceled.
Players to watch for Irondequoit: Ryan Heath Sr. G 20.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG; Xavier Gissendanner Sr. G 16.3 PPG, 1.4 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG; Quinn VanKerkhove Jr. G 8.8 PPG, 1.7 APG, 2.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG; Isaiah Ballard Jr. C 7.6 PPG, 0.7 APG, 7.1 RPG, 0.8 SPG
South Side: James Murphy 14.7 PPG; Josh Garelle 14.5 PPG; Robert Pericolosi 13.0 PPG; James Bivona 6.3 PPG
Coaches: Chris Cardon (Irondequoit) Jerry D’Angelo (South Side)
A 7:45 p.m. tip-off is scheduled on Friday at Cool Insuring Arena.
CLASS B
NEWARK REDS (21-4/ Finger Lakes East)
vs.
WESTHILL WARRIORS (22-3/ Section III)
How they arrived here: No. 2 seed Newark defeated Geneva (43-36), Waterloo (61-35) and Batavia (60-55) to win the Class B1 Section V title. After sectionals, the Reds beat Wellsville (66-59) in the regional qualifier and Fredonia (66-58) to win the Far West Regional.
Westhill beat Solvay (64-33), Lowville (74-46), Chittenango (61-55) and Marcellus (62-54) to be crowned Section III Class B champion. The Warriors then topped Owego Free Academy (IV) by a 72-38 score.
Tempo and Trends: Newark averages 60.1 points per game and allows 51.5. Westhill scores 73.4 points per game and allows 52.2. Newark has won five in a row and 12 of their last 13. Westhill has won 11 in a row.
What’s at Stake: A spot in the NYS Class B final against the winner of Catholic Central (II) and Southampton (XI).
History 101: Newark is making its fifth state semifinal appearance in program history and first since 2010 when Javon McCrea and the Reds reached the Class B State Finals before falling to Section III champion Jamesville-Dewitt led by Dajuan Coleman. Newark also reached the state final in 1990.
Westhill is looking for its sixth state championship in school history. This would tie the Warriors with Jamesville-DeWitt for most state titles in Section III. The Warriors last won the state championship in 2017, finishing up a four-year span where they won three state titles.
Players to watch for Newark: Jaypar Allen Jr. G 4.0 PPG, 3.0 APG; Carlos Bueso Sr. F 1.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 APG; Kellen Foster Jr. F/G 14.6 PPG, 2.2 APG, 4.4 RPG; Raeshawn Howard Sr. F 16.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG; Brayden Steve Sr. F/G 18.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.0 APG; Daveon Wright Sr. F/G 3.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.3 APG
Westhill: Shawn Mayes Sr. G 16.9 PPG, 1.9 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG; Kam Langdon Jr. G 15.2 PPG, 2.8 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG; Omar Robinson So F 13.8 PPG, 1.2 APG, 4.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG; Luke Gilmartin Sr. G 12.1 PPG, 6.8 APG, 5.2 RPG, 3.1 SPG
Coaches: Henry Kuperus (Newark) Kevin King (Westhill)
A 10:45 a.m. tip-off is scheduled on Saturday at Cool Insuring Arena.
CLASS D
AVOCA/PRATTSBURGH TITANS (23-2/Steuben County)
vs.
HAMILTON EMERALD KNIGHTS (22-3/Section III)
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Avoca/Prattsburgh downed Genessee Valley/Belfast (85-27), Harley-Allendale-Columbia (76-39) and Notre Dame-Batavia (93-67) to win the Class D1 sectional title. Following their championship, the Titans defeated Mount Morris (75-56) and Section VI champion Panama 67-35 to advance to the state semifinals.
No. 2 seeded Hamilton beat Poland (73-39), Stockbridge Valley (71-37), Madison (52-42) and Sackets Harbor (58-34) to capture the Section III D title. The Emerald Knights then proceeded to defeat Heuvelton (X) by a 53-34 score.
Tempo and Trends: Avoca/Prattsburgh averages 82.6 points per game and allows 44.5. Hamilton averages 65.1 points per game and allows 38.9. Avoca/Prattsburgh has won 16 straight. Hamilton has won six straight and 13 of their last 14.
What’s at Stake: Winner reaches the NYS Class D final against either North Warren Central (II) or Chapel Field Christian (IX).
History 101: After winning the NYS Class D championship in 2022, Avoca/Prattsburgh returns to the state semifinals for a second straight year. The two schools merged in 2021 and have won the Section V title three years in a row. Avoca won the 1989 Class D state title. Prattsburgh claimed the 1991 Class D crown. Avoca defeated Prattsburgh in the 2020 Class D regional qualifier.
Hamilton is seeking their first state championship since 2000 when they beat Alexander Hamilton (I) 91-86 in triple overtime. The Emerald Knights have one other state championship in school history, that being in 1994.
Players to watch for Avoca/Prattsburgh: Sawyer Devoe Sr. F 18.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 10.1 RPG, 4.0 SPG; Haden Abbott 21.1 PPG, 2.5 APG, 5.6 RPG, 2.5 SPG; Macoy Putnam Jr. G 14.3 PPG, 8.2 APG, 4.7 RPG, 4.6 SPG; Evan Campbell Sr. G 12.5 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 SPG
Hamilton: Hudson Idzi Sr. F 18.9 PPG, 6.3 APG, 10.5 RPG, 3.2 SPG; Reese Snyder Sr. F 14.3 PPG, 4.7 APG, 6.8 RPG, 4.0 SPG; Ethan Nagel Sr. C 6.0 PPG, 1.5 APG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG; Bryce Wright So. G 5.3 PPG, 2.0 APG, 4.0 RPG, 2.4 SPG; Luke Jackson Jr. G 7.3 PPG, 3.7 APG, 2.6 RPG, 3.4 SPG, Drew Baker So. C 7.6 PPG, 0.8 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG
Coaches: Brian Putnam (Avoca/Prattsburgh) Tom Blackford (Hamilton)
A 2:15 p.m. tip-off is scheduled on Saturday at Cool Insuring Arena.
*Section V Boys’ Basketball sent four teams (Aquinas, Greece Athena, Leadership Academy and Lyons) to the state semifinals in 2015.
Leave a Reply